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THE HESPERIAN
I
or epic on the grand-children of Odyssons
and he has been planking it around from
publisher to publisher for the last century
and he can't make out why it don't sell.
Ho can't understand that the Middlo Ago
fellows made his reputation for him. Its
the same way with all ot thom, the world
raves over those two or three fragments of
Sappho's, and now she writes reams of really
excellent stuff and can't soil a lino except
now and then when she works off a little on
the Ladies' Home Journal. You see beside
Ella Wheeler Wilcox she isn't in it at all."
I drew back from him a little. "Really,
there is no use in sneering greatness because
it happens to bo Greek."
"Sneering? Well, yos. Thoy need a few
healthy sneers, they have been protected by
their halo long enough. But seriously; how
many plays of Aristophones have you road?"
I answered "Five."
"And how many of Ibsen?"
"One."
He threw back that handsome head of
his and laughed softly. "It is too pitiful to
laugh at, but I can't help it. It is funny
your scientific instructors dont give you a
thorough course in alchemy and astrology
and trust to you to pick up modern science
in your leisure hours. I suppose you think
us chaps still talk Greek ? Well, none of us
over attempt it except Zous, and ho carries a
lexicon in his pocket. Oupid speaks French
altogether. I never even road Greek except
in grand opora season. Calve always stirs
mo up so I can't got to sloop unless 1 take
some sort of a narcotic, and Thoocrotus is
just as sure as morphine and not eo danger
ous. You see its all changed now. Wo
have city water and gas on Olympus, and
live like civilized creatures. Haephestus is
a great electrician, and is horribly ashamed
that he was ever a blacksmith. Oceauus
h'as laid up his chariot for repairs, and navi
gates in a steam yatch now-adays. I have
devoted myself principally to the -opera ever
since I closed up that little branch establish
ment at Delphi. Hoavons! What an age
( &&
Sweetie is in making up tonight. Her
second act complexions are always elaborate
though. The other deities aae going to
supe for her tonight, I am anxious to see
how they will acquit themselves."
I wondered vaguely what the most high
gods were doing travelling about tho country
with Sweetie Oorinno, but after all she was
no worse company than they used to keep
some thousands of years ago: I suppose in
that respect they have not changod.
"Does no object to the new order of
tilings?" I asked. No one but that old-
moss back, Julian.
He insists upon trot
ting about in a toga
and reading Greek
philosophy, and ob
jects to the banquet
menu being printed
juhan. in kronen."
Just then the orchestra struck up and the
curtain rose and Apollo took my glass to
survey the tropical forest. From out its vir
gin depths came tripping an ample figure.
"It's Diana," whispered Apollo. She
came forward, bow in hand, and as she be
gan dancing my sensations were many and
varied. In build and grace she was the
identical fac simile of Mrs. Kimball. When
she danced tho tropical forests shook and
trembled beneath her airy tread.
"She has not wasted with tho wasting
years," I remarked respectfully.
"No," ho said oadly, "she has changod.
We all have; some for tho better,
some for the worse. Everything changes,
but tho Fates, and thoy aro as cran
koy and old and ugly aa ever. I wish we
could find three mon doludod enough to
marry them, it might impovo their temper. "
A tall youth with a role of music in his
hand came to tho front of the stage and sang
a long and tender tenor solo to Diana, who
simpered as only people of three hundred
pound avordupois can simper.
"He's Orpheus; sings well, doso'nthe?"
iyos; very, He looks moderately cheer-.
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