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little son Constantine； who； in after years； became the first and
greatest Christian emperor of Rome。
She bestowed much loving care upon her native province of
Britain。 She became a Christian even before her renowned son had
his historic vision of the flaming cross。 When more than eighty
years old she made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land。 There she did
many good and kindly deeds； erected temples above the Sepulchre
of the Saviour； at his birthplace at Bethlehem； and on the Mount
of Olives。 She is said； also； to have discovered upon Calvary the
cross； upon which had suffered and died the Saviour she had
learned to worship。
Beloved throughout her long and useful life she was canonized
after her death； and is now recognized one of the saints of the
Romish church。
To…day in the city of London you may see the memorial church
reared to her memorythe Church of Great St。 Helena； in
Bishopgate。 A loving； noble； wonderful； and zealous woman； she is
a type of the brave young girlhood of the long ago； and； however
much of fiction there may be mingled with the fact of her
life…story； she was； we may feel assured； all that the
chroniclers have claimed for her〃one of the grandest women of
the earlier centuries。〃
PULCHERIA of CONSTANTINOPLE：
THE GIRL OF THE GOLDEN HORN
＇Afterward known as 〃Pulcheria Augusta； Empress of the East。〃＇
A。D。 413。
There was trouble and confusion in the imperial palace of
Theodosius the Little； Emperor of the East。 Now； this Theodosius
was called 〃the Little〃 because； though he bore the name of his
mighty grandfather； Theodosius the Great； emperor of both the
East and West； he had as yet done nothing worthy any other title
than that of 〃the Little；〃 or 〃the Child。〃 For Theodosius emperor
though he was called； was only a boy of twelve； and not a very
bright boy at that。
His father； Arcadius the emperor； and his mother； Eudoxia the
empress； were dead； and in the great palace at Constantinople； in
this year of grace； 413； Theodosius； the boy emperor； and his
three sisters； Pulcheria； Marina； and Arcadia； alone were left to
uphold the tottering dignity and the empty name of the once
mighty Empire of the East； which their great ancestors；
Constantine and Theodosius； had established and strengthened。
And now there was confusion in the imperial palace； for word came
in haste from the Dacian border that Ruas； king of the Huns；
sweeping down from the east； was ravaging the lands along the
Upper Danube； and with his host of barbarous warriors was
defeating the legions and devastating the lands of the empire。
The wise Anthemius； prefect of the east； and governor or guardian
of the young emperor； was greatly disturbed by the tidings of
this new invasion。 Already he had repelled at great cost the
first advance of these terrible Huns； and had quelled into a sort
of half submission the less ferocious followers of Ulpin the
Thracian； but now he knew that his armies along the Danube were
in no condition to withstand the hordes of Huns； that； pouring in
from distant Siberia； were following the lead of Ruas； their
king； for plunder and booty； and were even now encamped scarce
two hundred and fifty miles from the seven gates and the triple
walls of splendid Constantinople。
Turbaned Turks； mosques and minarets； muftis and cadis； veiled
eastern ladies； Mohammedains and muezzins； Arabian Nights and
attar of roses； bazars； dogs； and donkeysthese； I suppose； are
what Constantinople suggests whenever its name is mentioned to
any girl or boy of to…day；the capital of modern Turkey； the
city of the Sublime Porte。 But the greatest glory of
Constantinople was away back in the early days before the time of
Mohammed； or of the Crusaders； when it was the centre of the
Christian religion； the chief and gorgeous capital of a Christian
empire； and the residence of Christian emperors；from the days
of Constantine the conqueror to those of Justinian the law…giver
and of Irene the empress。 It was the metropolis of the eastern
half of the great Roman Empire； and during this period of over
five hundred years all the wealth and treasure of the east poured
into Constantinople； while all the glories of the empire； even
the treasures of old Rome itself； were drawn upon to adorn and
beautify this rival city by the Golden Horn。 And so in the days
of Theodosius the Little； the court of Constantinople； although
