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Show THE FIRST STRIKE ON RECORD. It Occurred In Rome and Took Place In the Year 300 B. C. Livy, in hi famous book, "Tho Annals," An-nals," 9, 80, relates in the following suggestive words the story of a singular strike which occurred in Rome in the year 300 B. C. and' was probably the first strike ever known: That year occurred an event little worthy of being related, and which I would pass in silence had it not appeared as involving religion. The flute players, dissatisfied because the latest censors had forbidden them to take part in the banquet in Jupiter's temple, according to the ancient custom, withdrew, every one of them, to Tibur, so that nobody was left at Rome to play during the sacrifices. sac-rifices. This incident shocked tho religious reli-gious sentiment of the senate, and the senators sent messengers to invite the inhabitants in-habitants of Tibur to make every effort in order that the players should be restored re-stored to the Romans. The Tiburtines, having promised not to neglect anything any-thing necessary for that purpose, caused the flute players to come to the place where the senate met and exhorted them to go back to Rome. Seeing' that they could not prevail upon them to do so, they employed a strategem in keeping with their character. On a day of festival, under pretext that musio would increase the joy of the feast, every citizen invited the fluts players individually to his house, and wine, of which people of that profession aro usually fond, was given to them in such quantities that they fell into a deep sleep. Tliey were then thrown into wagons and transported to Roma They only became aware of whu. had happened hap-pened on the day after, when dawn surprised them lying on the carts, which had been left in the forum. A large crowd had assembled, and they were induced to promise that 'they would remain at Rome The right of attending attend-ing the banquets was restored to these flnto piavers. New York Tribune. |