The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-28
Nurna, the Roman King,
Taught Wisdomby Egeria

the earliest and greatest OF statesmen.
But what does the world say about
Numa being taught statccraft by
woman2 Plutarch tells the tale and
gives the name of the teacher as
Egeria. the nymph presiding over the
fountain OF knowledge.
According to Plutarch Egeria had
the good of Rome deeply at heart and
was truly versed in matters pertaining
10 municipal welfare. Perhaps story
we'll told of the nymph in youthful
version of Plutarch's Tales recently ar
ranged by T. j. Gould. might serve to
refute the ideas OF those who con-
slider that women had no voice In
Roman affairs of state.
This is the story: UP the path
among the trees climbed the King
whose name was Numa. He sat down
on boulder of rock, beside big
pool of water The water trembled.
Euma watched it very closely A lady
clad in forest green, rose up from tho
pool and smiled at the King. and sat
on one of the rocks. This was not tho
first time he had met her, Often he
visited this spot and sat talking with
the nymph, whose name was Egeria.
We'll Numa. she said. and have
the Pontins mended the bridge over
the River Tiber?
Yes They have set men to WORK
to make it strong against the rush OF
the water.
DO the people obey the PontiffsT
Yes The other day the Pontihs
said the Romans were to hold holl-
day and every workman in the city
stopped his tools And when they SAID
it was time to SOW seed In the corn
fields the people did So.
ssf-t.. ~ And n IN
fire maidens attend to their duty
They do. have had them dressed
In white as you told me, and they keep
the IRE on the altar burning day and
night, so that the Roman folk may
always feel SAFE
And have you built the house for
the twenty Hcralds2'
Yes, Lady. II we have any quarrel
with any tribe we shall not think OF
going TO war unless the Heralds give
us leave
:" Have you made the eleven sheldsT
IL have had them made by clever
smith He copied very carefully the
one which fell from the sky, and which
the gods sent US. have chosen twelve
lively young men TO wear them and
20 perform the dance. What did you
tell me they were to do?'
..iDancing can only be done in the
month OF March. in honor of the god
of war. Mars. The young men must
wear purple jackets and shiny brass
heits and helmets They must carry
short swords and, as they leap along
the streets they must beat time on
their shields with their swords This
VIII cause the Romans to remember
that the city is strong. not by us
walls. but it's brave men, who carry
sword and shield for the defense OF
Rome and are ready 10. lay down their
lives for their brethren.
And now. Lady, want TO ask
YOU how to stop the people from going
on one another's lands
ON the border line between two
farms or gardens, hole must be dug.
sprinkle the lvIe with wine and honey,
the seeds OF plants. and sweet smell
Ing powders. Then let big stone Dc
dressed with ribbons and flowers. This
stone must he placed SO that 1t STANDS
upright above the soil in a line with
stones set at other points on the
boundary And II any man tries 70
deceive his neighbor and moves the
land mark to another spot. so as 70
make his own plot of land larger, then
curse shall be uttered upon the man
Snd his cattle. And every year, IN the
month of February. a feast shall be
held to the god Terminus. II SHAH
be a good thing for the FOLK TO meet
In peace pay respect TO the ahil'ia. !,
10 take his neighbours property.
....rhere is another matter l wish 10
ask about The Romans and the Sa-
bines dwell in the same city. but are
mot always friends.
.Do this, Numa. Tell all the shoe.
makers to live in the same part Oh
the town, whether they are Romans
nr Sabines. They will have COM
nany or society of their own, and meet
IN n hall TO make rules for the trade OF
fine shoemakers And, likewise shall
the musicians do, and the tanners, the
yoldsmiths the nasons. the dyers, the
brass workers, the potters ana al the
others
81 will do so. Besides this. Lady.
want to make a better reckoning OF
the days and aonths,
...IIow many months are there IN a
year. Numa? Ten? Well. now, you
must have twelve. UP TIL now you
hogan the year with March and the
,Ienth month, or December, was the
oast Tell the Romans to reckon this
NAV from now on: First month, jan
vary. second, February; third, March;
fourth. April fifth, May sixth. June.
md SO on to the twelfth, December
...All this will explain to the people
,of Rome ~
LADY of Silence. and think or What
have fold you. FAREWELL
Now, II Numa, learned from woman
how 10 make men bridge builders. how
to train them in obedience to .hell
governors, how to teach them to ne
religious and yet ready for defense In
war, how to bring them up with
proper respect for the property rights
of their neighbors, and knowledge
of the advantage of trade unions, ther
there is some ground for believing that
women sometimes originate as we'll as
lnspire; and have been doing SO since
the creation of the world.
If to this comforting theory be
added the idea that to woman through
q. Numa. the reform of the calendar Is
Nue why then the reproach as to the
conspicuous absence Of Roman womer
In the realm of the intellectual ane
the arena POLITICAL may be IN meas
ure relieved.
And isn't there woman OF to-day
who can trace her line straight pacF
TO Egera who sat in her Forest greer
beside her fountain, and taught wisdom
- ,ha frst one of the early kings, ina