troubled with fear of a barbarian invasion and attack； glittered
with all the gorgeousness and display of the most magnificent
empire in the world。
In the great daphne； or central space of the imperial palace； the
prefect Anthemius； with the young emperor； the three princesses；
and their gorgeously arrayed nobles and attendants； awaited； one
day； the envoys of Ruas the Hun； who sought lands and power
within the limits of the empire。
They came； at last；great； fierce…looking fellows； not at all
pleasant to contemplatebig…boned broad…shouldered； flat…nosed；
swarthy； and small…eyed； with war…cloaks of shaggy skins；
leathern armor； wolf…crowned helmets； and barbaric decorations；
and the royal children shrunk from them in terror； even as they
watched them with wondering curiosity。 Imperial guards； gleaming
in golden armor； accompanied them； while with the envoys came
also as escort a small retinue of Hunnish spearmen。 And in the
company of these； the Princess Pulcheria noted a lad of ten or
twelve yearsshort； swarthy； big…headed； and flat…nosed； like
his brother barbarians； but with an air of open and hostile
superiority that would not be moved even by all the glow and
glitter of an imperial court。
Then Eslaw； the chief of the envoys of King Ruas the Hun； made
known his master's demands So much land； so much treasure； so
much in the way of concession and power over the lands along the
Danube； or Ruas the king would sweep down with his warriors； and
lay waste the cities and lands of the empire。
〃These be bold words；〃 said Anthemius the prefect。 〃And what if
our lord the emperor shall say thee nay？〃
But ere the chief of the envoys could reply； the lad whose
presence in the escort the Princess Pulcheria had noted； sprang
into the circle before the throne； brandishing his long spear in
hot defiance。
〃Dogs and children of dogs； ye dare not say us nay！〃 he cried
harshly。 〃Except we be made the friends and allies of the
emperor； and are given full store of southern gold and treasure；
Ruas the king shall overturn these your palaces； and make you all
captives and slaves。 It shall be war between you and us forever。
Thus saith my spear！〃
And as he spoke he dashed his long spear upon the floor； until
the mosaic pavement rang again。
Boy emperor and princesses； prefect and nobles and imperial
guards； sprang to their feet as the spear clashed on the
pavement； and even the barbarian envoys； while they smiled grimly
at their young comrade's energy； pulled him hastily back。
But ere the prefect Anthemius could sufficiently master his
astonishment to reply； the young Princess Pulcheria faced the
savage envoys； and pointing to the cause of the disturbance；
asked calmly：
〃Who is this brawling boy； and what doth he here in the palace of
the emperor？〃
And the boy made instant and defiant answer：
〃I am Attila； the son of Mundzuk； kinsman to Ruas the king； and
deadly foe to Rome。〃
〃Good Anthemius；〃 said the clear； calm voice of the unterrified
girl； 〃were it not wise to tell this wild young prince from the
northern forest that the great emperor hath gold for his friends；
but only iron for his foes？ 'T is ever better to be friend than
foe。 Bid； I pray； that the arras of the Hippodrome be parted； and
let our guests see the might and power of our arms。〃
With a look of pleased surprise at this bold stroke of the
Princess； the prefect clapped his hands in command； and the
heavily brocaded curtain that screened the gilded columns parted
as if by unseen hands； and the Hunnish envoys； with a gaze of
stolid wonder； looked down upon the great Hippodrome of
Constantinople。
It was a vast enclosure； spacious enough for the marshalling of
an army。 Around its sides ran tiers of marble seats； and all
about it rose gleaming statues of marble； of bronze； of silver；
and of goldAugustus and the emperors； gods and goddesses of the
old pagan days； heroes of the eastern and western empires。 The
bright oriental sun streamed down upon it； and as the trumpets
sounded from beneath the imperial balcony； there filed into the
arena the glittering troops of the empire； gorgeous in color and
appointments； with lofty crests and gleaming armor； with
shimmering spear…tips； prancing horses； towering elephants； and
mighty engines of war and siege； with archers and spearmen； with
sounding trumpets and swaying standards and； high over all； the
purple labarum； woven in gold and jewels；