Harper's Young People, May 24, 1881 An Illustrated Weekly

"Harper's Young People, May 24, 1881" by Various is a compilation designed for young audiences in the late 1800s, filled with stories and illustrations for both learning and fun. One story called “The Death of Carus” follows Valentinian, a young Christian boy living in Rome during the time of Emperor Caracalla. This story explores courage, loyalty, and moral questioning towards chariot racing and the unfair treatment of animals. Valentinian is bothered by the Colosseum's history but is stuck between his culture's love for racing and his own beliefs against it. His friend Rufinus loves the races, and Valentinian decides to let Rufinus use his prized horse, Carus, in a race to help him out. This choice brings him face-to-face with loss when something terrible happens during the race, leading to reflections on responsibility, what it means to give something up, and the effect of society's expectations on individuals.