Evening star., 1927-12-01

the universal silence of night. Soon
the shaking of irons and the cianking
of chains was heard, yet he never
raised his eyes nor slackened his pen.
but hardened his soul and deadened
his ears by Its help The noise grew
and approached; now 1t seemed to be
heard at the door. and next inside the
door. He looked round, beheld and
recognized the figure he had been told
Of 1t was standing and signaling to
him with its finger. as though invit.
ing him. He. in reply. made sign
with his hand that 1t should wait a
moment. and applied himself afresh
to his tablets and pen.
Upon this the figure kept rafting
his chains over his head as he wrote.
On looking round again, he saw it
making the same signal as before. and
without delay took up light and fol.
lowed it. 1t moved with slow step.
as though oppressed by it's chains.
and after turning into the courtyard
of the house. vanished suddenly and
left his company.
On being thus left to himself, he
marked the spot with some grass and
leaves which he plucked. Next day
he applied to the magistrates. and
urged them to have the spot in ques.
tion dug up. There were found there
some bones attached to and inter.
mingled with fetters; the body to
which they had belonged. rotted away
by time and the soil. had abandoned
them thus naked and corroded to the
chains. They were collected and in.
tered at the public expense. and the
house was ever afterward free from
the spirit, which had obtained due
supulchre.
The above story I believe on the
strength of those who affirm it. What
follows l am myself in a position to
affirm to others.
I have freedman. who Is not with.
out some knowledge of letters. A
younger brother of his was sleeping
with him in the same bed. The latter
dreamed he saw some one sitting on
the bench. who approached a pair Of
scissors to his head. and even cut the
hair from the crown of It, When day
dawned he was found to be cropped
round the crown, and his locks were
discovered lying about. A very short
time ,afterward a fresh occurrence of
the same kind confirmed the truth Of
the former one.
lad of mine was sleeping, In com.
pany with several others, in the
pages apartment. There came
through the windows $50 he relates)
two figures in white tunics. who cut
his hair as he lay. and departed the
way they came. In his case. too,
daylight exhibited him shorn. and his
locks scattered around
Nothing remarkable followed, ex.
cept. perhaps. this. that / was not
brought under accusation. as I should
have been. If Domitian lin whose
reign these events happened) had lived
longer. For in his desk was found an
information against me which had
been presented by Carus; from which
circumstances may be conjectured-
inasmuch as it is the custom of ac.
cused persons to let their hair grow
that the cutting off of my slaves hair
was a sign of the danger which threat.
ened me being averted.
| beg. then. that you will apply
your great learning to this subject,
The matter is one which deserves long
and deep consideration on your part:
nor am I, for my part. undeserving OF
having the fruits of your wisdom i'm.
parted to me. You may even argue
on both sides (as your way is). pro.
vided you argue more forcibly on one
side than the other. so as not to dis.
miss me in suspense and anxiety.
when the very cause of my consulting
you has been to have my doubts put
an end to.