idea of state property, underlying the colonial relation. Under such a conception, the benefit of the owner of this estate, the mother country, was naturally the primary object in administration. The subordination of the colony was not merely in political connection, but in economical treatment. This was

admitted by the American colonists, who, though they rebelled promptly at commercial regulation by tariff, for the raising of imperial revenue, as being indirect taxation, acquiesced in regulation which alleged the benefit of imperial trade as a whole, though they suffered by it.

Such conditions, however, have passed away; and after the temporary domination of the contrary belief, that colonies are of little or no advantage, it is now recognized that in the mutual relation there is reciprocity of benefit, even though there be not equality. Colonies trade more readily with the mother country than with others; and the capital of the latter, other things being equal, seeks investment more readily, with greater feeling of security, in communities kindred in political and legal tradition, and of a common allegiance. The question of military and naval reciprocity of usefulness has been touched on. To this is to be added the wider and grander sphere open to the colonies, as communities and as individuals, when closer relations gain them increasing entry and opportunity for activity, in the internal administration and foreign policy of a great established state like the United Kingdom. In the present threatening and doubtful question of the future of China are the elements of a worldconflict, in which the British navy is one of the largest among several determinative factors. Its strength can be supported and enlarged by the conditions attendant upon federation, and the colonies can thus share in both the benefits and the distinction of influence upon great political issues; but what of weight or of prestige can they there display, if severally independent? They may receive the benefit of the open door, but not the selfcontentment of self-help. Self-dependence, as distinct from nominal independence, is to be found in federation, not in separation. As time passes, it can hardly fail that the premier and government of

the Australian federation will be greater in position and wider in activities than the corresponding officials of the several states; and in like manner a man will be larger in his own eye and that of the world as a citizen of Australia, than as belonging to a particular division of the Commonwealth. The federation of the United States exalted irresistibly the name American far beyond all local designations. So Imperial Federation will dignify and enlarge each state and each citizen that enters its fold.

Imperial Federation proposes a partnership in which a number of younger and poorer members are admitted into a long standing wealthy firm. This simile is doubtless not an exhaustive statement, but there can be little doubt that it is sufficiently just to show where the preponderance of benefit will for the time. fall. The expenditure of the United Kingdom on the South African War offers a concrete example of this truth, doubly impressive to those who, like the writer, see in this instance great imperial obligation but little material interest, save the greatest of all, the preservation of the Empire. On the other hand, in view of the spreading collision of interests throughout the world, it is hard to overvalue the advantage of healthy, attached, self-governing colonies to a European country of today. Blessed is the state that has its quiver full of them. Under such conditions, and with the motives to union that have been presented, it is petty to fasten attention on comparative benefit to the exclusion of mutual benefit. Not by such grudging spirit are great ideas realized, or great ends compassed. Sentiment, imagination, aspiration, the satisfaction of the rational and moral faculties in some object better than bread alone,—all must find a part in a worthy motive; not to the exclusion of reasonable interests, but to their ennoblement by marriage to loftier aims, seeking gratification in wider activities. Like individuals, nations and empires have souls as well as bodies. Great and beneficent achievement ministers to worthier contentment than the filling of the pocket.

Finally, the broadening and strengthening of British power by the progress of Imperial Federation is necessarily an object of

profound interest to Americans. In many quarters it will find deep sympathy; in others, perhaps jealousy may be manifested. For this there is no good cause. The American Commonwealth and the British Empire have had many jars in the past, the memory of which has not wholly disappeared; but more and more clearly are coming into view the permanent conditions that from the first have existed, but until now have been overlaid and buried by the wreckage of past collisions and disputes. In language, law, and political traditions there is fundamental identity; and in blood also, though to some extent differentiated in each by foreign admixture. Coincidently with these, there is a clearly defined and wide belt of geographical separation between their several spheres, save the one common boundary between Canada and the United States. These constitute permanent factors, tending on the one hand to promote understanding, and on the other to avert misunderstandings. To reinforce these, there is rapidly arising a community of commercial interests and of righteous ideals in the Far East. In proportion to the hold which abiding factors such as these have upon the mind of the statesman, will be the light he finds to thread his way through the passing perplexities of revolving years. The tactical changes of front and redistribution of arrangements, which the incidental progress of events necessitates from time to time, will lack intelligence, coherence, and firmness, unless governed by constant reference to the things which cannot be shaken, and which bear to policy the same relation that the eternal principles of strategy do to the conduct of war.

SOME ASPECTS OF ROME IN THE MIDDLE AGES

AND DURING THE RENAISSANCE1

MAURICE PALÉOLOGUE, Paris.

THE AVENTINE.

The long and rugged hill is almost uninhabited, as if the ancient curse of the patricians still rested heavily upon it. One sees there only empty spaces, fields, fruit gardens, a few churches, a cemetery, and two convents. No situation in Rome is more quiet, more deserted, more secluded from the stir of life. One finds it hard to realize that in the olden time it was the centre of such a ferment of passions and of so many political

storms.

From the reign of Servius Tullius a temple of Diana in the midst of a wood crowned the summit of the hill. The worship of that goddess continued to be celebrated there until the day when the Goths of Alaric burned that quarter.

An interesting event in the history of Christianity was connected with this catastrophe. Near the sanctuary of Diana there rose a costly mansion belonging to a young and beautiful widow of illustrious birth,-Marcella. On becoming a Christian, she suddenly renounced all the luxurious elegance in which she had until then delighted. For the benefit of the poor she sold her jewels, her fine apparel, her carriages, her costly furniture, and resolved to use no longer paint, perfumery, or silk.

(1) Translated by Professor H. A. P. Torrey of the University of

Vermont.

Copyright, 1902, by Frederick A. Richardson.

Nevertheless, she did not withdraw from the world. On the contrary, she desired the world to come to her for mutual religious edification in her palace, now devoted to this purpose. Despite the scandal which the event caused in aristocratic society, where conversions were as yet very rare, Marcella succeeded in gathering about her a considerable number of her female friends. Assembling there nearly every day they read the Gospel, listened to St. Jerome, repeated hymns, and engaged in works of charity. Further than that they imposed upon themselves no rules whatever, but, although they did not live in common, they were already inspired by the monastic spirit. It may be said that they founded the first female convent of the Occident.

This experiment in the religious life had a mournful ending. When, on the 24th of August, 410, Alaric surprised the gates of Rome, his drunken soldiers sacked the city. Arriving at the Aventine they set fire there. Vainly did Marcella try to stop them by representing to them that they were Christians like herself. They commanded her to deliver up the treasures which they assumed were concealed in her palace. She replied that a long time ago she had given away all her wealth in charity. Believing that she was deceiving them, they beat her unmercifully and brutally assaulted her; her companions suffered in like manner. Bleeding and half naked, the poor women fled for refuge to the basilica of St. Paul without the walls, which the barbarians had respected. Marcella died two days afterwards.

STA. SABINA.

Fifteen years later Pope Celestine I. caused to be built on the ruins of the temple of Diana a church dedicated to Saint Sabina. The plan is that of the basilicas. Two rows of beautiful Corinthian columns divide the edifice into a nave with sideaisles. Its general proportions are excellent; they make upon the eye that impression of balance, of propriety, of stability which are the indubitable marks of genuinely artistic production. Some important mosaics formerly decorated this monument. There remains of them but a single fragment, affixed to the