Mower County transcript., 1871-07-27
Damon and Pythlas. =.
BY THE "FAT CONTRIBUTOR"

DalROn anu fyInI1ss
! BY TIE "FAT CONTRIBUTOR"
The Knights of Pythias, says the
omaha correspondent of the Cincinnati
Times, are ruaking quite a sensation in
Omaha at present. can find out very lit
tic about that mysterious order. The title
OF the order was doubtless suggested by
the history of those ancient Greek buffers
who carried on general friendship busi
ness under the firm name of "Damon 4
Pythias." These worthless lived in byra
cusc IN. ~, and were consequently known
as "Salt Plnters." Their back doors
fronted each other, and they were the
warmest kind Of friends, even in mid win
ter. Their friendship dated back to tho
days of sunny childhood. If one of them
had anything he always wanted the Other
to have some Of it. II, for instance, Da
mon got licking from the school master
he wasn't satisfied until Pythias got one
too. Pythias got the measles once, and he
went right off and gave them to Damon
They shared everything together. Damor
found his fathers whisky bottle one day
but he didn't keep it to himself Not he
He went and got Pythias drunk: Ii
Pythias run all night. Damon kept it uI
all the next day, so that the days Of Da
mon were equal t., the Kniglats of Pyy-
thias.
Damon was member of the City COun
Gil Of Syracuse, while Pythias belonged tc
the National Guards. It appears that one
Dionysius had been scheming to have the
Council d. clare him Mayor Of Syracuse
without vote Of the people, and succeed
ed one morning when Damon was absent
| Ascertaining what had been done, Damon
| fastened to the council chamber, denounc
| ing Dionysius and his fellow. .councilmen
who sustained the fraud Meeting Dio.
nysius, he attempted to stab him with an
ivory papcr-cutter, remarking as he did
So
BY all the godsl one blow
And Syracuse is freel"
(There had been heavy duty on Syra-
cuse up to that time, owing to the salt
monopoly and Damon was a free trader
lie might have freed his beloved city from
the tyrant had he not stopped to "buy all
the gods," and blow about it. lie was
secured by the mayors new police and
condemned to death.
Pythias had sweetheart named Cal.
anthe, whom he loved next to Damon
Their wedding day was appointed, and
Just as the marriage ceremony was being
performed, news was brought to Pythias
of what had occurred, and leaving CAL
anthe only about hslf:married, he FASTENED
to the station house where Damon was
confined, arriving just as he was being
led forth to- execution. Damon was peti-
tioning Dionysius for few hours respite,
in order that he might see his family, but
the tyrant wouldn't listen to it.
Pythias then offered to take Damon's
,.looo far hn rf cS U hn,1rc op1 if OF
the expiration of that time, his friend re-
turned not, he would perish in his stead
hoped to die if he wouldn't! The propo-
sition was accepted, 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 neces-
sarily brief. He had to hurry back, or he
wouldn't be in season to see himself die.
Damon was much affected, and when he
tore himself away there was a dame on
the floor in swoon.
"Fetch up the old mare !" yelled Damon
to his hired man, Lucullus. He was
exc cited, because, you see, it was getting
late, and he didn't want to keepthe execu-
toner waiting on his account. Then it
wss Lucullus acknowledged that, in order
to save his master, he had given the old
mare dog button, and the coroner was
even then sitting on the body. Furious
at the thought of not reaching Syracuse
within the allotted time, and knowing how
mortified Pythias would be if compelled
to die in consequence, he seized Lucullus
to rend him to pieces 1t would have been
&c od-bye Lucullus had not horseman
appeared at that moment, whom Damon
persuaded to dismount, taking him gently
by the throat. Then, mounting in his
stead. he dashed away towards the city.
In the meantime, every preparation
had been made for the execution Of Pyth-
las.
Time was up, and no word from Damon.
The people sneered, and asked if anybody
supposed Damon was such a fool as to
come back again, and even Pythias began
to fear his old pard had gone back on
him.
Suddenly a great shout was heard. A
cloud Of dust was seen to rise up in the
direction of the salt-works. 1t approached
rapidly, and in short time Damon came
tearing in on horseback, at a pace that
would have made Phil Sheridan so
ashamed of himself that he would have
ridden twenty miles away" and hid.
There was Just shade of disappoint-
ment on Damon's face when he saw that
Pythias still lived but he jumped off his
horse, threw hand spring on the scat
fold, and shouted Bring on your cleaver !
Damon is on deck~
Dionysius was so struck with this cxhi-
bition of friendship that he pardoned them
both at once. They then fell into each
others arms, exclaiming:
"Pytby!"
"Damyr'