

A ROMAN EPITAPH 47 



inhabited in the long, long ago by the Romans. 

 I saw the site of a beautiful Roman Villa which 

 was once unearthed, and examined a carefully 

 executed plan of it. I could discern the old 

 Roman Road even although it passed now through 

 a waving field of corn, which was glowing brown in 

 the Autumn sunshine, and showing a peaceful 

 countryside picture far different to the stirring 

 episodes which must have taken place near by in 

 what we sometimes call " the good old days! " 



And then a curious thing happened, for I 

 chanced to have handed to me a coin picked up 

 in this same lane, and what do you think it was ? 

 It was a small brass coin of the Emperor 

 Victorinus, who reigned only one year in a.d, 267; 

 thus the little stranger (about the size of our 

 present farthing) was some 1640 years old and was 

 still in splendid preservation. 



This is, however, only one of many, many in- 

 stances of how one may come to learn something 

 of their country and realise the true history of the 

 land in which we live and which we should all be 

 ready to defend. 



If you ever visit the Chiltern Hills, try and 

 realise what stirring times must have been enacted 

 when the beacon fires burned brightly on the 

 highest points and so proclaimed to those who 

 could see them tidings of good or ill, and en- 

 deavour to conjure up in your mind the heroic 



