Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-11-19
GREAT LOVE
STORIES
of HISTORY
Nero and Poppaea
Cow rlsht. " tbs ASther.i
BY Albert Pcyson Terhuns


daily TO the mansion OF Rome's most
beautiful woman, Poppaea Sabipa
There they were MIXED. The milk
was poured into huge marble tub.
In this tub Poppaea took her morning
bath, on the plea that washing In
donkeys' milk added to her beauty.
However true or false this theory may
have been, it certainly had the effect
OF advertising poppaea. II even
brought her to the notice OF the EN-
peror, Nero. and led to love AFFAIR
which was to cost thousands OF limo
cent lives
Octavius Julius Caesars nephew
had turned Rome from a republic 10
an empire, with himself as emperor.
His successors kept the title without
inheriting any OF its originator's
genius. At last weak, foolish man
named Claudius came TO the imperial
throne. In 40 b. c. he married his
niece, Agrippina. a wicked. clever wo-
man. who induced him to disinherit
his own son and to proclaim her young
son Nero as his heir. Having accom-
plished this. Agrippna poisoned
Ciaudius and set Nero on the throne.
The young emperor was at first gen
tie and wise ruler. meekly obeying his
ambitious mothers commands. But
fiatterers at court finally prompted
him to defy her and to run the empire
to suit himseif--and them. Still Agrip-
pina's influence was more or less pow
erfui over the youth until he met
Poppaea.
Poppaea Sabina
was wealthy and
""''~'' OF patrician fam
lily. AS a girl she had married no
bleman who bad divorced her. Then
she had married daring young sol
der and profiigate named Ohio. one oil
Nero's boon companions. Ohio loved
her jealousy. So when Nero. falling
in love with the beautiful woman. sug-
gested that Ohio give her up. the hus-
band fatty refused. In this refusal
he was backed by Poppaea herself.
Not that she cared for Ohio, but she
read Nero's nature, and knew that OPP
position would fan his fancy for her
into worship. She was justified in this
belief for Nero before long found
means OF separating her from the
heartbroken Ohio.
Poppaea had made up her mind to
be empress. Agrippina hated her.
Nero also had a wife, OCtavia. But
these obstacles did not check Pop
paea One by one she cleared them
away. She persuaded Nero that his
mother was conspiring against him.
and worked him to such frenzy OF
rage and fear that he had Agrippina
murdered. Next Poppaea induced him
to divorce Octavia and to consent to
her death. Nothing now stood in the
fair adventures way, and she and
Nero were formally married. Pop
paea's ambition was gratified. She
was empress of Rome. Moreover.
Nero loved her so madly that her light
est wish was his law. She could
brighten or cajole him into doing any
thing she desired. At her order one
after another of his sauer advisers
were put to death.
And now began period Of reckless
dissipation on the part OF Nero and
Poppaea that nearly wrecked the en-
pire. Poppaea brought out all that
was worst and maddest in Nero. and
spurred hin on to terrible deeds.
Among these (Which she is credited
by many authorities with suggesting
to her husbandt was the burning of
Rome in ga A. ID. While the city
burned the emperor composed and
sang an ode In honor of the confagra-
ton.
The plain people had been patient
under their rulers tyranny. But the
burning of their city drove them to
fury. Nero was frightened. Advised
by Poppaea and his fiatterers. he de-
clared the Christians had set fire to
Rome and put hundreds Of them to
death in barbarous manner by way Of
pretended punishment for the crime.
This for the moment pacified the peo-
pie. But soon fresh iniquities on the
part of the imperial couple angerec
them again. At last. in At Of jealous
rage. Nero one day struck Poppaea.
She died from the effects Of the blow.
Nero mourned her loudly and long and
wrote poems TO her memory. But his
own time Of retri-
button was at
Vengeance. hara .nd ,h.
man he had most wrcnged was to
punish him.
Ohio had joined with an old general
named Gslbs in stirring up the Roman
armies against Nero He marched 10
Rome at the head Of his legions to
avenge himself on the tyrsnt who had
robbed him Of his wife. IN spite Of his
haste Ohio turned aside long enough
in the march to visit the grave of
Poppaes. There. weeping. he piled her
last resting place with fresh flowers.
and passed on to his work Of ven
geance.