The Chautauquan, Vol. 04, March 1884, No. 6Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle
History
The Chautauquan, Vol. 04, March 1884, No. 6
Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle
Chautauqua Institution -- Periodicals; Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle -- Periodicals
“Fabius.” Was five times Roman consul. After the first victories of
Hannibal in the second Punic war, Fabius was appointed dictator. Here he
earned the title of “Master of Delay.” Merivale says: “His tactics were
to throw garrisons into the strong places, to carry off the supplies of
all the country around the enemy’s camp, wherever he should pitch it, to
harass him by constant movement, but to refuse an engagement.”
P. 21.—“Gracchus.” The family name of two brothers, Tiberius and Caius,
who soon after the destruction of Carthage (146) tried to relieve the
sufferings of the Roman poor. The former was made tribune in 133, and
immediately tried to arrange for a fair division of public lands, so that
the poor citizens might each obtain a small farm. The opposition was so
great that in the attempt to reëlect Tiberius a riot occurred and he was
slain. Ten years afterward Caius became tribune; he succeeded in carrying
several measures to better the condition of the poor, but through the
jealousy of the senate, his power with the people was broken, and finally
during a disastrous fight between his party and his opponents he fled and
caused a slave to kill him.
“Jugurtha.” See page 82 of “Preparatory Latin Course.”
“Marius.” See page 87 of “Preparatory Latin Course.”
P. 27.—“King William.” See THE CHAUTAUQUAN for February, page 252.
P. 28.—“Mommsen,” mŭmˈzen. A German historian, born in 1817. He has held
professorships in jurisprudence or archæology at various universities,
and has published several books. His “History of Rome” is the most
important. It has run through five editions, and been translated into
French and English.
P. 29.—“Curtius.” According to this legend the earth in the Roman forum
gave way B. C. 362. The soothsayers declared that the chasm could only
be filled by throwing into it Rome’s greatest treasure. Curtius, a young
nobleman, declared that Rome possessed no greater treasure than the
citizen willing to die for her, and mounting his steed leaped into the
abyss, which closed upon him.
P. 31.—“Medusa.” One of the Gorgons, frightful beings, whose heads were
covered with hissing serpents; they had wings, brazen claws and enormous
teeth. Medusa was fabled to have been a beautiful maiden of whom Athena
was jealous, and in consequence turned her into a gorgon. Her head was
so fearful that every one who looked at it was changed into stone. See
illustration, page 115.
P. 33.—“Roman Mile.” A thousand paces, or 1600 yards.
P. 34.—“Cretan.” From the island of Crete, one of the largest of the
Mediterranean Sea. It became a Roman province B. C. 66. The people were
celebrated as archers, and were frequently employed as mercenaries by
other nations.
“Balearic.” The Balearic Islands, a group east of Spain, were known to
both Greeks and Romans by this name, derived from the Greek verb _to
throw_, because of the skill of the inhabitants as slingers. The Romans
subdued the islands 123 B. C.
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