The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1870-06-23
sDninOn and Isytlsias.

About one hundred years ago bc.
forc Christ lived Damon and Py,hias.
Pathagorcan philosophers, who bnd
gone from Athens to Sicily on pres s.
ing Invitation of Dionysius. called the
Tyrant OF Syracuse in order to
teach the rude inhabitluts of that fer
tile islands the arts and sciences. Fall
ing under tho displcasurc of tho tyran,.
Damon was condemned TO death and
the time for his execution appolhtrd
Anxious to see his wife and chilj,cp
once moro before his execution. n,
asked the king for permission to visi,
them. Tho King answered What
assurance do you give me that you will
return r | will give you my friend
Pythias,' said Damon, "for security. ="
the King asked Pythias if hc were
willing to become the bcnisman OF
Damon, and to die in his place. pro.
vided he did not return Y o.. :"
said Py,hias, e" | will stand for him
and II he is not here ON the day appoint
cd. | Will SITTER death in his place ="
|" Wcll,' sail the King, this is
strange; but Damon YOU are at lihcr.
ty to go and visit yoar family, aud i,
you do not rcturn, as | suppose YOU
will not, justice viii! not loose her vic
tim"
Damon hurried home TO embrace
his family and to communicate to them
tho sad intelligence that, in few day.
he must return TO Syracuse to suffer
death. When hii wife learned the
ste OF thing that he had violated no
law that he was condemned bv a
more whim of Dionysius. and that hi,
friend, Pythias, had become his bonds
man, she insisted upon his not return.
ing. She reasoned with him. and
sought him BY the affection he bore To
her and her children not to return
but all her cntreaties we're in vain.
|" Would you have me to violate my
sacred pledge Of honor to my friend
Pythias!' said he. "No, no; would
despisc myself in that caSc-but
shall return and relieve our friend and
malntain my honor, even at the cx
pensc of my own lie y
Damon remained u, home, as we
may imagine, rs long as he could. At
length, amid the sobs aud tears of his
wiic an1 children, he tore himself
away from those he loved. The exc
cu,ion was to take place at noon, and
rs his progress was impcded 10y bad
roads and high waters, on tho day
appointed bo was still twenty miles
from Syracuse; but he rtsc early in
the morning, and ~ the sun was ap-
preaching tha meridian. the spires of
the city were in view. Ilastcnin. on.
he found large multitude gathered
in front o''tho prison. The tyrant was
there, seated on u platform to witness
the novelty Of ono man dying for an.
other! The hour for the execution
had nearly expired. "Ah," says the
tyrant, where is your friend Damon.
Did ! not tell you that hc would not
return ?" But" says Pythias, he
viii return it he ia alive. know he
will not disappoint mc, | know him,
and know that he woul rather die
tsan break his word" The tyrant
then looked at the sun-dial, and i, was
just noon. "Now," said the execu-
toner, proceed Pythias laid his
head on the block, tho axe was raised,
and its sharp edge g'imcrcd in the SUI.
light. When, 10 ! there was n move
mcnt in the crowd " Stop" said ty.
rant "till we see the means" There
stood Damon, painting and covered
with dust. llc had como in time.
Tho tyrant was so much struck with
this proc Of friendship, that ne par.
doned them both, and requested per
mission to join their fraternity. 1t is
well known that popular and widely
extended society, the Knights Of
Pythias,' is founded on this beautiful
incident.-Lu,hcran Observer.