THE HESPERIAN.
together, they summoned to their presence the courtiers and
retainers that yet lived; and sent them forth among all the
tribes of men that they should accost everyone saying, Is it
cold enough for thee? The courtiers and retainers returned
within a fortnight and reported ill success. Men, they said,
when accosted, simply groaned in their anguish of spirit;
but deviated not one hair's breadth from the path of virtue.
And King Hades was sorely troubled but Persephone
soothed him saying, Have patience, O King, for we have yet
three trials. And Hades summoned his retainers, and ex
horted them saying, Know yc that if ye arc not successful in
three trials in turning men from the path of virtue, we arc
doomed to eternal solitude. The dog Ceiberos will die from
inactivity, and the rushing Styx will be transformed to a
dried up bed. Go therefore again out among the tribes of
men and afflict them with ccaslcss questions saying, What
dost thou know; and sec to it that ye arc successful. And
the courtiers and retainers when they had traveled aye,
even unto the uttermost parts of the earth and performed
their mission, returned and said, We tremble before thy
wrath, O King; but be it known to thec that all the sons of
men, when afflicted according to thy bidding, simply said,
Get thee behind me, Satan; I have the bulge on thec. So
here we are entreating thy clemency.
Then King Hades waxed exceeding wroth; and he swore
a. great oath aye, even by the very beard ol Zeus that the
sons of men should repent them of their folly. His kingdom
rocked in its foundations; the mighty marble columns and
shining turrets fell with a crash; the cold, misty gloom deep,
ened and settled down over the land in a ceaseless night; the
lakes of molten sulphur bubbled and seethed with a sound
like a thousand hissing snakes. Aye, even the dog Cerberos
awoke from his lethargy and howled with his hundred throats
in a noise like crashing thunder. But above it all was heard
the resonant voice of King Hades explaining to his servants
their new duties. The sons of men, he said, have among
them a docuLint which they prize greatly. The document
is called the slate, and is of exceeding great interest. They
yearly choose from among their number one to keep this
slate for the common perusal in which is said to be great
pleasure. Go ye therefore forth and afflict this man with
numberless evils. Estrange his mind from the document, so
that he will forget it in divers places. Instill into him a
stubborn nature, that he may refuse sanction to the escutch
eons which they wish to inscribe thereon. Fill his mind
with forgctfulness, that he may not remember the places
where the various escutcheons have been inscribed; and this
causes dire dissensions and strife and war and pestilence and
famine and death among the sons of men. And Hades gave
unto them various style and implements that they should de
iace the document and cover its pages with illegible hiero
glyphics that he told them.
And the courtiers went forth, doing as they were bid;
but soon returned saying, O King, thou hast made a grievous
mistake, ior when the sons of men drew unto the slate
bearer that they might do their daily task, and it became
known unto them that he had forgotten the document, they
were filled with exceeding great joy Yea verily, with a joy
that is not of this world. They embraced each other and fell
upon each others necks weeping for joy; and when it was
further made known uuto them that another had proceeded
them, and inscribed his escutcheon in the place where they
wished to inscribe theirs they lifted up their voices in thy
praise, O King, grasped one another by the hand; and their
countenances were suffused with a radiance which is akin,
even unto the radiance of Zeus.
And now when King Hades heard these things, he fell
down upon his face; and threw dust upon his head, and the
air was rent with his groans. But Persephone called all the
retainers unto her and rewarded them for their service, giv
ing unto them rich presents of silver and gold and horses and
fine robes and suits of armor; and she sent them unto the
most distant parts of her dominions, that they should gather
together all her subjects that yet lived, and lo! when they
were all assembled, she came down from the palace and
spake unto them saying, Go forth among the tribes of men
and whomsoever you meet snatch quickly his lead pencil
from his coat pocket; and be filled with exceeding care that
he recover it not. And they went forth on their errand, an
exceeding great number, aye, even like unto the leaves in
autumn or unto a swarm of locusts. The air was darkened,
and the sound of their flight was as the rush of many waters.
And when Hades discovered what Persephone had done
he embraced her saying. O Persephone, thy scheme will be
successful: thy expedient will madden the brains of the tribes
of men, and darken their intellect with rage. And while he
was yet speaking the earth trembled, and he heard afar off
the sound of many feet. It drew nearer and nearer; the dog
Cerberos awoke and gnashed his teeth with rage. The
gloomy portals were Tilled with a mighty throng of the sons
of men that by the expedient of Persephone had been turned
from the path of virtue. Or they pressed with irresistible
impetus, an endless stream aye, an exceeding great mul
titude. Hades and Persephone now reign over a land filled with
many people. The hall and plains are once more filled with
the shades of the departed. The dog Cerberos with the
many heads is weary nigh unto death from work overmuch.
But Zeus? Alas, bitterly did he repent his promise; and he
now laments daily saying, O Hades, is this the requital of
my friendship that all the tribes of the sons of men should
come into thy kingdon, and not one soul to the halls of Olym
pos? Alas would that I were dead. Sclah.
Hans C. Peterson.
CURRENT COMMENT.
The literary societies have had an unusually big boom
this term. Indeed it is not within the memory of the oldest
student when such splendid audiences have greeted the soci
eties. This is due almost wholly to the increased interest
shown in literary work. Students are beginning to learn
that the work afforded by the hterary societies is worth more
to them than any other study in the University curriculum
and are beginning to avail I themselves of the opportunities
offered. The ability to appear well before an audience is
not inherent in man. It can only come by long and loyal
training. The literary socities are nothing more nor less
than training schools where individual merit rules. They
offer to the rich and to the poor equal chances. No cliques,
no clans, no factions are there, but all work for the general
good of the society. Honors are distributed to those, who,
by patient toil, loyally and unflinchingly win them. There
is no such thing as covering undeserving members with un
due honors and heaping coals of fire upon the heads of the
deserving. All work together as nearly as practicable in
order that the highest possible degree of unity may be at
tained. Where unity prevails, there will prosperity be found.
All members of the literary societies have reason to congratu
late themselves upon past success, but let us not, in the hour
of prosperity, become negligent of the duty we owe to their
welfare; for by so doing we may impair their growth. Reck
lessness means adversity and adversity, unchecked, means
