early age showed her wonderful gift
as a colonising power.

In very early times Rome had been the only strongly fortified city in
central Italy, but it had always offered a hospitable refuge to
other Latin tribes who happened to be in danger of attack. The Latin
neighbours had recognised the advantages of a close union with such
a powerful friend and they had tried to find a basis for some sort of
defensive and offensive alliance. Other nations, Egyptians, Babylonians,
Phoenicians, even Greeks, would have insisted upon a treaty of
submission on the part of the "barbarians," The Romans did nothing of
the sort. They gave the "outsider" a chance to become partners in a
common "res publica"--or common-wealth.

"You want to join us," they said. "Very well, go ahead and join. We
shall treat you as if you were full-fledged citizens of Rome. In return
for this privilege we expect you to fight for our city, the mother of us
all, whenever it shall be necessary."

The "outsider" appreciated this generosity and he showed his gratitude
by his unswerving loyalty.

Whenever a Greek city had been attacked, the foreign residents had moved
out as quickly as they could. Why defend something which meant nothing
to them but a temporary boarding house in which they were tolerated as
long as they paid their bills? But when the enemy was before the gates
of Rome, all the Latins rushed to her defence. It was their Mother who
was in danger. It was their true "home" even if they lived a hundred
miles away and had never seen the walls of the sacred Hills.

No defeat and no disaster could change this sentiment. In the beginning
of the fourth century B.C. the wild Gauls forced their way into Italy.
They had defeated the Roman army near the River Allia and had marched
upon the city. They had taken Rome and then they expected that the
people would come and sue for peace. They waited, but nothing happened.
After a short time the Gauls found themselves surrounded by a hostile
population which made it impossible for them to obtain supplies. After
seven months, hunger forced them to withdraw. The policy of Rome to
treat the "foreigner" on equal terms had proved a great success and Rome
stood stronger than ever before.

This short account of the early history of Rome shows you the enormous
difference between the Roman ideal of a healthy state, and that of the
ancient world which was embodied in the town of Carthage. The Romans
counted upon the chee