The Placer herald., 1871-05-20
Damon and pythias.
THE ''FAT CONTRIBUTOR VERSION OF THr



pnteis. Their back doors fronted ON each
other, and they were the warmest kind of
friends, even in midWnter. Their friend
ship dated back to the days of sunny child
hood If one of them had anything he al
ways wanted the other to have some of it.
If, for instance, Damon got licking from
the schoolmaster, he wasn't satisfied until
Pythias got one, too. Pythias got the mea-
sles once, and he went right oil and
gave some of them to Damon. They shar
ed everything together. Damon found his
fathers whisky bottle one day, but he didn't
keep it all to himself Not he. He went
and got Pythias drunk. If Pythias ron all
night, Damon kept it up all the next day,
so ha the days Of Damon were equal to
the Knights of Pythias.
Damon was a member of the City Coun-
ell of Syracuse, while Pythias belonged to
the National Guards. 1t appears that one,
Dionysius had been schemmg to have the
Council declare bin Mayor Of Syracuse
without a vote of the people, aud succeeded
one moring when Damon was absent. As
certaining what had been done Damon hast
ened to The Council Chamber, DAMN Dion
ysns and his fellow councilman who sustain
ed the fraud. Meeting Dionysus he at
tempted to stab him with an ivory paper
cutter, remarking as he did So
by all the gods! one blow
And Syracuse is free
(There had been heavy duty on Syra-
cuee up to that time, owing to the salt mon
opoly, and Damon was free trader) He
might have freed his beloved city from the
tyrant, had he not stopped to "bay all the
gods" and blow about it. He was secured
by the Mayors new police, and was con-
demned to DEATH
Pythias had sweetheart named Calanthe,
whom he loved next TO Damon. Their
wedding day WAS appointed, and just as
their marriage ceremony was being perform
ed, news was brought TO Pythias Of what
had occurred, and, leaving CaIanthc only
about half married, he FASTENED to the sta
house where Damon was confined, ar
riyng just as he was being led forth to exc
cution. Damon WAS petitioning Dionysius
for few hours respite, in order that he
might see his family; but the tyrant wouldn't
listen to 1t.
pythias then offered to take Damon
place for the space of six hours, and if at the
expiration Of that time his friend returned
uot, he would perish in his stead, hoping tc
die if he wouldn't! The proposition was ac-
cepted, and Damon hurried away to his
family, who lived away out in the vicinity
Of the salt works.
Sad indeed was The parting Of Mr.. and
Mrs Damon. The interview was necessarily
brief. lie hid to hurry back, or he would
/ =. &. | Il
was greatly affected, and when he tore him
self away there was d dame on the floor i'll 4
swoon.
"FctcL up the old mare, i" yelled Damor
TO his hired man LuculIus. lie was ezctec
because, you see, it was getting very late
md he didn't want to keep the cxccltonei
waiting on bis account. Then it was Lucul-
us acknowledged that, in order to save hi;
master, he had given the old mare doc
button, and the Coroner was even then sit
ting On the body. Furious at the thought
of not reaching Syracuse in the allotted time
and knowing how mortified Pythias would
be if compelled TO die in consequence, ht
seized Lucullus to rend him in pieces. Il
would have been goodbye Lucullus had moi
4 horeeman appeared at that moment whom
Damon persuaded to dsmount by taking
him gently by the throat Then mounting
in his stead, he dashed away toward the
city.
In the meantime every preparation had
been made for the execution Of Pythas.
Time was up and no word from Damon.
The people sneered and asked if anybody
supposed Damon was such a fool as to com,
back again; and even pythias began to fea1
that his old 'pard' had gone back on him.
Suddenly great shout was heard. a
great cloud Of dust was seen to rise in the
direction Of the salt works. 1t approached
rapidly, and in a short time Damon camt
tearing in on horseback at pace that woulc
have made Phil Sheridan SO ashamed o
himself he would have ridden ''twenty ne'
away and hid.
There was just shade of disappointment
on Damon's face when he saw that Pytha'
still we'd; but jumped off his horse, threw {
handspring on the scaifold, and shouted
Bring on your cleaver! Damon is on deck.
Dionysius was so struck with this exbibi
ton of friendship that he pardoned them boil
at once. They then both fell into each 9th
ers arms, exclaining,
"Pythe!'
! "Dam' mev'
Curtains falls.)