would be the gainer by it if her very constables were elected to serve a
century; for in our experience we have never even been able to choose a
dog-pelter without celebrating the event with a dozen knockdowns and a
general cramming of the station-house with drunken vagabonds overnight.
It is said that when the immense majority for Caesar at the polls in the
market was declared the other day, and the crown was offered to that
gentleman, even his amazing unselfishness in refusing it three times was
not sufficient to save him from the whispered insults of such men as
Casca, of the Tenth Ward, and other hirelings of the disappointed
candidate, hailing mostly from the Eleventh and Thirteenth and other
outside districts, who were overheard speaking ironically and
contemptuously of Mr. Caesar’s conduct upon that occasion.
We are further informed that there are many among us who think they are
justified in believing that the assassination of Julius Caesar was a put-
up thing–a cut-and-dried arrangement, hatched by Marcus Brutus and a lot
of his hired roughs, and carried out only too faithfully according to the
program. Whether there be good grounds for this suspicion or not, we
leave to the people to judge for themselves, only asking that they will
read the following account of the sad occurrence carefully and
dispassionately before they render that judgment.
The Senate was already in session, and Caesar was coming down the street
toward the capitol, conversing with some personal friends, and followed,
as usual, by a large number of citizens. Just as he was passing in front
of Demosthenes and Thucydides’ drug store, he was observing casually to a
gentleman, who, our informant thinks, is a fortune-teller, that the Ides
of March were come. The reply was, “Yes, they are come, but not gone
yet.” At this moment Artemidorus stepped up and passed the time of day,
and asked Caesar to read a schedule or a tract or something of the kind,
which he had brought for his perusal. Mr. Decius Brutus also said
something about an “humble suit” which he wanted read. Artexnidorus
begged that attention might be paid to his first, because it was of
personal consequence to Caesar. The latter replied that what concerned
himself should be read last, or words to that effect. Artemidorus begged
and beseeched him to read the paper instantly! –[Mark that: It is hinted
by William Shakespeare, who saw the beginning and the end of the
unfortunate affray, that this “schedule” was simply a note discovering to
Caesar that a plot was brewing to take his life.]– However, Caesar
shook him off, and refused to read any petition in the street. He then
entered the capitol, and the crowd followed him.
About this time the following conversation was overheard, and we consider
that, taken in connection with the events which succeeded it, it bears an
appalling significance: Mr. Papilius Lena remarked to George W. Cassias
(commonly known as the “Nobby Boy of the Third Ward”), a bruiser in the
pay of the Opposition, that he hoped his enterprise to-day might thrive;
and when Cassias asked “What enterprise?” he only closed his left eye
temporarily and said with simulated indifference, “Fare you well,” and
sauntered toward Caesar. Marcus Brutus, who is suspected of being the
ringleader of the band that killed Caesar, asked what it was that Lena
had said. Cassias told him, and added in a low tone, “I fear our purpose
is discovered.”
Brutus told his wretched accomplice to keep an eye on Lena, and a moment
after Cassias urged that lean and hungry vagrant, Casca, whose reputation
here is none of the best, to be sudden, for he feared prevention. He
then turned to Brutus, apparently much excited, and asked what should be
done, and swore that either he or Caesar would never turn back–he would
kill himself first. At this time Caesar was talking to some of the back-
country members about the approaching fall elections, and paying little
attention to what was going on around him. Billy Trebonius got into
conversation with the people’s friend and Caesar’s–Mark Antony–and
under some pretense or other got him away, and Brutus, Decius, Casca,