The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-03
SHADES OF OLD ROMANS.
The time: To-day.

The time: To-day.
The place: A mausoleum under the
former site of the public forum OF
ancient Rome.
Antony tstartled by the connection
overhead) Have you heard, o Cesar,
OF him who comes to Rome to-day?
CGsar-No. gentle Antony, but the
noise and turmoil above our heads be-
speak much excitement. Who comes?
Antony--You knew not? a man
who has conquered the whole world
and divided 1t into fourteen parts
and
Cicero awakened by the CONVERSE
prattle of that know nothing. Silence
him and Will tell you; for with him
or to him l do not speak.
CRsar-Have you not forgotten the
sentence Of death which Antony passed
upon you yet? Have you not forgotten
your petty political troubles? Friend
Cicero, you are old fashioned L
though ] sleep more than either of
you--have heard that the order of the
day is adjourned politics. Abandon
your party differences, then, and speak
what's In your mind.
Ciccro-Pardon, noble SIR, / will
speak. The man who to-day visits
our great Rome is the spokesman for
the Senate OF a distant country in an
other hemisphere. He comes to Italy
to seek approval for n series Of docu-
ments-fourteen In number-which his
, own Senate has not sanctioned. Ihave
forgotten his name--but he has won a
great war with tho pen. Mark you,
o 1mperator. with the pen.
Caesar (frowning)- These pen push
ers have their place. hut It's the men
OF the sword who make the world go
| round.
Antony Feeling that oratorical abil-
| ity is classed with pushing)
Cesar. with your gracious permission
may | say that these fourteen COM
| mandments - which Cicero refers
have planned IA new world. They are
the fundamentals for an empire
greater than yours, for Il will encom-
pass all lands and prescribe the free
dom of oil waters. They are the great
est ever written.
| Cicero-Bah This foreign states
man cannot even move his Senate TO
applause. what OF his cosmio four
'"en principles? Did I not give the
world fourteen Incompatible adj
dresses? You remember them well.
Antony, for they exposed tho corrup-
ton Of your triumvirate and enraged
the public 'gainst you.
| Cesar (angrily)-Be modern! Pol
itics Is adjourned, I say. Come, Marc
Antony, you seem more worldly wise
tell me OF these doings.
| Antony-Thanks, Cesar, / will
| These mortals had a war in further
Gaul which soon spread over all the
world. From II small occidental uni
versity arose gifted man OF letters
who, imbued with the spirit Of repub.
lican Rome, which advocated the rule
OF ono man, decided that. to quote
him, to make the world safe for some
| kind OF political condition an empire
must be founded on the style OF yours
"A world consolidated in one state
To gain this proposed state he LAID
down fourteen points. But his owr
Senate, probably splted by his refusa-
to ask their opinion Of his famous
fourteen. would not ratify them
Somehow he remains their spokesman
under any condition. and so he comes
to Rome. where his declarations, twice
the number of the hills OF Rome are
more popular than even my address:
at your funeral
Cicero-Or my condemnation OF
YOU
Cpsar-Hush And you say, An
tony, this man. Consul Of distant
republic, has conquered the world with
his pen?
| Antony-Yes.
Cesar-And he attempts TO govern
his conquests?
.Cicero-He desires TO have the world
run according 70 his Fourteen.
| Cesar--Weli, then. II could war;
him and he could hcarken 10 my
words. Thrice was offered the crown
of Rome TO me. and thrice did I re-
fuse. But truthsully. I tell you,
would fain have taken = but did
know that then they would have
called me ambitious.
Antony (snicllerinGl They did any
way. o noble Cesar
"a crash overhead. The trampinc
OF marching feet. Cries OF HAIL
leader" "Welcome, wilson," &c)
Cesar tdazed)-Ah how direren
these moderns he Hear how the!
greet the man who seeks 20 impose
upon them his fourteen command
ments. I would sleep again. (Fal
asleep, murmurlnE) Better be first Il
little Ibcrian village than second Il
| Rome.