The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-06-13

Cesar" George II. Doran Company
tells OF a black panther that was
favorite possession of the Emperor
Callgula. This was a pampered animal.
When II was not publicly employed In
the mutilation and edacious disposition
OF persons Objectionable to the Emperor
Ii lived in handsome house OF its own
in a secluded part OF the imperial gar
den. The cat family is not supposed to
be fond of the water, but Caligula's
panther had a swimming bath carved
out Of a great block OF African marble,
wherein 1t could battle grandly II II had
the inclination. Its diet. we should add,
was not restricted to human beings. IL
had a feeding trough made Of gold. and
1t was provided literally with capons
and peahens carefully selected and fat
tened.
The black panther was sleek and
glossy, with a broad. fiat head and tiny
golden eyes The Emperor loved TO
watch II at meal times whilst cries OF
unspeakablc horror and agony rent the
air with their hideous sounds" When
II was needed in the public arena II
was transported thither in a gilded cage
surmounted by the imperial standard
and drawn on massive wheels OF steel
by sixteen negro slaves adorned with oe-
trich feathers that had been dipped in
scarlet dye. 1t Is an exciting part or
the story that tells what happened when
Taurus Antnor. the Project of Rome.
and young Hortenslus Martius, the rich
patrician owner of 5000 slaves" went
into the arena where the panther was.
The Project was OF British descent.
He was a man OF splendid physical
powers. Hortensus Mart.us once in
suited him In the Forum. Thou
pstrician of Rome?" sneered Horton
sius. Thou. a tyrants minion. slave
and son OF a slave Nay. II the patri-
ciate OF Rome had It's will with thee
II would have thee publicly whipped
and branded like the arrogant mental
that thou art" OF course this language
could not be overlooked. A spectator
described what followed as having the
semblance of tempest uous whirl-
wind" from which issued presently AN
enormous figure clad in gorgeous
tunic and standing high" even on the
rostrum OF Augustus. which was We
believe, the Hottest rostrum in the place.
ut was the Project" continues the elo-
Quent spectator. From where I stood.
palsed with fear. I could see his face.
dark now AS the very thunders of Ju-
piter: his hair around his head cleaned
like copper in the sun. but what caused
my very blood to freeze and the marrow
to stffen in my bones was TO see his
two mighty arms high above his
head holding the body OF my lord Hor-
tensius. He looked up there like some
godlike giant about to hurl an enemy
down from the mountains OF Olympus.
The rostrum stands a terrific height
above the pavement Of the Forum: the
marble balustrades. the outstanding
gradients, the carvings along Its sides
all stood between that inert body held
UP aloft by those gigantic arms and
the hagstones below. where Death hide
Gus and yawning, seemed TO be waiting
for It's prey. And still the Project did
not move, and could see the muscles
Of his arms swollen like cords and the
sinews Of his hands almost cracking
beneath the weight Of my lord Horton
sius's body"
Hortensius was spared. He was SCI
down softly. But he did not remember
this mercy: he was very foolish. Al
Caius Nepos's dinner to the conspira'
tors soon afterward we find him kneel'
ing upon his couch and pounding
against the cushions like an angry
child He was angry at the gian'
Project again. He waved his arms
about like the wings of a night bird
and anon he seized a goblet Of heavy
solid metal" and flung 1t at the Project
who thereupon seized him by the shout
ders. 1t was "a grip as OF a double vic'
OF steel" II caused the very bones
Of Hortensius TO crack. mo claw o
desert beast was flrmer or more unre
lenting"-that is for half a minute o.
so, for the young patrician was agaii
spared.
The Project fell in love with Del
Flavia at first sight. She was a daugh
ter Of the C@sars. naughty. perverse
not q little disagreeable for time, bu
she. changed. We find the Prefec
passing her palace one night and re
garding ''one OF the tiny windows.
where "peeped a Pickering light" II
wondered IL that was her sleepin
chamber, and pictured her reposin
amid embroidered coverlets and cush
ions, her fair hair falling about her i
waves; also "he wondered whether !
sleep a dewy tear had perchance pu
priceless diamond on her golde
lashes." Surely 1t is no harm to whispe
1ndt Illle edTlIeT III the evening OIL
had flung a heavy bronze mirror In
At of anger and wounded the shoulde
Of a young female slave She repente
Immediately, and very likely II tea
now trembled on her golden lashes
was a penltent and absolving tear.
The crazy antics OF Caligula are pi'
tured frequently in the story. We So
that demented monarch raging abol
with a whip composed OF Ave thongs
solid knotted leather at the end I
each OF which was an iron hook. Fro
these Ave hooks a few droIs Of bloc
were trckling down his white sill
tunic." He was at work among
roomful of slaves. Occasionally "tf
mailman would break out into a diabo
ical ut of laughter" Also, nd rath'
curlously, he uttered "a cry like that OF
slaughtered OK, which shook he marb
pillars OF the hall" whereafter he thre
himself upon the bed and writhed the
like "A mad beast, biting the coverlet
and beating the woodwork with h
fists. Caius Nepos was a witness
this outbreak and was so frightened tn
he took to his heels, holding his ca
ito shut out the awful sounds that pu
sued him all down the corridors" q