Most renowned of Rab's successors was Rab Huna, who died in 297. Following the recognized precedent, not to use the Law as a spade, he earned his living by farming. Reverence was shown to Judea now only in so far that the pious desired to be buried there. Later persecutions in Roman provinces, of which Judea was one, brought still more refugees to Babylonia. The next generation of scholars we must pass over rapidly with just a word. In Pumbeditha we may mention Rabba, who believed in the saving sense of humor, and also set himself the more serious occupation of classifying the Halachoth accumulated since the Mishna had been compiled. He gave to his students this fine principle,--"He who does good for reasons other than the good itself, it were better he had never been born." The method of deduction as taught in the Babylonian Schools was more subtle than that of Judea. Its hair-splitting tendency in the next generation of Amoräim occasionally degenerated into casuistry. But even that was the fault of a virtue. NOTES AND REFERENCES. _Patriotism and Judaism._ Mar Samuel's theory and practice best answered the query of the anti-Semite, Goldwin Smith, "Can Jews be Patriots?" The American Jews had to face this problem in the Civil War of 1861, when they fought in both the Union and the Confederate ranks. * * * * * Read Dr. Mielziner's _Introduction to the Talmud_, (Bloch Publ. Co.), chap. iv. This book is particularly recommended in connection with the chapters on Mishna, Talmud and the Academies. Read Article "Babylonia," _Jewish Encyclopedia_, vol. ii. _Theme for discussion_: Is the Jew's first duty to his countryman or to his coreligionist? CHAPTER XXXIII. CHRISTIANITY THE STATE CHURCH OF ROME. Rome's Decline. Now we must turn our glance westward again--to Rome. At the death of Antoninus Pius in 161, two emperors reigned conjointly--Varus, a degenerate, and Marcus Aurelius, a philosopher. The Roman Empire was becoming steadily demoralized. It was at the mercy of a series of degraded creatures who engaged in scandalous conflicts for the bauble of royal power. At times the purple was offered to the highest bidder. But in 222 the throne came into the hands of the high-minded Alexander Severus. Unlike most of his predecessors, he respected Judaism, and Hillel's Golden Rule was inscribed on the walls of his palace. So his reign meant thirteen pleasant years for the Jews--a little break of sunshine through the lowering clouds.