In fact, a lot of them didn't speak much Latin. Oddly enough, one of the best symbols of the new face of the Roman empire was sartorial. Instead of the traditional tunic and toga of the gory days of the Senate, most of the new general emperors adopted that most practical and most barbaric of garments. Pants. Oh, which reminds me, it's time for the open letter. An Open Letter to Pants. But first, let's see what's inside the secret compartment.