Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1926-08-12
THE WORLDS
GREAT EVENTS
ALBERT PAYsoN TERHUNE
Mare Antony
"a by Dodd. Mead Z Company

lNA fOOn. true lover and faithless
husband; great general and greater
mountebank; orator, statesman. volup
tuary and triher-threw away the
world for love. He was the hero OF
the most stirring real life romance in
history. He might have been a sec
ond julius Caesar OF even Alexander
He preferred TO be the helpless adOrer
Of the Egyptian queen, Cleopatra.
AS a mere lad, Antony served with
distinction in Rome's Syrian and
Egyptian wars, and later IA Gaul I'M
der Caesar, whose lifelong friend he
became. When Pompey made the SEN
ate order Caesar to dlsarm. Antony.
as tribune Of the people, vetoed the
bill and then fed to Caesars camp
disguised as a slave. pretending his
life was In danger for his loyalty. He
fought valiantly In the Gallo wars
and deserves much credit for Rome's
victories. AS reward. when Caesar
became dictator Antony was made
second in command and appointed
governor Of ali Italy.
In his latter capacity he launched
on course of wild dissipation that
set Rome aghast. The orator Cicero
Numbered invectlves against him. and
he was regarded as a hopeless failure
In life. Yet at the cali to arms he was
at once In the field, aiding Caesar
against POmpey and winning battle
after battle. His soldiers wOrshlped
him He joked with them around the
campfire. got royalty drunk with them
was, In fact, their boon companion.
When Caesar was assassinated the
cOnspirators had planned to rule Rome
and had persuaded the people to JUS
tify their murderOus act. But Antony,
by fiery and brilliant grafton over
Caesars body, so aroused the popular
mind against them that the murderers
were compelled to flee for their lives.
Then, summoning Caesars nephew
and adopted son. 0ctavius, Antony
raised an army and marched to pun
Ish the chief cOnspIratOrs, Brutus and
Casslus. In two successive battles,
while Octavius lay idly In his tent.
Antony completely crushed the con-
spirators and avenged his friends
murder. He, incidentally. made him
self virtual ruler of the earth. with
Octavius as his colleague.
The two divided the world between
them, Antony choosing the eastern
half and leaving 0ctavius the west
ern.
Cleopatra, queen of Egypt, was sus-
pected of having sided with the con-
spirators. Antony resolved TO bring
her to trial for treason, as Egypt was
practically subject to Rome.
Cleopatra was one Of the rare wOm-
en- who have arisen at various periods
In history to overthrow empires, leave
behind them a world full Of trouble
and disaster and TO wreck the careers
of the greatest men. As a girl she had
met Caesar, won his love and induced
him to reseat her on the throne OF
Egypt, whence a family quarrel had
forced her. She had even, for love of
Caesar. poisoned her husband.
Ptolemy.
She now tried similar tactics on
Antony. At first sight of her beauty
the man who had come thither as her
Judge became her slave. For her
sake he cast away dreams of empire
and let his glorious deeds of the past
sink out of memory. In Alexandria
the two set up a monarchy of luxury,
dissipation and extravaganza that be-
came the scandal OF the civilized
world.
For reasons OF state, Antony had
married Octavia, the sister Of his
Octavius. She was his
fourth wife. He now divorced her for
Cleopatra, thus mortally offending
octavius. The latter had been busy
making the most of Antony's mad /
to forward his own career.
Cold crafty, heartless, he had steadl-
ly undermined Antony's influence at /
Rome and had so strengthened him
self there that a few years later he
was able to declare himself emperor. |
under the title of Augustus. Antony
had put an end TO republican Rome
by defeating the conspirators.
Octavius reaped the fruits of his
forIner friends labors.
Octavius decided to get rid of
Antony forever. To this end he made
war on Cleopatra. Antony espoused
her cause and the two rival powers
met in a great sea fight near Actium.
Here Antony's genius again flashed
np. He was rapidly winning the bat
tie, when, from sudden caprice. Cleo
aaffa ordered her galley rowed away
from the scene. Antony, thinking her
wounded. forget all about the hattie
and followed her. Deprived thus OF
It's leader, his whole fleet fed. For
4 while In subsequent warfare he held
hfs own against Octavius. But the
sun OF his success was set. Cleopatra
sent secret messages of submission
10 Octavius, who replied by telling her
that the murder. of Antony would be
the most acceptable proof Of her sur
render. She accordingly had word sent
10 Antony that she was dead.
Broken-hearted. the lover Cid not