The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1912-01-31
Culpurniia
A Story Ct Ancient Rome
BY F. a. Mitchell
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.

OF small FARMERS VINO were DeAHS eatei'
up by large landholders. This class,
called Curiales. had formerly been one
Of the governing elements OF Rome
and was considered very honorable.
But becoming impoverished they were
constantly selling out to or coming un'
der the protection Of those persons
who held thousands Of acres where
they held but a few.
There was in one Of the Roman
provinces family, the Fabii, who
had accumulated very large landed
estate Lying at the foot Of hill on
which was the castle Of Lucius Fa-
bus lived one Of the Curiales, Sido.
MUS. whose affairs were getting into
very bad shape. Sidonius was an old
man and had but one child, daugh-
ter, Culpurnia. One day her father
called her into the atrium or living
room of their dwelling and said to
her:
my daughter, we must sell our
farm Like so many Of our class. |
have found 1t impossible to keep my
head financially above water. In a
few days !, being tax collector. must
return to the government the taxes
levied upon my district and am re-
Quired to fill from my own purse any
deficiency that the people cannot pay.
Go to the castle and tell Fabius that
l am ready to accept the sum he has
offered me for my property. This will
enable me to make up the deficiency"
But, father. what shall! become Of
us?''
81 see nothing for US but to grad
ually sink into slavery, as has been
done by so many Of our class"
Cupurnia could only obey her ia.
TIERS order Passing over the ground
between her fathers farm and the hill
on which stood the castle, she was
starting up the incline when she met
q young man coming down. He sa-
luted her and asked her where she was
going. She told him that she was go
ing to the castle to see Fabius to tell
him that her father must make up Il
deficiency in the taxes he was unable
to. collect and would sell his farm for
the purpose
81 have Just come from the CASTLE"
said the young man. "and Fabius is
not there. Return to your home and
20 again tomorrow. when you will see
him"
So Culpurnia turned back, and the
youth walked beside her. He told her
that Fabius was a very grasping man
and would make very hard terms with
her father, to which she replied that
the terms would make no difference
Tor her father would be obliged to sell
her into slavery and was himself old
and broken in health, so that he had
at most but few years to live.
When they reached a point where
the roads parted the young man took
leave Of the girl. expressing his sor-
row at her misfortunes. Culpurnia went
home and told her father why she had
returned without going to the castle.
The next morning the young man
whom CulpN-nia Ind met came to the
farmhouse.
How much" be asked, lis the de-
ficicncy in the taxes your father must
return to the government"
Twenty thousand sesterces." replied
the girl.
The young man turned wallet up
side down over the table and dropped
q heap Of coins.
Count from this enough to dis
charge the debt and If there is any
thing over keep 1t till return
And so the sale Of the farm and Cul-
purnia into slavery was avoided mt the
time The young man who had fur
nished the money to pay the taxes
came occasionally to the house and
told Culpurnia that when they needed
more money to let him know and on
no account to go to Fabius. who would
take their farm and send them out into
slavery.
There was no courtship among the
Romans. marriage being arranged by
parents. Bethrothed persons did not
even usually see each other till they
came together to be married. One day
an uncle Of Culpurnia came to the
farm and. after an interview with her
father, it was announced to Culpurnia
that a marriage had been arranged for
her. This lifted burden from her
shoulders, but cast her into gloom. be
cause she had come to love the young
man who had loaned the money for
the taxes. All she was told Of him she
was to marry was that he had some
means, belonged to her own class and
was not much older than herself. His
name was Marcellus.
When the day for the betrothal came
round a chariot stopped at the farm.
and the groom came into the house at
tended by large retinue. AS he en-.
tered the room where his bride await
ed him dressed in wedding costume
she started deep blush came upon her
cheek. and her eyes lighted with pleas
ure. In Marcellus she recognized the
young man who had loaned the money
After the betrothal ceremony camethe
preparations for the wedding, and aft
or the two we're made man and wife