Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-06-06
Wealthy Men of Classic Times.

The people who are advertising Mr..
Rockefeller as the richest man that
ever lived evidently were never ac-
mans and other gentlemen of means
who lived in classic times. For ex-
ample there was Ptolemaeus phila-
delphiuS, who, like Mr.. Rockefeller.
founded a university. and made Alex
andria the most famous seat of learn
ing in he world. Euclid the gentleman
who "ontriVcd the problems that have
given 50 much anxiety ana concern to
young students of mathematics, was
ohe Of his protegeS. He had the fin
est group of astronomers in the world,
ana called to Alexandria the most dis
tinguished men in all the arts and
sciences. He was worth 40 900 tai
entS, which, counting a talent at
s. 600, amounts to $1,4S0. 900. 000 or
counting a talent at 81 600. half that
amount; and he mad an annual income
Of 14S0D talents, which amounted to
about $29,G00000. He lived 2S5-241 b.
c.. and his grandson was one of sew
eral husbands of Cleopatra.
Then we might mention Atticus. who
quite as eminent in his time as is Sec
Rotary Hay in this generation. He
MANAGED at the same time to keep on
good terms with Caesar and Pompey,
BrutuS and CasSius, Antony and Au-
gustus. and his most intimate friend
was Cicero. We do not know exact
" hoy rich he was. but he inherited
10 OCO zoo seSterccS from his uncle and
adopted father, CaecaliuS, and Il SEES
tertius was two and Il half pounds of
silver bullion. That means that he
got p 900 600 pounds of silver in one
lump, ana Mr. Bryan will tell you that
there are 16 silver dollars to the pound.
or should be. Atticus resembled Mr..
Rockefeller. in that he suffered from
indigestion and became 50 tired of it
that he starved himself To death in the
year - Il. c.. ut the age Of q.
Cicero was Il lawyer. and he must
have done very well in business. for he
paid $6I0Gp0 for his residence on Pal
atino HILL He was no doubt & cOrpor--
ltion attorney and advised the billion
aires of that day how to escape the
trust busters. Mcssala. friend of
Horace the poet. who distinguished
| ing. and was Il poet. historialh orator
| ana nrammarian as we'll aS Il r"liti
,ian. paid $2o00.c00 for his house.
which WAS about the price of Mr.. Car
nrai,'s. Seneca. the philosopher. WIS
worth $l2G 900. 900. When Caesar came
to the throne, he ow ed Sl4.0OO.0U0. and
| Mare Antony is charged with having
suulndered $500. 900 900 of public funds.
| .IIliiuS. the enemy of Cicero. PAID
| 81 900 900 for his residence. Lolita
Pauina inherited $500, 0000 0o from her
grandfather. L"lius. ana for a while
vas the wife Of the crazy emperor,
caligua.
| 1t took $50 900 Il year to support a
| Roman senator, and some of them had
| incomes of $i0O0.000 or $5,000,0o0 a
| year. They CAV" banQuetS that would
| make young Mr. Hyde's fancy dress
| party look like q country Sunday
| school picnic. AeSopns. tn" great tragic
| actor of Rome, we are told, mad" a
| fortune Of several hundred millions OF
dollars, which indicates that theatres
| were well patroniZed in those days
| but it WAS All Squander"h by his son.
| That foolish young man once took Il
| pearl worth $40.o00 from III" ear OF
| Cecilia Mctclla, dissolved it IN vine
! gar. and drank the solution one even
iI!g at n dinner party.
| And all the wealth Of those famous
DAYS was not found in Rome. You
have no doubt heard of ;'rorSus. who
| was the Rockefeller of his time; and
| Midas. who was a friend Of Bacchus
| which Mr.. Rockefeller is not. Eacchlls
| offered to grant any favor Midas
| might ask, and that greedy fellow de-
| sired that everything he touched be
| turned into gold. The request was
| granted, but when he sat down to din
ner. Midas was frightened nearly out
| of his wits, for his food became metal
as soon rs he lifted it upon his FORK
| Being gluttonous as well as greedy. ne
imnlored the god to revoke the fata
| gift. Eacchus ordered him to bathe III
| the river Pactoleus. That bath saved
| Midas. and the sands of the river
| turned TO gold. which was Just rs e"ou
i n;J OF in those