The sun., 1905-09-03
SOME NEW hooks.
Rsuan seciety' in the Empires Closing
Century,


Rsussn society in the Empires Closing
Century.
! Last week We directed attention to the
remarkable book by Prof. SAMUEL DILL.
In which was brought to focus all the
light thus far attainable on the social and
evoion,iuAi changes in the condition OF the
Roman world during the period which
elapsed from tho death OF Nero to that OF
Marcus Aurelius. The same author has
undertaken with equal success more dif-
hcult task In companion work which
portrays Roman Society In tho Lda Cen
fprp OF the Weslern EWpire (Nia cmillans) The
political or general history Of the century
that intervened from the death OF Julian
the Apostate to the deposition OF Romulus
Augustulus. the last puppet Emperor OF the
West, has been recounted once for all by
tho author OF the Decline and Fall:
IL IL at least improbable that any English
writer will venture to trespass on the field
which Gibbon has preempted. The sub
iect o! the narrative before us is much
more specific: 1t is mainly what 1t processes
to be a transcript OF the inner life and thought
OF the last three generations in the Western
Empire. II external events are referred
to at all II Is only because mems private
fortunes and feelings cannot be wholly
severed from the fortunes OF the State.
The author points out In preface that
the limits OF the period covered by this
study OF Roman society-a study at once
first hand and eclectio-have not been
arbitrarily chosen. The last hundred years
of the Western Empire seem marked of
both by momentous events, and also, for
the student Of society, by the authorities
at his command. The commencement OF
the period comedies roughly with the pas
sage Of the Gothic hordes across the Danube,
the accession Of Gratian and Theodosius,
the termination OF the long truce between
paganism and the Christian Empire. and
the reopening Of the conflict. which, within
twenty years, ended with the final prohibi-
ton OF heather rites. 1t closes not only with
the dethronement OF the last shadowy
Emperor Of the West, but with the practical
extinction Of Roman power in tho great
prefecture OF the Gauls. Even more
obvious are the lines drawn for the subject
by the fullest extant authorities.
The earliest surviving letters OF SYM
machus. which describe the social relations
OF the last generation OF great pagan mobiles,
belong to the years 376-390. The literary
and political activity OF Ausonius comedies
with the Same years, and from his poems
is derivable an invaluable picture Of pro-
vincial society in the reigns Of Gratian and
Theodosius. A searching light is thrown
on the same generation by some OF the
letters Of st. Jerome, by the Sdturndlia Of
Macrobius and by many inscriptions. At
the later end OF the period considered in
this volume students are almost equally
I'D,
ton. The writings Of ApollinaFis Sidonius
Of Auvergne furnish priceless revelation
OF the state Of society both in Rome and
in Gaul from the accession Of Avitus till
the final triumph Of the Visigothic power.
To our authors eye there is a certain bond
Of union among these and other scattered
materials when they are closely scrutinized.
At the beginning OF the period-say A. D.
376-Roman society is, indeed, sharply
divided in determined religious struggle,
and the sharpness OF the contrast has an
edge given to it by the increasing fervor
Of ascetioism. At the hottest moment
Of the conflict, however, there was mass
Of skepticism, lukewarmness or wavering
conformity between the confines OF the OPP
posing creeds. The influences which in
spired that attitude Of indifference had not
spent their force at the close Of the fourth
century. Even after the terrors OF the anti
pagan laws had produced an outward SUBJ
mission the Christianity Of many of the
noble and lettered class seems to have
been far from enthusiastic. The disci-
phne Of the schools long continued to be a
powerful rival Of the Church. Men who
had received that training were stepped
In the lingering sentiment of paganism
and looked with distrust, or even with
contempt, on the severer forms Of Christian
renunciation. Our author, for his part,
scarcely doubts that Sidonius in his early
manhood and some OF his friends down
even to the fall of the Western Empire
would have been far more at home in the
company Of such pagans as Symmachus
or F1avianus than In that of the ascetic
st. Paulinus Of Nola.
Those who take up this book with an ex-
pectation OF finding in 1t an account Of
the rise Of Christianity to supremacy or an
exposition Of the condition Of Christian Or
ganikAtion and doctrine in the period under
revicw will be disappointed. It would, Of
course, be impossible to treat Of Roman so
ciety 1t such time without some reference
10 those who devoted themselves to the
hisher ideals Of Christian life. So far,
however, ~ the specific purpose Of this book
Il concerned, such exemplars Of Christianity
belong rather to the future than to the
present. With the depicting OF which our
author Il directly concerned. In these pages
the readers interest is concentrated upon
those whose greatest pride 1t was to preserve
and transmit the traditions Of the past.
The principal aim Of the work before US is,
IN Ane. to reslscitate that worldly society
which In its ideals, homes and external
fortunes had undergone but little change
between tho reign Of Gratian and the depo-
dillon Of Romulus Augustulus.
For convenience the work is divided into
several lboolIs and fourteen chapters. Among
other subjects. these deal with such interest
ing topics a. the pagan Aristocracy,' the
sLAst Conflicts Of Paganism With the Chris
tian Empire, the Causes Of the Vitality Of
the Later PaganiAm,' the Indictment Of Ro-
man Societyin the Empires Closing Century
BY Heather and Christian Moralists,' the
General Character Of the Barbarian Inva-
sions and tho Relations Of Romans with the
Invaders" the 'Roman Feeling about the
Invasions and about the Future Of the En-
pire,' and the characteristics Of Roman