The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-04-28

u degenerate sons, drove them
from Florence, sacked their palace,
destroying great works OF art and
set up a republic in which Sayona-
rola was the unchallenged head.
Charles VIII, not liking the vigor of
the Florentines, marched on to
Rome, mastered it, and then con-
quered the little kingdom of Naples.
But meanwhile his soldiers had ia
ken to the wines and bellies of Italy.
and the health and discipline Of his
army were gone. After one defeat
Charles took to his heels and led
his troops back to France, bringing
with him scholars and artists who
introduced the Renaissance to the
north.
But the ease with which he had
passed through the diSordered and
disunited Italian states revealed
their military helplessness; it was
only a matter of time when a new
flood of barbarians would sweep
down upon these recovered fields
and accumulated luXuries, and put
an end once more to the greatness
of Italy.
The supremacy Of a man whose
power depends upon the plaiudits of
the people is not long. Emotions eX-
haust themselves the sooner, the
more intensely they have burned;
and love grows cold the moment
after passion. Savonarola ruled for
two years; but then an eleven
months rain spoiled all the crops,
bringing famine upon the once joy
full city; starvation killed one out of
ten, and people dropped dead in the
streets; plague rose, and men and
women wondered why the wrath of
God was let loose just when they
had chosen a saint for their ruler,
and had burnt their luxuries on a
pyre. Savonarola ahd predicted good
things for just this time. as re-
ward to the Florentines for estab-
fishing the republic and remaining
faithful to their wives; and now,
with all their virtue, ruin was upon
them.
Suddenly the lower elements
among the people turned against
him; a gang of rufTians broke up
his sermons, and deflled the pulpit
from which he had preached and
ruled. The rich families whose
power he had ended jumped at the
chance to depose him; at their bid
ding Alexander VI, whose morals
had been asSailed by Sayonarola's
invective, communicated the fiery
monk on the charge of heresy, and
commanded him to come to Rome
and defend himself.
u
/ CAVONAROLA excused himself
- for not obeying, saying that his
health was poor. Six months later
he made open defiance by saying
mass, and preaching that a criminal
and licentious pope did not deserve
obedience. Still drunk with visions,
and certain that the power of proph
ecy was upon him, the Brother,
with some of his confreres, consent
ed to endure ordeal by fire; he and
they would pass through flames I'M
hurt, and prove their innocence to
the world.
The day of the ordeal came, and
wood was gathered and lighted, and
the monks, almost aneSthetiZed with
fervor, walked across the fire. But
just then rain fell, sufficiently to
dampen the flames. Savonarola
claimed that God had protected and
justified him; but the people, who
had come to the scene hungry for
the sight of suffering. were not sat-
isfied; they longed for the punish
ment of this man who could not be
human enough to be wrong.
mot Savonarola's old ariStocratic
enemies, but the people were the
most vindictive."
When the pope ordered the
monks arrest crowds stormed about
San Marco, and would have lynched
him if they could. At his trial they
clamored for his conviction; when,
under brutal torture that showed
Florence still medieval, he admitted
that he had used the secrets of the
confessional in his prophecies, he
was at once convicted, and the
crowd shouted for his execution.
He and the Brothers who had re-
manned faithful to him to the end
we're hanged the very next day MAY
%, 1899, lest the temper of the
crowd should change.
The people made a feast of the
execution and the state served food
and drink. The mob stoned the
hanging men and then burned them