Ey Marcus-Aurelius “« great number of
endowments were created for the succor of
the youth of both sexes.”
Page 15: “The wants of the poor child and
the sick child were assured. The tutelary
Praetor was created to give guarantees to the
orphaned.”
Can it be possible that the great scholar of
the Academy of France told the truth about
childhood under paganism?
If Renau told the truth, what did Windle
tell?
Page 16: “The son,’ the wife, the minor
were the objects of legislation at once intel
ligent and humane. The son was obliged to
maintain his father, but ceased to be under
his control.” (That is, after the son attained
his majority.)
“The father had duties toward his chil
dren” —that is, duties prescribed by law.
The ancient Romaiu-law which gave the
father the right of life and death over his
child, were abolished. (Same page.)
Finally—and it is a clincher—the rights
of childhood were recognized m the sacrcdest
rites of the pagan religion.
Little boys and girls aided in the offering
up of the sacrifice to the gods.
The modern Roman priests use (and some
times misuse) little boys, in the service of the
altar: the ancient Roman augur used (and
did not misuse) both boys and girls. There
exist, today, beautiful representations of
these sacrificial ceremonies, in which the
children are shown, acting as fellow-offlcials,
with the pagan priests.
It was a girl, not older than ten, who was
chosen to become the pagan nun—the Vestal
Virgin.
When she appeared in public, she wore a
white veil: everybody made way for her: if
she chanced to meet a condemned criminal,
he was at once set free: at public spectacles
ana games, she occupied the seat of honor.
