The Casual Ward Part 2

The _Ephemerios Chronographos_ has received the following telegram from the veteran statesman Nestor: "Profound sympathy Achaean aspirations.

Bag and baggage only possible policy. Postcard follows.-Nestor, Hawarden, Pylos."

March 1.

His Majesty and the Greek Fleet sailed to-day from Epidaurus, amid scenes of great enthusiasm. Her Majesty the Queen and His Excellency Count Aegisthus were both visibly affected. Mycenae is daily paraded by crowds shouting, "To Ilion!"

March 8.

The Fleet is at Aulis, waiting until the process of raising the wind shall have been concluded. Meantime, the services of the notorious Klepht Achilles have been engaged. This popular enlistment creates great enthusiasm.

The report recently prevalent as to human sacrifices is contradicted this morning by an official _dementi_.

H.R.H. the Princess Iphigeneia has joined a Russian religious house.

Trojan bonds are quoted to-day at 53.8 (a fall of 0.2).

Later.

The att.i.tude of the Olympian Powers causes considerable anxiety.

Tenedos, March 15.

Telegrams per Beacon will have informed you that the Powers have issued a Collective Note to the Greek expeditionary force, forbidding the landing of heroes and others. Notwithstanding this, there seems to be no doubt that several demi-G.o.ds under Achilles have landed, and are endeavouring to effect administrative reforms. Achaean newspapers of all shades condemn the recent action of Poseidon in attempting to raise a storm.

Hector Pasha is committing atrocities.

March 17.

In spite of the known discrepancy between the views of the Powers, they have issued a Collective Note urging upon His Majesty King Agamemnon the necessity of prompt withdrawal. In view of his possible refusal, it is understood that thunderbolts are in preparation, and Ares has been mobilized. This action is severely commented upon by the Achaean Press in general. The _Phaeacian Daily Chronicle_ goes so far as to threaten a ma.s.s meeting in Trafalgar Square. Meanwhile, Hector Pasha is committing atrocities.

March 18.

The Powers have issued Collective Notes to the contending parties. It is understood that nothing short of a _Deus ex machina_ can avert a formal rupture of relations between the Courts of Troy and Mycenae, as acts which are liable to the interpretation of belligerency are daily committed.

The ambiguous att.i.tude of Zeus tends to complicate the situation. His Majesty the King narrowly missed being hit by a thunderbolt this morning.

March 20.

I am authorized to state that the intervention of a _Deus ex machina_ has brought about the arrangement of a _modus vivendi_. The Achaean expeditionary force is to withdraw, and Helen is to be autonomous.

Menelaus, however, is to be free to enforce administrative reforms.

March 21.

Peace with Honour has been proclaimed. It is possible, however, that some embarra.s.sment may still arise from the action of King Priam in a.s.sessing the material, moral, and intellectual damage inflicted on himself and his allies at 152,833 tripods, 18 women, and an ox. This sum will certainly be disputed.

It is a.s.serted as probable that the Poet Laureate,-Homer, will be invited to compose an epic poem commemorating the events of the raid. An edition of 20,000 copies will be issued, including 50 on India paper, with corruptions and emendations by eminent scholars.

THE JOURNALISTIC TOUCH (II.) FORGOTTEN HISTORY

The Roman correspondent of the _Stella Lugdunensis_ writes to his paper under date A.V.C. 817:-

All the Press is naturally full of the recent debate in the Senate on the alleged unconst.i.tutional indiscretions of our Imperial Master. (H.I.M., I should add, is at present on a lecturing tour in the Peloponnesus; statements in the _Custos Burdigalensis_ to the effect that He is giving a series of violin recitals are wholly without foundation.) The impression produced is on the whole one of unanimous condemnation of His Majesty's recent action. How-it is argued even by the Right-can it tend to the stability of Roman foreign policy that in the regrettable military operations between the Suebi and the Chatti the Emperor should have directed General Count Corbulo to prepare an invincible plan of campaign for each of the belligerents? The Extreme Left, as represented by Messrs. Barea and T. Peters (? Paetus), goes much farther, and does not hesitate to criticize the autocratic dilettantism which professes to lay down the law on artistic matters which it does not in the least understand. It is time (said one speaker) that our so-called Emperor should cease to be persuaded by the plaudits of a decadent and servile entourage into imagining Himself a Second Sarasatius. Absolutism is generally condemned.

