New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-09-01
u Fascinating Study of Manners q"
the Ancient World

,..sor Of given peIloU AiN-'' ~
A"e - written records OF 'ne "'"e' - -
h'era,ui 80. for the edihcaion anu eii1ei
Is 10 DC ~ u.raral reader. calls for gifts OF d
nlent y ub,ch in combination are sum
hsh 90. enough that the writer si'oDiu De
rare .-,,n the spirit. the very essence u ms
''nD" rs have the power 10 uars4hu'e '''"'
80 ,bought OF to-day; ne rnus' Ha' - ~
in'o - -, that VIII break through conventions
NC a.,obish those Illuminating coihpei .9'-'
~. 49,. che chief profit OF history ne must iia
=, his subject that will place ms siiice'''s
.,e,IcIon and he must possess slsle W
attention. 10 charm and divert WINE IL
- de- ,oore serious purpose These siA'S IL
-, h,s,es in supeTlative measure 10 aA
''-I ., one Of the most fasciha'ihs pei'ous
p,-..r history; but. more than that' MS "oiA
u - an unusual and elusive quality' inc
@ strong memory combineo win We"
- lind by which he is able 10 co-ofuii'
"a. obviously related, 10 iortiS ms
.,,rs bv reference and aliusion' 10 orihs up
...,oo,,ea for word or unexpected phrase ~
% -,,r. 70 his conclusions. AS result We
- -, mere catalogue OF human events In
-. .nosts OF men and women move stately
- formally TO their appointed ehus' uu'
- NJ real people, throboing Win me- %
- lessons. interests and pecuharl'ies WIN
Yet Il is not history IN me oiui-
..rss as the writer strictly limits hi''seii
,,,.r moral and intellectual hIe Oh 'i'e
" s,s nsys comparatively little Afternoon 10
''.S -, events and the machinery OF govern
merit .,. ,,o.ss.. NJ 6 Nero
So ra,en OF the philosophers Is so aoruPI as
A. r,erest successive waves OF REFORM anu 'eA
-. ,n which servile people easliy conforms 70
-. rsnidly changing standards OF the court
D., the testimony Of the historians Goes MOI
D.. ,.Tef n snv sudden moral revolution
T. Is more reasonable 10 suppose mat society
go. was not so rotten as Juvenal ana the
$50. r,.sa ont rOn countless tombs We
-, az -ecord or the ideal OF a family life of
soher honest Industry and pure affection IN
- calm Of rural retreats in Lombardy or
=. v.bna the capital was frenzied with
,4c;oys indulgence or seething with conspiracy
ons desolated by massacre, there were many
,.,,,es living in almost Puritan quietude, where
tbe moral standard was in many respects as
high es among ourselves The provinces en-
,ores : freedom from oppression, even under
,ba 4vrants. which they had not known under
,hs renublic. and Governors tainted with every
r,,,.s,s vice were solicltous Of their reputation
%, integrity. So the peculiar distinction Of the
An+onine age IS not 10 be sought in any moral
resolution among the mass Of men. We have
snlendtd DEVELOPMENT Of the material side Of life.
I, mas an age Of engineers and architects who
burt roblv and oyercame stupendous natural
obstacles Al the same time philosophy be-
came q religion and devoted itself 10 private
direction OF CHARACTER and the preaching OF
higher life. The Antonine age saw for a brief
space the dream OF Plato realized, when kings
should be philosophers and philosophers should
be kings Philosophy had given up its detached
and naughty reserve or outspoken opposition
TO imperial power In the second century II
lent al its forces TO az authority which in the
hands Of the Antonine princes seemed 10 answer
to its ideals The y0taries Of the higher life.
after their persecution under their last cruel
oespot rose TO an influence such they had
never welded save in the Pythagorean aristoc-
rscies OF Southern Italy Philosophy now began
to inspire legislation and statesmanship Its
professors were raised 10 the consulship and
great prefectures. Above all II incarnate,
as II we're, in the ruler who. whatever we may
think Of his practical success brought TO the
euties Of government a loftiness Of spiritual
detachment which has never been equalled by
any ruler OF men Whether there was any cor
responding elevation 81 conduct or moral tone
IN the mass OF men may well be doubted by any
one who has studied the melancholy thoughts OF
the sanity emperor" But II We cannot assume
that heightened religious feeling and the efforts
OF philosophy had brought about any widespread
transformation Of character, il was at least
great step in advance TO have clemency in place
OF brutality ana for all men. especially for those
OF the highest social grade. it WAS easier to be
virtuous
IL Is Interesting 10 follow the author into a
consideration OF his authorities, and we are re-
"afded by some speaking portraits. Tacitus
was great orator and he had the faults Of the
rhetorical school yet he had had practical ex-
perleace as soldier and administrator, and re-
aIzed The unTeasonableness Of ordinary men
His t'eA. is not . political but q moral one.
The The interest Of history TO Thucydides and
.o.s' Jus Hes ~ The political lessons which il may
49, llslerlty It's interest Tacitus lies IN the
80 =; hlaaen motives and The secret Of char
reTer ~ ",-lcilhs the stages Of an inevitable de
NE moral preparation for i dark, insiOri
,,sf, 20 ana Tie anualist was a curiCusly vivid
~ q character. the character Of individuals.
e.,p efi2as, = peoples Ills portraits burn them
$3.50 ea.ts leto the Imaginative memory so that the
LII sssloii once seized never be lost IT.
eetlgs and Caudius and Nero MessaIina and Az
f,s ~ silte q the most m9rdant criticism, VIII
,s5 5'feFer as they have been portrayed by the
go, Iasg9aticn q Tactus. Nor is he less
@ lss S.'a vivid IA depicting the collective feel
re III IL ,lSsIacler q masses OF men We watch
~ ~ e'ialg fury and repentance Of the mutinous
ana ',s ~ geiihancps. or the mingled fierceness
fie..S S.,.tT via which they wandered among the
fbe , .F bones N he lest battlefield of Varus.
,.,tt "a ~ g1d and admiraton with which the
- on cohorts kissed the self-inficted wounds
= mastery study 4 the satirists presents a
,'.I arson q Juyona and Martial, showing the
.1'.hins correspondence between them. not only
~ 1elF iaVo.ite Characters, but in their pictures
- ,He whole state Of morals. Both linn the
- 'iien' the niggardly patron, the success
au'saF lmpostors. Both are bored by the
s-D'''sS q wealthy scribblers. both deal rather
1NseAuy with the character of women. and
.,-'4i'es' love for the peace and freshness and
+'si'y o. the country farm. Yet with all these
o. likeness there is the widest difference
"a fff.1a -.