The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-11-29
GREATLOVE
of HISTORY
Virginia and Icilius

SCsS,risst. ~ t.s Author.

A l5-year-old girl in 4&s b. {.
brough liberty TO Rome, The price she
paid was her own life. The girl vas
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 "Patriciaus." and the plain peo-
pie. who called themselves "Plebei-
ans" Applus Claudius. patrician.
had persuaded the Romans 10 elect as
their rulers a Decemvtrate council OF
ten mem. with himself at its 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 10 missov-
ern the city 10 suit themselves.
Some miles outside the walls one Of
Rome's two armies was encsmped- In
this army was a brave plebeian named
Lucius Virginius. who had risen to
the rank of centurion ,captainl. He
had one daughter. Virginia. whom he
adored. and who. In her fathers alb
sence. remained at the centurion's
house AT Rome under care Of her old
A Scholarly. nurse Young a.
she was. Virginia
had already fallen
in love with her fathers friend. the
brilliant young orator. lcilius. The
two were betrothed. although Virginia
was still a 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. lcilius rushed to his
frightened sweetheart's rescue. By
his fiery eloquence he stirred up the
u.s. 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 sec1etly to the army. ordering
its generals to prevent Virginius from
leaving camp. But q 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 II. 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. ciasped 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:
ION 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 ~.
rants Judgment seat. Appius ned to
his own house for safety. Meantime.
virginius. still gripping the red knife.
hurried to the army and told what had
occurred Icilius mounted q feet horse
and galloped to where Rome's other
army was encamped. Lashing tho
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
Tn. cI,nor for was overthrow
! Vengeance.
old popular government was resumed,
with Icilius and Virginius as tribunes.
Appius Claudius was thrown into
jail. There whether By execution or
suicide is not known. he met his
death. Virginia was avenged
The pretty. harmless little girl who
had been slain on the very threshold
of life and love did not die In vain
From her blood sprang liberty and tho
peoples rights. Yet the pathos Of the
sacrifice 30 far overshadows the ben
efts that II has KEEP; alive the mem
CRY of Virginia. in song. story and
drama for nearly twenty-five hundred
years.