Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-05
The PHILOSOPHER King.

the modern world.
The Philosopher King.
II the year Isl A. y Antoninus Plus
died. and left as the heir OF his power
8 young man whom ne had trained
With loving care for the tasks of gov
e-rment-NarclIs Aurelius. Never had
the principle o. selection worked 10 so
admirable a result The reigns Of
Altoninus and Aurelius says Gibbon.
are possibly the only period Of his
tory II which the happiness Of a great
people was the sole object OF govern
-lent !. man were called 10 fix the
period n The history OF the world dur
M which the condition OF the human
race vas most happy and prosperous
ne would, without hesitation. name that
which ella psed from the death OF Dorni-
tan 10 the accession OF Comrodus";
]. E.. from the accession Of Nerva 10
the death OF Marcus Aurelius. Antoni-
nus Plus SAYS Renan. would have had
without competitor the reputation o!
being the best Of soveTeigns had he
not designated Marcus for his heir"
His Golden Book" of Meditations,
which Aurelius composed more in the
manner OF prayerful contemplation
TIA els heauton, thoughts for himself
than IN the quest OF literary fame, re-
calls with gratitude the virtues and
abilities OF his teachers. and their care
70 give him every advantage of in
struction and example. Associated with
his foster father in full enjoyment of
the imperial Office while still a youth,
he had maintained a modest retire
ment. accepting all the burdens and
rejecting al the honors and emolu-
n1ents OF power. Hardly had he sue
ceeoed 10 undivided authority than he
devoted himself, from early morning
until the latest hours of the night, TO
the laborS OF government He re-
carced himself as being. in fact, the
servant Of all The registry o. the citi-
Eens, the suppression % litigation. the
elevation OF public morals. the care OF
minors. the retrenchment OF public
expenses. the limitation OF gladiatorial
games and shows. the care OF roads,
the appointment OF none bur
worthy magistrates. even the regulation
Of street traffic, these and numberless
other duties completely absorbed his
attention" He aspired to give 10 the
people Of his vast empire the equal
protection OF just laws wisely admin
istered and as much liberty OF action
and speech as could possibly be recon-
ciIec With that social order which in
his reign became the supreme gift Of
Rome 10 Europe.
All administrators are Stoics.' Dean
Woodbridge has said. Marcus. as Il
foreSeetng the righteousness Of rule and
agreeing with still greater admins
traitor tNapoieon) that those who gov
err slave" had adopted the philosophy
Of the StOa IN his twelfth year. and TO
n IL wit zvta
eeption. he adhered 10 is lo.tlest pre-
cepts with the fidelity and devotion Of
= saint. He followed" says Tacitus.
she teachers Of wisdom, Hro counted
virtue as the only good and clshonor
as the only evil"
The one blot on his reign was his en-
feTcsment OF ecictS against the rising
sect 0. the Christians. he scorned their
mythology and hoped 10 stop ti1eiy sllc-
re>s Ia converting the peDple from their
ancient gods He himself though
doubtless aiming more 70 give prestige
~ pisty Than 70 secure the Intervention
81 heaven for his purposes pyacticec
ire Old yltes faithfully. after every VIC
tory re sacrificed q necapornb % white
oxen. 50 that z viz 81 The time circI-
Is'e6 q pe;],ion addressed ~ the en-
perez oy the oxen. and begging him.
foF tFeI SAKE, " abstain from further
Victories
Per the rest. he might nave been a
Christian, and his rneoitations are the
fDcsc analogue 81 me imitation o.
Christ When hy.d.Qs cassiuf Ie6 a re-
volt sgzins; him IN syria he regretted
nat ne SUlclde u the yeDe. mao pre-
}erlteo MN from converting. b. nlenen-
cy an enemy into q !y!end and his
len3eDcY attn the a&SCciafes and :ela-
ilgeH .. the dead man p;osec the sin
teF3ty IL his sentiment EF condemned
fJsFeYy lslc upon :, Restrictions that
sinec. very wisely, 81 rs gradual ey-
NtctloE Aa1 iegit.atec against the MAJ
treatment o. tneSe unhappy tD.lrts
Tnen hlE ysfe. Fa4>t.Ka 'Hi.ose Dea0tS
Is preserved in q bust IN the EfI,JSI
H4Aegnpt foUnc ms attentions lnace
olse and summoned ~ ms AID "a
F.ffY ~ .oveFs fTor the coIfl. he pre-
afrtec z !4cltIoUs Innocence u her IN
fre,Hg. 1rDk III ac'ioD against thpSt
vno h2c Oetyayec nm %ith her. anc
'reSiec ney win gentleneSs " the da'
q hFy ces'n. inDggp u Is cjNcuh y
S@% Wne'n@r TINS DfhsFjDF 1sE cue
h.nc5se5s " ;gp"fsnce.
-
Hrc - ne llYoc MS pain almost -.
se'te lie 'aasHg M 'ne ofeas ~ ne
Sfoscs src 3noJjg}ng h]s sppetltes ~
spSfn.o3ssy tAs. tpg TINE he lbst hli
jeajts - o. grpc saa bis pieasgff
slE gUDtectS ~ 5psfG Hgn that tutl
IfBeTencfo Lsfn Is = R9c slc yet ~
mann from ls'DL2 fhe fes.plelis %
5fis gfneFDshy tnpH HAe Il sas ina
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One n.an ~ Nts,es Vhen he nei
sose seTY.De ~ HHpll'i = frscY y
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