Saint Mary's beacon., 1870-07-28
THE STORY OF HEBcBERs.

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THE STORY OF HEBG8EkS. I
~ m, "YAr cosrs,s<1k ? = =
! $50 ~ s@keL o.
Hercules was the son q 4111 =
Alemena, and the strongese - sof !. ~
time. The Germans eall - A<1rC Cul61,
and claim him for 3 Du1p AleuDes
na. his mother, being ! - - flnsh.
Juno (Mrs. Jupiter) VI ~ hostile
TO her o6spring. SkedeG ~ Against
Hereslss from his birsA. ! ~ svs
ssrpsat. e desty,y h;~s 8 n
ers6lss buF 80 - n - k1s blfna
Known in those days. Hercules stood in
no fear Of snakes" 80 instead Of dosing
himself with whisky and velirian 70 drive
them away he just strangled them. That
was his style. Their stuffed hides may
be found in any wen-regulafcd museum
to this day. He vas. however, BY the
arts Of Juno, rendered subject b Eurys-
theus, proprietor of combined circus and
managerie, and compelled to perform al
his commands. Eurystheus enjoined upon
him succession Of desperate adventures,
which were callad the twelve "Labors Of
Hercules" The first was a fight with
the Nemean lion. In handling wild ami
mails Herr Cules could beat Herr Dres-
bach. He strangled the lion with his
own hands, none of the other "hands''
about the show being able TO do it. He
returned carrying the dead lion on his
shoulders. but Eurystheus was 50 fright
ened at the sight of it, and at this proof
of the prodigious strength of Hercules,
that he ordered him to send accounts Of
his exploits by telegraph in future.
His next labor was carving the hydra,
monster that ravaged the country of
Argos, and dwelt in swamp near the
we'll of Amymone. The hydra used to
60 to the well for the water to put with
his gin Che lived on hydru-gin mostly).
and it was here that Hercules met him
clandestinely. The hydra had nine heads,
of which the middle one was immortal. -
Hercules struck of its head with his club.
but In the place of the one knocked off two
new ones appeared, heads winning every
toss. At length he burned away the heads
with caustic, and buried the ninth or i'm
mortal one under a huge rock, with Ma
sonic honors. -.
His next step in the labor movement
was the cleaning Of the Augean stables.
Augeas, King Of Elias. had herd Of
3 900 oxen whose stalls had not been
cleansed for 80 years. The smell was 50
bad that Deli, Miami and Ssorrs townships
held indignation meetings and threatened
to tear the stables down. Hercules
brought Deercreek through them and
cleansed them thoroughly in one day,
though the hydrant water tasted a little
queerish for a week or more.
His next labor was of more delicate
nature. Admeta, the daughter of Eurys-
theus (who rode a very good one-horse
act). longed to obtain the girdle of Hip
polyta, queen of the Amazons, to wear in
the circus. She thought it would lay
over any champion belt in the country
Eurystheus ordered Hercules to 90 and
get it. The Amazons were a nation Of
women, very warlike, and addicted to
breeches and ballot II was their custom
to bring up only the female children, the
boys either being put to death or forced
to work on newspapers which killed them
off in little while anyhow. After vari-
Gus adventures he reached the country Of
the Amazens, on the Amazon river. Hip
polyta received him and his comrades
kindly, and they gave three cheers and a
hip! hip! for Hippolyta. Hercules made
known his errand, and the queen consent
ed to give up the champion belt (subject
to the rules Of the English prize ring),
but Juno. assuming the attire of Mrs. Dr..
Walker. went and persuaded the other ad-
vocates of women's rights that the stran-
gers were carrying of their queen. They
instantly armed, and came down to the
O'Clock mail boat, on which the men had
embarked. in great numbers. Hercule.
and HipPolyta were taking a parting
drink In the captains room. Seeing the
crowd of Amazons ON the landing, and
hearing the tumult, Hercules thought
Hippolyta had acted treacheously. 10 he
slew her, and taking her girdie, sailed
homeward, the boat leaving precisely or
time
Then Eurythens sent him 10 bring thu
oxen Of Gcryoa, . monster with three ho.
dies and very little soul. He lived in the
far west, and when Hercules, in search.
ing him, arrived At the frontiers Of Lybi.
and Europe, he rent mountaiu in twain
and left half on each side. forming III,
Straits Of Gibraltar. IL / should rent I
mountain, am afraid l should find my,
self in as great straits rs Hercules did
unless rents were very low These twc
! mountains are called the ..Pillars of Her.
cules." What became of the mattress ant
the rest of his bedding, ann unable 3,
state. The oxen were guarded BY tn,
giant Eurytion and his two headed dog
but Hercules killed the giant, knocked
the dog on his respective heads. ant
brought the oxen in safely to Eurystheus
He took the fist premium on them at tn,
next county fair They vere good thin,
10 have, for if Eurystheus got broke il
going against the ..6ank, he could rails
asak on one Of them any time.
The most difhcult labor Of all WAS eet
ting the golden apples Of Hesperides. 70
Hercules did net know where 70 6nd them
They we're choice variety q. apples
golden sweets" perhsps-whici' Jun
had received at her wedding from the god
/ dcss Of the earth. and which she had in
| trusted 20 the keeping Of the .dasghter. q
Hespsris. ably assisted b vaschful dra
II xrn Affer v.rsous Al venfureS Hers,ssls
arrived 4 Moans Atlss in A6riea-(geog