PETER ROMULUS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2242, 9 June 1881, Page 2

PETER ROMULUS.

A few days hack the Christchurch public were Somewhat startled at learning, from the report of the Police Court, that a gentleman of the classic name of Peter Romulus had, for the previous fortnight, been residing in a hole under a tree in the Domain. Wo hare been unable to ascertain the correct genealogy of Mr. Romulus, but the name, coupled with tho circumstances of the case, might well lead us to imagine that he is descended more or less directly from the founder of the Roman Empire. It will be remembered that the latter, when an infant, was, with his brother Remus, sent afloat, by a villainous uncle in a cradle down the Anio, from whence they were carried into the Tiber. Tho cradle stranded at the place where Romo was afterwards built, and the babes were carried by a she wolf to her den close at hand, and there suckled, while a woodpecker brought them whatever other food they required. Tho rural retreat in which the older Romulus was reared must have resembled in many respects tho domicile lately occupied by the gentleman whom we will take tho

liberty of looking upon as his descendant. Trees, a river, and birds formed the main feature of the surroundings of both habitations. If the later Romulus was not fed by a woodpecker, it was partly, no doubt, owing to the fact that he would have been little likely to relish the food which that interesting bird would have brought him. For the later Romulus, though not built on such heroic linos as his ancestor, possesses a higher form of civilization. Alcoholic drinks have been improved since the year 753 8.C., and a civilized taste for such destroys, to a con! siderahlo extent, all appreciation for the simple productions of the earth. However hard a woodpecker might work for such an advanced type of man as the modern Romulus, he would find his task a thankless one, unless ho wore to make judicious raids on neighboring hotel bars and then carry the spoil to his thirsty protege. But, however much the fate of the two Romuluses has been alike, as far as their aptitude for living in holes in the earth is concerned, the character of the sequels of their respective stories seems to be very different. Romulus the First left his den for an empire; Romulus the Second has left his for a prison. The former reigned for thirty-seven years, and was finally borne off to the gods in a thunder cloud. The latter will disappear for twelve months, and will philanthropi* cally benefit his country by his enforced labour. The career of the former was glorious, the career of the latter is only curious.