Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-15
The Story of Civilization

| he wished to be dictator of the
heavens, too, and would hereafter
make the sun set by his decree. The
new calendar renamed month in
Caesars honor as July, as later his
successor was to give. his name to
| August.
Caesars rapid legislation resulted
| in steady development in the ma
teral wellbeing of the people, and
outlined that great reconstruction
which Augustus and Trajan were to
complete. Not even Napoleon did as
| much in so short a time. Caesar had
n very passion for coordination, and
hated chaos as the basic evil in human
life. His was the highest type of
genius; boundless energy operating in
perfect unity to noble ends. Con.
ccntration was the essence of his
power; seldom has "A brain been able
to work more intensely. Clearness
of vision united with quickncss of de.
cis.on to make his mind one of the
most astounding instruments that any
civilization has ever produced.
X n X \
But though the spirit was willing
! to work, the flesh was weak. The
attacks Of epilepsy" says Ferrero,
'wero increasing in frequency and
violence: body and soul were almost
worn out. The striking bust of him
| in the Louvre gives a wonderful rep
resentation OF the last expiring effort
| of his prodicious vitality: the brow is
furrowcd with huge wrinkles; the lean
| face hears marks Of intense suffering.
aud the expression is that of man
! utterly exhausted" 1t was epilepsy
| that kept him seated once when the
| Senate addressed him: they were in
! ConScd at tho seeming insult; and he
prrceivinc tho difficulty into which
/ his developing disease had led him.
and yet unwilling 10 confess the
cause. wen; home weary Of life. say
( inc-~"Jam salts Wiki Il have lived
en0ugh)."
Ana YET why did he apparently
+ tolerate the invitation TO become
king? Antony was his intimate
friend; he would hardly have offered
( the crown to Caesar so repeatedly II
/ he had reason to believe that the
! offer would be offensive. 1t is quite
/ possible that. feeling the ncarncss of
/ death. Caesar wished to put himself
/ in n position where he might namt
| his successor, and so avoid the chaos
! that would be inevitable upon his end.
! II is hard TO be a democrat when one
/ is born a king. Shaw, who under
/ stands the matter a little more clear,
I Is than his rival from StTatford'on-
/ Avon, makes Caesar say: Were Rome
/ true republic. then Caesar were the
/ first Of republicans And Breasted
/ Judges Caesar wisely: He used his
/ power with great moderation and
! humanity; he gra;ified no per.
I sonal revenge this Just ana
/ kindly statesman. VINO WAS. for the
! first time giving the unhappy peoples
! of the Mediterranean world govern
/ ment alike. Just. honest and efficient
| Al this while Caesar had pursued
| his policy of rclistributinS the lard Of
/ Italy amorG the poor. The inquiries
| which he lad set on foot 10 identify
and reCapture the common land lad
| proved troublesome 20 many ariStu.
! cratic families which had purchased
/ these lands on terms and under con.
iit!ons that would hardly welcome In
yeStication, Doubtless IL was for such
reasons rs this that many old fam.
iIes and 60 members OF the Senate
/ secretly Joined in the conspiracy. 10
murder Caesar. Indeed. so many rad
! Joined the plot that some got wind Of
! Il who did not quite approve. Many
made efforts 10 warn Caesar: "A kindly
| soothsayer time and again babe him
| beware of the Ifes OF March. But
| Caesar would take TO precautions. and
| dlHGained 10 surround himself with Il
| bodyguard-~"It is better To die than
| To live as a tyrant." When priests re.
| ported that the omens were unfaTor-
| able to him, he said. Am | 10 be
/ frightened because a sheep is wthou,
Il heart?" on the eve NJ the Ides of
March he surped with Lepidus. and.
/ whom the question WAS raised which
deRfh IS best. Caesar answered. "A
sudden one"
The next day, which had been fixed
Tor his assassination, found him sndis-
posed and inclined 10 remain at home
. One Of the conspirators went 10 him,
and, 10 bring him to the senate cham
Ter, played upon his generosity. say.
ing THAI many people had come 10 ask
/ pardon for their crimes. Caesar con
scented 10 go; but az he crossed his hall
/ his own statue which stood there fell.
| perhaps some servant wished in this
! way 20 give him warming AZ he
| walked 10 the Senate Il stranger
| pressed "A scroll into his hands: it con.
| tanned the names az the conSpirators
/ ard the details Of the plot But
: '-FitTAl Ibt ~ h1tttlS MS pitsE nIHeFH
| without locking at II.
| The rest of the story all the world
| KNOWS. As he stood near tho statue
/ Of Pompey In the Senate hall. Cassus.
| emma, Bruius and many others flung
! themselves upon him and almost cut
him 10 pieces with their daggers. lie
hardly resisted; IL was ~ well 10 die
! I'm world that understood genius "a.
but when h" saw Brutus's hand raised
! against him his heart seemed To break.
ana icg"nd puts into his mouth the
pitlfnl words "Et III. Brute. nIi inio"
And thou. too. BruttIs. my SOM
| the conspirhtors had hoped To make
the people believe that in 80 attemDt.
ihg 20 restore the OLD aristocratic re-.
pubic they had In mind only The good
oi INC nation. but when the popuiare
| henrd Of the assassination IL was wild
WIN rage Brutus alone dared 10 fare
IL Tor moment. and then nrcciniiate.