The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-11-04
GREAT LOVE
STORIES
of HISTORY
Virginia and Icilius
By Albert PaySon Terhune
Copyright, by the Author.)

virginia. Her fate forms one of the
most romantic, dramatic love stories
in all history.
Rome was in those days swayed al
ternately by two great political par
ties, the wealthy aristocrats known
as "Patricians," and the plain peo-
pie, who called themselves "Plebei-
ans Appius Claudius, patrician,
had persuaded the Romans to elect as
their rulers Decemvirate Council of
ten mem, with himself at it's head.
This council had crushed the liberties
Of the people. The plebeians had for
merly been represented land protect
ed, by two elected officers, called tri-
Dunes. But the Office of tribune had
been abolished. Appius Claudius and
his favorites were allowed to misgov-
ern the city to suit themselves.
Some miles outside the walls one of
Rome's two armies was encamped In
this army was brave plebeian named
Lucius Virginius, who had risen to
the rank of centurion (captain). He
had one daughter, Virginia, whom he
duOiCu, anu WIN, III hCi iuthci . db-
sence, remained at the centurion's
house at Rome under care of her old
A Schoolgirls nurse. Young as
had already fallen
in love with her fathers friend, the
brilliant young orator, Icilius. The
two were betrothed, although Virginia
was still schoolgirl.
Appius Claudius had seen Virginia
passing to and from school and re-
solved to make her his slave. He
dared not seize her openly. So he
told Marcus Claudius, one of his hang
ers-on. to claim that she was one Of
Marcus own slaves, stolen from his
house in early childhood. The case
was to be brought before Appius, who
would give judgment in favor of Mar
Gus and later receive the slave from
him as a gift. Accordingly one morn
ing, as Virginia was hurrying to
school, Marcus and his servants ar
rested her. Icilius rushed to his
frightened sweetheart's rescue. By
his fiery eloquence he stirred up the
anger of the townsfolk against Appi-
us. A mob threatened the tyrant,
forcing him to modify his first plan of
deciding for Marcus. He agreed,
Plausibly, to postpone the hearing of
his case until the next day, so that
Virginius could be present to testify
In his daughters behalf. Then Appi-
us sent secretly to the army, ordering
its generals to prevent Virginius from
leaving camp. But messenger from
Icilius reached the father first, and
Virginius fastened to Rome Next
morning he and Icilius brought Vir-
ginia before Appius.
In vain the father and lover ap-
pealed for justice. Appius, without
waiting to hear the evidence, decreed
that the weeping girl was Marcus
slave. The people clamored against
this wicked decision and attacked the
man who made It, Appius summoned
his guard to beat back the crowd.
Virginius saw he could hope for no
redress either by force or by law. One
thing alone could save Virginia from
a life OF slavery. The fathers resolve
was quickly taken.
During the confusion Virginius drew
his daughter to one side, clasped her
to his breast and whispered words OF
tender farewell. He kissed her again
and again and - stabbed her to the
heart! Brandishing the reeking knife,
he strobe across to Appius Claudius,
crying:
"On your head be the curse of her
blood"
Icilius, wild with grief, snatched his
| dead loves body in his arms and held
| II aloft that all might see. The mob
| went mad with rage. They brushed
aside the guards and charged the ty-
rants judgment seat. Appius fed to
his own house for safety. Meantime,
Virginius, still gripping the red knife
| hurried to the army and told what had
| occurred. Icilius mounted a fleet horse
and galloped to where Rome's other
army was encamped. Lashing the
troops to fury by his passionate ora,
tory, he led them back to Rome There
| they Joined the army which Virginius
had aroused.
People and soldiery alike took pos
session of the city. The Decemvirate
| was overthrow
| y.s. and its members
| imprisoned. The
old popular government was resumed
with Icilius and Virginius as tribunes
Appius Claudius was thrown into
Jail. There (whether by execution OIL
suicide is not known he met hi.
death. Virginia was avenged.
The pretty, harmless little girl WHIT
had been slain on the very threshold
of life and love did not die in vain
From her blood sprang liberty and tn,
peoples rights. Yet the pathos of tn,
sacrifice so far overshadows the ben
efits that 1t has kept alive the mem
ory Of Virginia, in song. story ant
drama for nearly twenty-five hundret