Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-01-11
The Country Home
BY MRS. w. H. FELTON,
Have We Progressed Very FarP

Have We progressed very Far?
In reading over a short history Of
the great orator, Cicero-MarcuS Tul-
leus Cicero, who lived and died be-
was the foremost orator in old Rome,
and the most brilliant and accom-
pliShed man of letters, and recollect-
ing that Cicero died forty-three years
before Christ was born. l am now
asking the question, "HaVe we pro-
crossed very far?
Cicero was born in an Italian town,
of good family, his father being a
person of considerable culture, the
boy, his eldest son, went to Rome
to school or college, where he had,
the best of teachers and professors
to instruct him. He became an eX-
pert in law and especially oTatory.
Cicero made his finest speech-the
first one-when he was rs years old.
The Roman dictator at the time
was one Of the all-poWerful SullaS.
Cicero and the magnificent speech
convicted a criminal who was smell
tered by the dictator.
At 80, Cicero had won the highest
repute at the Roman bar. lie rose
very rapidly, and won the position
Of financial secretary IL Sicily, Where
he won the good opinion of two great
interes ts-tRe traders and the reve-
nue. collectors. By his efforts he i'm
peached the infamous Verras, VINO
was robbing the Sicilian PROVINCES.
He made a magnificent defense OF
Pompey, who later assumed coatrol
of Asia and the east.
When he was only A. and IS years
before the birth of Christ, he dis
covered the revolutionary plot Of
Catalina, and Cicero rose to the most
dtgrified position in the Roman en-
pire, known as the office of consul.
He had now reached the height of
his fame,
He was called the father Of his
country"
With all classes, he was at that
time and for a brief space, the great
est man of his day and generation
Cataline's guilty co-partners, after
proof with conviction, were put to
death by order of the senate. They
said it was dangerous precedent,
and also that it would not have hap
pened except for Cicero. They in
Sible for it.
Meetings were held and violent
speakers enraged the lower classes
until they were become violent.
Cicero left Rome and took refuge
in Thessalonice. In the year So B. c.,
the great father of his country was
eXiled by the Roman senate. His
city residence and two country places
were ravaged and totally ruined.
But the vacillating popuIace
changed their minds and methods and
recalled Cicero after the election of
new tribunes and consuls.
Having grown older he confined
himself largely to writing essays and
law practice.
He later on was made governor of
Celecta. When, Pompey's army in
Vaded Greece he attended the army
After the losing battle Of Pharsatia,
Cicero threw himself on the con-
Queror's mercy.
Caesar became his friend after
wards. His writings were incessant
on the old cause, but he mourned
over his trials and disappointments
After Caesars death Cicero seemed
to have come back to his former
greatness.
He made his great speeches known
to historians as Philippies against
Anthony. This finished him. They
cost him his life he was slain by
rests on his great oratory, and his
law pleadings. His greatest speeches
best known to us are his arraignment
of Varies and against Catalina.
This great and accomplished ora
tor had been dead little more than
forty years, when Christ was born
in a manger, in the town of Bethle-
hem.
Does not this account read very
much like the stories of ambitions
and gifted orators in our own time?
Have we any among us who are more
gifted than Cicero today"
trust you young lawyers will
read this very truthful story of one
of earths greatest and saddest of
men!