Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1926-07-22
THE WORLDS
GREAT EVENTS
ALBERT PAYsoN TERHuNE



dom OF Epirus. hit on plan, more
daring than original Born In 31S b
c., only FIVE years after the death OF
his cousin. Alexander the Great. and
while the latter's fame was fresh In
the memory of living men, Pyrrhus re-
solved to follow Alexander's example
and conquer the world. Unluckily for
his success, he decided to work west
ward instead Of east.
Now, from earliest days, power and
progress have always rolled westward,
and It has seldom gone well with the
Fastener who has tried to check
them. Pyrrhus did not realize this,
but was destined to learn it.
Greece had for centuries been the
foremost barrier Of civilization against
barbarism; OF democracy against
despotism. But Of late a newer power
had sprung up In the western world
This power was first the city and after
wards the state Of Rome. Rome orig
inally was a small town covering but
one or two of the seven hills over
which II afterwards spread. II was
at first ruled by kings who were
elected by the people. Then, when
these kings waxed tyrannical, the peo-
pie deposed them and formed a re-
public that endured for ESQ years.
The little city grew, conquering all its
neighbors and becoming at last the
virtual mistress Of Italy. In after
years 1t was to rule the whole world.
Already, brute strength subtlety and
mental superiority were making its
name famous. Greece, on the other
hand, had passed the acme Of her
Golden Age" and, thanks to luxury
and civic dissensions, was on the
wane.
It was in 2SO B. @. that these two
mighty powers Of the civilized world
first clashed, and that clash did much
to mold the future trend Of the earth's
destiny. For Pyrrhus began his real
attempt at universal conquest by
crossing the Adriatic and declaring
war on Rome. He did this on the
pretense Of helping the Greek cities In
southern Italy that resented Roman
rule. With $4,000 men and herd OF
trained war elephants Pyrrhus began
his march against Rome. The sight Of
an elephant was unknown in Italy,
and the great beasts presence struck
mortal terror everywhere. The people
were paralyzed with fear.
Rome summoned all her soldiery
and vassals and met Pyrrhus at
Heraclea. near the Gulf of Tarentun.
It was a furious battle, and the Ital-
ians fought CALAMITY In defense OF
their land. But the elephants IN
nerved them and stampeded their
horses. Their closest ranks could not |
Withstand the irresistible charges OF
the maddened Asiatic brutes Rome's
army was at length forced to retreat.
But Pyrrhus' forces were so shattered
and crippled by the battle that they
could not pursue their advantage.
They had won a victory that was
costlier than a defeat The term, "a
Pyrrhic victory" used In designating
some worse than barren triumph, had
its rise from this incident.
The following year Pyrrhus again
met and defeated the Roman legions
at Asculum, but was once more 30
weakened by the conflict that he de-
rived no gain from 1t. He fell back
on Sicily, Greek province, and there
so offended by his ideas Of despotism
the peoples love for liberty that he
lost all chance Of aid from them. In
276 B. @. he again invaded Italy, but
by this time Rome was prepared
against his coming. At battle near
he was utterly routed and /
to Epirus. He never again
attempted to conquer Rome.
His dream Of world empire had been (
/ fizzle, simply because It was eiyili- [
satlon and not barbarism that he had
A beaten barbarian is a
creature, ready to fawn {
md grovel before his conqueror. An 8
.ducated, civilized nation IL never
wholly beaten. v
Alexander, by the very fame Of his !
leeds, struck terror TO the hearts of !.
he Persians. The fame and armies :
4 Pyrrhus backed by the war ele-
chants Creatures as terrible and I'M 3
Usual Of aspect to the Italians Of old !
q the dlnosaur would be to modern Z
nen) could only temporarily baffie
he Roman republic. Where there is $
rue republic there must be thought a
Where there is thought there can be
o real or permanent defeat. q
Pyrrhus, a year or so after his re =
reat, was killed In a street f.Sht In
lrg0s, a woman dropping roof tile :.
n his head from a window as he was y
laying her son. To die at the hand
I a woman was In those days the q
irest possible disgrace for a warrior. q
o, for centuries thereafter, the fate a
Z Pyrrhus was pointed out as warn z
lg to would-be world conquerors.
Alexander. living at an earlier day !,
nd having all conditions IN his favor, !
ad for the time made himself master
I the known world But he had not !
ttacked a foe more civilized than :,
mEalf He had momenfarily bound