Roman laws forbade the dissection of citizens, and the anatomists had to
depend for their knowledge of the human frame upon their examinations of
the bodies of enemies killed in battle, or those of slaves, in whom no
one took an interest; but most of all upon the bodies of apes. Great
numbers of these beasts were brought from Africa solely for the use of
the Roman surgeons, and in that connection I remember an incident which
was rather curious.
"I had not finished my studies under Galen when that great master one day
informed me that a trader had brought him an ape, which had been confined
in a small building near his house. He asked me to go out and kill it and
have it brought into his dissecting-room, where he was to deliver a
lecture to some students.
"I started for the building referred to. On the way I was met by the
trader. He was a vile-looking man, with black, matted hair and little
eyes, who did not look much higher in intelligence than the brutes he
dealt in. He grinned diabolically as he led me to the little house and
opened the door. I looked in. There was no ape there, but in one corner
sat a dark-brown African girl. I looked at the man in surprise. 'The ape
I was to bring got away from me,' he said, 'but that thing will do a great
deal better, and I will not charge any more for it than for the ape. Kill
it, and we will put it into a bag and carry it to the doctor. He will be
glad to see what we have brought him instead of an ape.'
"I angrily ordered the man to leave the place, and taking the girl by the
arm,--although I had a good deal of trouble in catching her,--I led her to
Galen and told him the story."
"And what became of the poor thing?" asked Mrs. Crowder.
"Galen bought her from the man at the price of an ape, and tried to have
her educated as a servant, but she was a wild creature and could not be
taught much. In some way or other the people in charge of the amphitheater
got possession of her, and I heard that she was to figure in the games at
an approaching great occasion. I was shocked and grieved to hear this, for
I had taken an interest in the girl, and I knew what it meant for her to
take part in the games in the arena. I tried to buy her, but it was of no
use: she was wanted for a particular purpose. On the day she was to appear
in the arena I was there."
"I don't see how thee could do it," said Mrs. Crowder, her face quite
pale.
"People's sensibilities were different in those days," said her husband.
"I don't suppose I could do such a thing now. After a time she was brought
out and left entirely alone in the middle of the great space. She was
nearly frightened to death by the people and the fear of some unknown
terror. Trembling from head to foot, she looked from side to side, and at
last sank crouching on the ground. Everybody was quiet, for it was not
known what was to happen next. Then a grating sound was heard, with the
clank of an iron door, and a large brown bear appeared in the arena. The
crouching African fixed her eyes upon him, but did not move.
[Illustration: "'THE CROUCHING AFRICAN FIXED HER EYES UPON HIM.'"]
"The idea of a combat between this tender girl and a savage bear could not
be entertained. What was about to occur seemed simply a piece of brutal
carnage, with nothing to make it interesting. A great many people
expressed their dissatisfaction. The hard-hearted populace, even if they
did not care about fair play in their games, did desire some element of
chance which would give flavor to the cruelty. But here was nothing of
the sort. It would have been as well to feed the beast with a sheep.
"The bear, however, seemed to look upon the performance as one which would
prove very satisfactory. He was hungry, not having had anything to eat for
several days, and here was an appetizing young person waiting for him to
devour her.
"He had fixed his eyes upon her the moment he appeared, and had paid no
attention whatever to the crowds by which he was surrounded. He gave a
slight growl, the hair on his neck stood up, and he made a quick movement
toward the girl. But she did not wait for him. Springing to her feet, she
fled, the bear after her.
"Now followed one of the most exciting chases ever known in the history of
the Roman amphitheater. That frightened girl, as swift as a deer, ran
around and around the vast space, followed closely by her savage pursuer.
But although he was active and powerful and unusually swift for a bear, he
could not catch her.
"Around and around she went, and around went the red-eyed beast behind
her; but he could not gain upon her, and she gave no sign that her
strength was giving out.
"Now the audience began to perceive that a contest was really going on: it
was a contest of speed and endurance, and the longer the girl ran the more
inclined the people were to take her part. At last there was a great shout
that she should be allowed to escape. A little door was opened in the side
of the amphitheater; she shot through it, and it was closed almost in the
face of the panting and furious bear."
"What became of the poor girl?" exclaimed Mrs. Crowder.
"A sculptor bought her," said Mr. Crowder. "He wanted to use her as a
model for a statue of the swift Diana; but this never came to anything.
The girl could not be made to stand still for a moment. She was in a
chronic condition of being frightened to death. After that I heard of her
no more; it was easy for people to disappear in Rome. But this incident
in the arena was remembered and talked about for many years afterward.
The fact that a girl was possessed of such extraordinary swiftness that
she would have been able to escape from a wild beast, by means of her
speed alone, had she been in an open plain, was considered one of the most
interesting natural wonders which had been brought to the notice of the
Roman people by the sports in the arena."
"Fortunately," said Mrs. Crowder, "thee did not--"
"No," said her husband, "I did not. I required more than speed in a case
like that. And now I think," said he, rising, "we must call this session
concluded."
The next day I was obliged to bid farewell to the Crowders, and my
business arrangements made it improbable that I should see them again for
a long time--I could not say how long. As I bade Mr. Crowder farewell and
stood holding his hand in mine, he smiled, and said: "That's right. Look
hard at me; study every line in my face, and then when you see me again
you will be better able--"
"Not a bit," said Mrs. Crowder. "He is just as able to judge now as he
will be if he stays away for twenty years."
I believed her, as I warmly shook her hand, and I believe that I shall
always continue to believe her.