Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1910-04-22
Temporibus Hominis Arpinatis.

| lemporibuS HominiS ArpinatiS.
So many have been asking the mean
ing of the above, for the details of the
original presentation are already dim
in memory and to just what extent the
"Times of the Man of Arpinum" are to
be represented by the Middlebury Qui-
rites that a brief explanation of the
principal features of the portrayal is
timely. As a whole it will follow
that of ten years since, yet important
changes are to be noted.
First, the Latin department dsclaims
any intention, even remote, of supplying
a drama founded upon the eventful
happenings of Cicero's life Ben John
sons laurels are not only safe, but even
unassailed, so far as the present rep
resentation is concerned. At one of
the Latin conferences between the
School and College teachers, originating
in Middlebury, the odes of Horace and
other old Roman music were rendered
to interest the teachers. At the one in
1899 splendidly led by the class of 1900
famous passages in the Catiinians, the
Grafton for Murena, Sallust, Plutarch,
the Letters, etc, were strung together
to give a more or less connected story
of the events beginning with November
8, B. c. 63, and ending with September,
81. OF course here and there are found
links that will puzzle those most famil-
lar with the story of these stirring years.
For example, all we know about Cethe-
gus wild protes tation of innocence is that
denied in the most violent manner
Whether he said 'Nego', 'Falsum me
hercule, or 'Mendacia per Iovem', or
used even more lurid language, we do
not know nor shall we ever know. But
when he says, in our dramitization, Il
was always a fancier of good cutlery, /
we without doubt have the exact words |
of his bravado. In general, all that can
be gathered that is exact has been in
corporated; in other places is inserted
only that which seems at least proba-
BILE. The point to be emphasized again
and again is that in the words, the ges-
lures, the costumes, the stage setting,
and accessories, accuracy has been
sought for If these series of pictures
devised to interest teachers in their
work, has grown beyond their first in
tention and purpose, it is only an acci-
dent in the case, and the students well
come most heartily the presence of
those whose interest in the classics
may be that only of passing observers.
The current issue of THE CAMPUS has
the following barest outline of the ac-
tion of the various scenes:
Scene l will be in the Temple of
Apollo. The setting was especially
painted for the chorus ten years since.
About eighty young men and maidens
in the dimly lighted aisles will chant the
actual music, the actual words, of
Temple Hymn discovered some ninety
years since. The singing will be in
part antiphonal, in part unison. The
effect is wierd and striking
Scene ii will be the famous invective
(Which every school boy knows" One
cannot do better in describing this scene
than to quote some ones note in the
Register of May 18th, 1899
when the curtains at the front of
the enlarged stage parted at 8:15
O. clock, disclosing the Temple of Jubi-
ter Stator, the meeting place of the
Roman senate, spontaneous burst of
applause attested the delight of the
spectators in the beauty of the scene.
The rising tiers of senatorial benches.
the rows of marble columns receding to
seemingly impossible distances, and the
majestic statue of Jupiter that lowered
beneath the overarching dome, combin-
ed to give foretaste of what the even
ing had in store. Then followed the
entrance of the senator's, the appear
ance of Catiline in his place, the fiery
attack upon him by the maddened con-
sui, his bold command that Catline be-
take himself into exile, and the uproar
attending the withdrawal of the con-
spirator as with threats of vengeance
he rushed from view"
1t is no eXaggeration to say that those
who saw Mr.. Lake and Mr. Cady in the