Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-16

for his History OF Rome" Macaulay wrote
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The Tarquins fed to Lars Porsena,
the king Of Clusium. They begged him
not to allow them to live in exile and
poverty, for they were Of the same blood.
They also advised him not to let the
practice Of expelling kings 60 unaveng-
ed. Liberty, they said, had its own
charm and kings must defend their
thrones as vigorously as people pursued
liberty, or the highest would be re-
duced to level with the lowest.
Lars Porsena considered all these
things well. He remembered that with
out kings. there could be nothing royal
or regal. He thought for a long time
about the need of placing a king In
Rome, especially one Of his nation. So
he marched toward Rome with large
army.
When the Roman Senate learned that
Lars Porsena was marching against
them they were wildly alarmed. Terror
seized them, so powerful was the state
of COLISEUM at that time. The Senate
was also afraid that the people, In fear,
might let the enemy into the city, buy
ing peace, though the price be slavery.
The members of the Senate realized
that they must win the favor of the
people or Rome was lost and would
again come under the sway Of a kings
| scepter So they made all sorts Of con-
cessions to the people-taxes were re-
duced to poor men, and the rich were
| allowed to bear the burden; food was
made cheaper; and thus the people were
made to think that the government of
the Senate was the best possible and
that king was the worst kind Of ruler
| to have.
A siege began and famine set in. But
the people had been won over to the
Senate and they bore the trials of the
war with great courage and self-sacri-
fee The walls protected some parts
of the city; other parts were protected
by the River Tiber.
But there was one bridge over the
| Tiber which might have afforded a
passageway to the enemy had it not
| been for the brave deed Of one man
| the man named Horatius Coolies. 1t was
| lucky for Rome that she had on that
day such a gallant defender.
Horatius happened to be posted on
guard at this strategic bridge. He saw
the Janiculum Hill taken by sudden
attack. which let the enemy pour down
| toward the bridge at great speed. Ho-
ratius saw that the Romans In the face
of this furious assault, were abandon
ing their arms and breaking their
| ranks.
| Quick as thought, Horotius appealed
to his fellow countrymen. He addressed
them one by one. called them by name,
urged them to rally. He stood in their
| way as they tried to retreat. He i'm
plored them to stand and fight. He
| pointed out to them that their flight
could not help them, for 1t would but
| enable the enemy to cross the bridge
| the sooner.
| So Horatius argued and pleaded, and
begged that the bridge be destroyed.
| He urged the men first to destroy the
bridge and retreat. Any means what
ever could be used for the destruction.
But the bridge must be demolished.
Horatius pledged himself to stand at
the end Of the bridge nearest the enemy
| and repel them as long as he could,
single handed. The bridge was very
| narrow and he had a chance to stop
| their advance for several minutes, at
vanced to his post at the beginning
| of the bridge and stood on guard, with
his shield ready
BY such surprising bravery the enemy
was surprised, and they stopped in their
onward march to stare at this warrior
Horatius, who had the courage to OPP
pose an entire army all by himself. Yet
| he was not quite alone, for two other
| soldiers. ashamed to let one man stand
the brunt of the attack, stood there with
him. armed and ready.
| These three. Horatius in the lead
withstood the first onrush of the enemy
soldiers. The bridge was slowly but
surely being demolished at their backs
| At the last minute the men who were
destroying the bridge called to the three
gallant defenders to retire. Horatius
told his two companions to retreat FIRST
and he would follow.
Then. quite alone, Horatius glared al
the enemy and challenged them single
handed. He dared them to advance
and fight him one by one. None Of
| fered. He denounced them as slaves tc
| tyrants. who came to take the liberty
of others away and reduce other peo-
Piles to q state as bad as their own.
The enemy soldiers again hesitated
but not for long. A shout was raised