Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-08-24
DISCOVERED WART
ON CESAR'S FACE
Pen Picture of Great Roman Re-
corded on Recently Discov-
cred Tablet.

Through the courtesy Of DR.. Aloysius
CRUDE we are enabled to publish the follow.
ing interesting fragment, lately discovered
while excavating for n new villa In the
suburbs of Rome DIR. Grube's scholar
ship has succeeded in deciphering the
tablet, which was in bad condition., IT
proves to be no less than an account OF
half-hour spent in the presence OF Casar
at the most important period OF the great
empire-maker' career; the tablet is dated
and shows that the interview must have
taken place during those famous eleven
days Cesar spent in Rome between the
crossing of the Rubicon and the defeat OF
Pompey. The reader will recall the state OF
Rome at that time, the Senate had fed
Italy with Pompcy at the approach OF
Casars legions; the administration, lett IN
Antony's hands, had not been able to
bring order out of chaos, a financial
panic impended; bankruptcy proceedings
followed each other in alarming success
sion; the public quivered between en-
thusiasm for the defender of Italy and
fear lest he be not strong enough to keep
Rome from the horrors of invasion by
Pompeys Asiatic hordes-all was con-
fusion and excitement, and no one but
knew mighty events were forming. 10
have gained admission To Cgsar presence
in this portentous interval was choice
privilege, and the interviewer attests his
sense of the importance of it by commit
ting the details of the encounter to
careful record. Who he was is a matter OF
conjecture; DR. Harold Whttlehack adj
vances several theories, but DIR. CRUDE be-
lieves him to- have been one of the pro-
fessional newsmongers who made a living
and a reputation by collecting lnforma-
IL r -. H.. Il 4,.t LINN
these to the crowds which gathered in the
plazas 10 listen TO speakers and musicians.
The top of the tablet has been broken
off, and the account begins in the middle
of a sentence).
- with rich ornament and in the
best of taste. He made no question whence
| was come or why, but went IN and re-
turned shortly. | was to enter. lie pre-
ceded me and announced my name IN a
ringing voice. There was a crowd OF men,
and the defender OF Rome parted them
and strobe through them and clasped my
right hand He saluted me by name. His
tone was friepdlv, more friendly than |
remembered it ten years agone. He babe
me wait, and thus provided me with the
opportunity to observe him; the fruits
of that privilege | now share with YOU.
He sat at a writing table, an amau-
uensis on either side. Occasionally he
thrust one foot in advance of the other,
causing his tunie 70 slip slightly above the
knee. The tunlc was, judge, a new one; II
was heavy and in the best Of taste. His
cloak was folded over the back of the scat.
1t was befitting a soldier, and vet it sug-
gested Enthusiastically the patrician. It..
was a noble cloak shall not soon forget
II.
He is undoubtedly an extraordinary
man; the fatherland is blessed In him. He
dictated at once TO both amanuenses, and
while they were coming abreast OF his
winged words, he spoke with the many
Romans who pressed about his table.
This is indeed the man who crossed the
Rubicon; no waters can stay him. was
amazed 10 observe him suddenly rise and
bid the amanuenses retire with him for a
moment while he two lines of the
tablet have been completely obliterated
here, and DR.. CRUDE can offer no guess as
to their meaplnp1 during the whole |
despatch of the matter he did not inter |
rupt his debating, and returned to the |
writing desk without missing a word or
making a pause. This IS in very truth, | |
said to myself, the oeconomica which we /
preach but seldom practice.
At length he summoned me to the |
nearer circle. | then made the discovery |
that small wart is forming on his left /
cheek, just above the line OF the jaw | |
had not noted this when | entered, and /
even when observing from a distance, | |
was not certain ] saw true. When | viewed I
Cesar ten years ago, he bore - wart /
upon his countenance. And this, indeed, |
is no wart yet, but only the promise of one, |
II is advantageously placed drawing at /
tention to the bow-lines of the mouth. |
Were it on the right cheek it would be less /
calculated to arouse the praise of the be-
holder, for it were then like TO impart
certain careless, irresponsible look to the /
visage, but it is on the left cheek, and it /
seems to me rather to strengthen the I
features and make the person to appear
more striking. | have not heard this wart /
mentioned by any of all who witnessed /
the procession day before yesterday, and 1t
is probably visible only TO those who enjoy |
such intimacy as was granted me. The
time will come, however, when it will be /
large enough to be noticeable to the dullest
coinhammerer in the Republic. | rejoice
that | bring first word of it to the people of
Romei-The Villager