The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1912-06-06

voiced this gentle GALIGOCA
wish was the third emperor OF Rome.
= probable lunatic who filled his short
reign with comic opera absurdities and
with unspeakable horrors. His real
name was Caius Ceasar Augustus eGr-
manicus. His habit OF wearing cali
gae," or military boots, led the SOL
diers among whom he spent his boy
oood to nick name him "Caligula."
Julius Caesar had made Rome ruler
Of the world. His nephew, Augustus.
had been its first emperor. Augustus
was succeeded by Tiberius, miser
and tyrant. After the murder Of IT,
berius in 81 A. D. young Caligula
(great grandson Of Augustus) became
emperor. He Is generally believed to
have caused Tiberius' death in order
to clear his own way to the throne.
The beginning OF ColiQula's reign
was all that could be desired. He gave
promise of being an ideal emperor. He
iightened the peoples burdens, forgave
political enemies, set prisoners free
and governed the country so wisely
and mercifully that, when at last he
fell dangerously Ill, all Rome went
Into mourning.
Unluckily he recovered from the ILL.,
ness. But he came back to health q
wholly different man. The sickness
is supposed to have crazed him.
That Is the kindest judgment possi
BILE. The gentle, liberal emperor had
changed into a demon. His first step
was to begin a Wholesale slaughter Of
his former friends. When there were
no criminals to throw 10 the wild
beasts in the arena he ordered dozens
of innocent spectators hurled 10 the
lions. He had set OF torture imple-
ments placed in his dining hall so that
he might enjoy watching prisoners tor
tured to death while he ate.
During a single year he wasted all Of
Tiberius' carefully boarded fortune
more than $25, 900, ,0OO-and then over
taxed the people to gain new money
for extravagances. One OF his favor
ite methods OF getting wealth was to
force his rich courtiers to gamble with
him for enormous sums They dared
not win, for fea- of death. When
Caligula had won all their cash and
jewels and estates he made them stake
their lives on a throw Of the dice.
When they lost their relatives were
obliged to ransom them at whatever
Caligula might name.
He professed to be a direct de-
scendant Of the gods. and he once at
tempted to fight duel with the myth
cal deity. Jupiter. by throwing stones
at the sky during a thunderstorm. One
nobleman was executed for being bet
tor dressed than the emperor; another |
for beng better looking.
Callgula had horse he loved. He
kept it In an ivory stall and fed 1t on
gilded oats from manger Of marble
and gold. In an Outburst Of insanity |
he even bestowed on this horse the
ran kof high priest" and "concul." !
Seeking military glory, Caligula once
hurried an army into Germany. Tir-
Ing Of this campaign before a battle
had been fought. he decided to invade
Britain. SO he embarked his troops for
that island. But scarcely were they
aboard the ships when he ordered
hem all on land again. Then. draw
ng up his army In line Of battle on
he beach, he commanded his soldiers
% fill their helmets with shells and
pebbles. They did so, and he returned
% Rome. announcing that he had con-
luered the ocean. He also dressed a
of his Gaelic subjects In Ger
nan costumes, then had them public
y executed as prisoners of war cap
.ured In Germany"
The imperial madman ruled the
world as might violent maniac taken
rom an asylum and given llfe-and-
leath control Of everything But his
,rimes and follies were too great for
wen the callous Romans. An officer
whom Caligula had grossly insulted
ormed a conspiracy against Kim.
On January "a, Al A. DIN the
wenty-ninth year Of his age and the
ourth year Of his vile reign-the con-
'plrators forced an entrance into his
,alace and slew him.