We actually hear of the populace of one small city that would not let the funeral procession of a distinguished lady proceed through the gates until her husband had promised them some public combats. Pliny the Younger’s friend Maximus presented a gladiator fight to the citizens of Verona “in honor of his most estimable wife,” a native of the place, but the exhibition was not quite a success because “on account of bad weather the numerous African panthers he had bought failed to arrive on the expected day.” =332. Gladiator “Schools” (_Ludi_): Inmates Usually Criminals.=--There are four great imperial “schools” (_ludi_) of gladiators in Rome maintained as public institutions. These can be drawn upon for the regular public games; but there are plenty of private “schools” maintained by speculators who can often supply quite as good fighters. If, as a magistrate, or as a bereaved kinsman or widower, you decide to give some combats, and if your purse is full, the rest is easy. You merely contract with the _lanista_ (keeper and trainer of a school) for so many contests upon specified terms; although, in really pretentious affairs, gladiators from several rival schools can be pitted together--this adds to the excitement. When the fight is over the free gladiators are paid off, the slave fighters are returned to their owners and indemnification is given the owners of the slain--all on set business terms. There is great expense in training good gladiators and slain champions cannot fight again; and this solid fact often prevents combats from being _too_ destructive, while wounded survivors may be carefully nursed just as a sick race horse may be cared for. Anybody will tell us that no pity need be wasted on gladiators. Many a low-born criminal is dragged from the præfect’s court with a relieved grin on his felonious countenance; the magistrate has not ordered “To the cross with him!” but merely “Train him for the amphitheater.” Many an incorrigible slave has been sold to a lanista by his master instead of being promptly whipped to death. Not a few unfortunate prisoners of war and kidnapped persons, however, if they have stout physiques, find their way also to the lanistæ instead of to the ordinary slave markets, and brutal masters will sometimes sell perfectly innocent slaves if the latter appear likely to make good swordsmen. On the other hand many plebeians of the baser sort are caught by the glitter and glory of the arena, and submit voluntarily to the discipline of the “schools,” while under the tyrannous emperors even men claiming noble rank have fought upon the sands to truckle to the whims of an evil Cæsar.