“Old Bill” Suggests—

It is not enough for a ruler to be able and just; he also must be wise in the psychology of his people. An error in that respect once caused the slaughter of the Roman populations of London, Colchester and St. Albans.

About 400 B. C. England had been occupied by the “Brythons” or “Painted Folk,” tall, with red hair, furious in battle when the mood was on them, but relaxing at times into despair or indolence. Julius Caesar beat them in battle in 54 B. C. and, 114 years later, methodical Suetonius Paulinus was trying to administer a Roman province.

While he was away, wiping out the pagan Druid priests on their sacred isle for instigating revolt, his subordinate, as a further disciplinary measure, flogged Boadicea, queen of the Iceni. She raised a wildfire insurrection and as garrisons fell the Romans were massacred, men and women alike, with terrible tortures. Some 70,000 perished. In the end, Boadicea lost—and died. But this didn’t repair the damage.

Say what you will, this was no way to handle a redheaded woman.

ROYAL F. MUNGER.