The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-01-15
NERO AND ST.PAUL
DID MOST FOR
MANKIND
NERo's MARTYRS AWoKE WORLD
TO PAUL's GOSPEL, SAYS iTAL-
IAN PROFESSOR - EMPEROR
RULED BY PETTicoATs.

NEW YORK, Jan. 14.-Bracketing
Nero and st. Paul as the two ancients
to whom Christianity. art and civiliza-
ton owe more than TO any two men
In history. Prof. Ferrero, the Italian
historian, attacked without gloves the
mass OF tradition which links the
name OF Nero with all that is gloomy,
malignant and worthless.
Prof. Ferrero lectured at Columbia
university to an audience composed
largely OF students OF history and men
OF science. He reviewed the career OF
history's most reviled character from
his birth to his death. and made him
out. instead OF the monster that he
I has been painted, a young man whose
worst crimes were the crimes OF an
age rather than OF man. and whose
apparent malice was nearly always
nothing worse than the wrath OF a
monarch harrassed by perpetual pet.
ticoat rule.
Nero. said Prof. Ferrrero, was ex-
allied to the rule OF Rome at the OF
III by a mother who was the slave
OF ambition and a pastmistress OF in-
trigue and statecraft Hers was a
dominant character, his an informed
one, Of which the most salient trait
was extreme amiability His mother
who had from his birth determined
him for a Roman emperor. had dele
gated his training for that office 20
two slaves. dancing master and a
barber
Mother Assumed Control.
Agrippina, his mother, instantly as
sured the control OF Rome on her sons
accession to its throne keeping him in
the background. endeavoring to band
the Roman people to her will. She
was an able ruler enough. but had firm
ideas on civic economy and began to
burden the nation with a policy OF ma
tional parsimony and retrenchment
The people began to hate her and to
love Nero. He was amiable, lenient
and frivolous. She was stern. serious
and a niggard. The people became ex-
cited when Nero finally rebelled
against her domination and took his
side against her.
He. on his part though. was greatly
in fear OF her She had married him
out of hand TO Octavia, daughter OF
Emperor Claudius. whom she poison.
ed and later he acquiesced when she
poisoned Brittanlcus. his most formid-
able rival for the throne
II was not. until Nero came under
the spell OF his mistress, Poppaea Sa
bina, that he took courage 10 rid him
self OF his mothers dictation IL was
Poppaea. according TO Prof. Ferrero.
who put him up to attempting his
mothers life by sending her TO sea In
a collapsible barge, which the crew
had orders to scuttle when far enough
of shore TO be certain that Agrippina
would be drowned She. though. -
history knows, swan ashore, but kept
her hands on Nero after that. realiz.
Ing that he had outgrown her domin.
ion.
II was there according TO the lee.
turer. that Nero's real services TO man
king began. Prompted by Poppaea. he.
through her. beggared the provinces
and emptied the national Golfers fos.
tered and paironizod the arts OF
Greece. heretofore abhorred by Re.
mans
He wrote plays aud acted in Their,
at Naples. choosing that city for his
theater because It was Greek In spirit
and could understand his passion for
ert
Neros services 20 art and TO man.
kind were Interrupted BY the great
Roman confederation Then. according
TO Prof Ferrero. some OF Nero's
enemies spread the rumor that ne had