Messrs. Nerva and Nymphidius and other prominent Imperialists have, of course, defended their master; but their apologies, it is felt, were somewhat perfunctory and half-hearted. In allusion to the lamented demise of the Dowager Empress, it was pointed out that pity and loyalty alike should forbid trampling on a Ruler bowed down by repeated domestic bereavements; and attempts were made to enlist sympathy for the Imperial Orphan. These, however, have not been uniformly crowned with success.

Tension undoubtedly exists. I cannot (to speak plainly) conceal from myself the fact that in a given contingency, the nature of which it is unnecessary and, perhaps, undesirable to specify further, circ.u.mstances at present unforeseen might conceivably pave the way for developments of which it might be impossible to predict the eventual termination.

"Ought Nero to Abdicate?" is the subject of a "symposium" in the current _Primum Saeculum et Post_. The signatures L and S are commonly a.s.sociated with the talented author whose _Pharsalia_ has long been recognized as the most charming of Saturnalian gift-books, and the Rev.

L. A. Seneca, formerly private tutor in His Majesty's household. Should H.I.M. decide to abdicate, it is antic.i.p.ated that He will edit our Boeotian contemporary the _Oracle_, which is sadly in need of new blood.

Nero will give it that. The meetings held at the Palazzo Pisone were strictly private.

The Suebian Press continues to hint at fresh indiscretions. There is no doubt that a state of tension exists, which can only be alleviated by the restoration of reciprocal confidence between H.I.M. and the Roman people.

The result of the approaching conference between the Emperor and Prince Tigellinus is eagerly discussed.

Later.

H.M.'s interview with the Chancellor at Brundisium is stated to have been productive of entirely satisfactory results. It is said that Nero now thoroughly understands the situation, and is resolved to remodel His conduct accordingly. Tension is greatly alleviated.

I cannot more graphically summarize the present improved situation than by quoting the headlines in the _Acta Diurna_.

GREAT REVIEW OF PRAETORIANS OUTSIDE THE SENATE HOUSE.

RESTORED RELATIONS BETWEEN CONSCRIPT FATHERS AND EMPEROR.

HIS MAJESTY IN THE SENATE.

AVE CAESAR OPTIME MAXIME.

GREAT ENTHUSIASM.

DIVINE HONOURS PRACTICALLY CERTAIN.

IMPROVED FINANCIAL POSITION.

NEW ISSUE OF CONSULS EXPECTED.

All this tends to indicate that the period of mutual suspicion and distrust is practically at an end. Nothing shows it more clearly than the happy renewal of social relations between the Emperor and the leading members of the Senate. As a guarantee of good feeling, several of our legislators have consented, at His Majesty's earnest request, to a.s.sist Him in the forthcoming Pageant of Empire to be held in the Circus Maximus. Their collaboration is indeed indispensable, large consignments of empty lions being reported to have arrived at Ostia. The hearty sympathy between our Ruler and His people is still further attested by the fact that several Senators who were but lately among the foremost critics of Absolutism are now taking a personal and prominent share in the scheme of street illuminations recently suggested to the Emperor by His Chancellor. Members of the Stoic Democratic Federation have been invited to meet H.I.M. at dinner at the Cafe Locusta.

The Cafe Locusta dinner has been a great success. It is not expected that the Stoic Democratic Federation will express any further opinion hostile to the Imperial policy.

M. Nymphidius has been commissioned to form a Ministry.

Not the least noteworthy among social _evenements_ is the departure of Piso (whose tendency to form cabals has for some time been a sore subject in Imperialistic circles) for his estates in Thule, N.B. He has left, according to one account, by the Hook (_unco_).