The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1912-11-08

NOlted lUls keulle - LiS L n
wish Was the third emperor OF Rome.
q probable lunatiC who filled his shor'
reign with comic opera absuidities and
with u~nspeakable horrors His real
name was Caius Caesar Augustus eGr.
manicus. His habit OF wearing cali
gaze OF military boots. led the SOL
diers among whom he spent his boy.
hood TO nick name him "~Caliguia.'
Julius Caesar had made Rome ruler
OF the world. His nephew Augustus,
had been IT, first emperor. Augustus
was succeeded by Tiberius. 4 miser
and tyrant After the murder OF ri.
berius in 81 A u. young Caligula
great grandson OF Augustus became
emperor. lie Is generally believed 10
have caused Tiberius' death in order
To clear his " way 10 the throne.
The beginning OF Co!iqula's reign
was all thar cOGid be desired lie gave
promise OF being an ideal emperor. lie
lighiened he peoples burdens, forgaye
political enemies. set prisoners free
and governed the country 80 wisely
and merCi;ully that, when a. las he
fell dangerously Ill, all Rome went
into mourning.
Unluckily he recovered from the III
ness. But he came back 80 health 1t
wholly different man. The sickness
IS supposed 10 nave crazed him
That is the kindes' judgmeul rossi
Bile. The gentle. liberal emperor had
changed into a demon. His first step
was 20 begin a wholesale slaughter Of
his former friends When there were
no criminals To throw 20 The wild
beasts in the arena he ordered dozens
OF innocent spectators hurled 20 me
lions lie had a set OF torture imple
ments placed IN his dining nall so that
ne might enjoy watching prisoners tor
tured 10 death while be ate.
During a single year he wasted al Of
Tiberias carefully boarded fortune
more han S25.00O, 00n-and men over.
taxed the people 10 gain ncw money
Tor eXtgayagances. one OF his favor.
ito methods al getting wealth was 10
force his rich cour'iers 20 gamble with
him FOR enormous suns They dared
not win, for fear OF death. When
Caligula had won all their cash aud
jewels and estates ~ made hem axe
their ives on a throw az The dice
When they .o-' their relatives were
obliged 10 ransom them a. what've
amount Caiiguia misht name.
lie pro'essed 20 be a direct de
scenddnt OF ne god. and ne once al.
tempted 70 tsut a duel with the myth.
cal deity, Jupiter. by throwing stone
At the sky during a thunderstorm one
uob!cmap was executed Tor being bet.
,er dressed than he emperor, another
for bong better looking.
Calls "a had A horse he Owed. lie
kept Il in an ivory stall and ted IL OF
gllded oats from a mango OF marble
and gold In an outburst Of insanity
he even bestowed on This horse the
ran kof high priest aud cuucUl."
Seeking military glory CaIlgula once
hurried an army INTO Germany Tir.
ing c. THU campaign before a battle
had been fought. ne decided 10 invade
Britain. 50 ne embarked mis- troop for
that Island. Rut scarcely we're they
aboard The ships when he ordered
them AL on land again. Then. draw.
ing uP his army In line u battle on
the beach, he commanded mis- .Oldiers
10 MI their helmets with shells ana
pebbles They did so, aud he returned
10 Rome, announcing that he had con.
quered he ocean. He also dressed q
number o. his Gaellr subjects in Ger.
man costumes, then had them public,
ly executed ~ prisoners OF war cap,
turod In Germany
The imperial madman ruled he
world as might 2 violent maniac rakeu
from an asylum aud given lie and.
death control OF everything But hIl
crimes and follies were 700 great for
even the cdllOus Romans. An Officer
whom Caiigula had grossly insult ed
formed 4 conspiracy against him.
On January "a II \ Din the
tweuty.uin'h year o. his age and the
fourth year OF his vile ~rcigu-rhe con,
spirators forced an entrance iiso his
palace and slew him.