New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-02-14

feminine occupation of weaving tie royal
purple. Nauslcaa, the daughter, sits at the
feet of the royal couple. In the luxurious
halls of Alcinous the wanderer tarries
awhile, bowling his Acknowledgements, when
it is suggested the hand of the fair one may
be won, and only craving Of.his royal host
the boon of sending him home. And as
this section of Homer's chain moves on,
there also vanshes one of the sweetest ro-
mances OF the Homeric type, which, how
ever, it would require a whole proce ssion
to spell out.
Household of Ulysses.
On the column moves, and the household
of Ulysses appears in view, and with it
forthwith appear in the imagination of the
locker ON the dog Argus, who has all the 10y
atty of EumGus, and who, the Odyssey goes
ON to say, recognizes his master after his
twenty years absence, penetrating even the
disguise which was lent him by Minerva.
The poor brute is left on dunghill, like all
faithful dogs, to die. All the adherents of
Ulysses fail to perceive their master in the
shape the stranger wears, but the dying
brute
Could no longer to his lord come near,
Fawned with his tail, and dropped in feeble play
Hiaears. Odysseus turning wiped tear"
a tear he never sheds, be it remembered,
for any thought of Penelope; Eurycleia, his
nurse, and Phemius. his bard, are alike
blind to their master. In the guise of a
beggar Ulysses appears in his own hall and
takes his turn among those who solicit for
aims. He meets Antinous, who bids him
begone, in spite of the remark of the
stranger that he has seen better days, and
is now down; the same fate may befall the
naughty man who orders him from the
door. The scene as drawn by Homer is
touching, all the young mobiles, who ara
guests of Penelope, crying out shame at
this outrage on the laws of hospitality
Eurycleia discovers, by "a scar on the mas
ters foot made in the days of his youth by
"a boar's tusk while hunting, that it is the
lost lord. Now, as Penelope comes in sight
weaving her web, surrounded by her
suitors, behind looms up the column
on which hangs the Ulysses arms
Penelope has a final test to propose for all
her sutors: He who can take the lords
old bow, bend and twang it, driving the ar
row home, will be her future lord. OF
course Ulysses is the successful winner.
And here we have in Homer that founda-
ton for scenes of like character running
through all the modern dramas and the art
of novel writing.
PlutO's Kingdom.
The impressions awakened by the one
eyed giant and the adventure with 4Eolus
have not died away before we behold Gree.
mounted on throne, and in the very act of
transforming the companions of Ulysses into
swine. The hero of the Ody ssey emerges
tress Circe, where he and his companions
found an Oriental splendor, the walls of the
enchanted palace being of polished marble,
silver-studded couches and golden vessels,
making one think of the Arabian nights. All
entered the hall save the prudent
Eurytochus. and drank of the
dragged cup which the hostess
presented. Then she struck them with her
wand, and 10! they are swine, but with
human senses. Eurylochus bears the mes
sage to his master who on his way to rejoin
his companions is met by Mercury, who
gave him a black root of wondrous virtue.
This is the counter spell. In vain Circe ad
ministered the wine, and struck with the
wand. No transformation occurred, and
then Gree knew she had met the many
wiled Ulysses. Here, as in Calypso, the
wanderer forgot Penelope at home. These
Circean wiles have passed away, and in the
next glimpse one sees the Divinities of the
Shades.
Behold here Pluto making known his
royalty among the gods in a majestic mien,
and surrounded by his harpies, who ply
their avocation in their own illustrioHs way,
while the flames of hell boil and seethe
around them.
And now comes back upon memory the
visit of Ulysses to the shades where Pluto
reigns.
Ulysses has called ON Pluto by advice of
Gree, who tells him that would he know his
future fate there he must 60. Homer's hell
is the worst of all those that were painted
after his verses ran their course. He goes
on to say: "Sad night weighs upon them
YEARLY" Practicing the conjuration which
Gree had taught him, he was speedily sur
rounded with the phantoms of the dead,
and finally Tiresias appeared. who was the
one from whom he should receive the news
of his future. Here, in the internal regions,
Ulysses interviews Agamemnon, long since
dead, Patroclus. Ajax and Achilles, the
gloomy view of his earthly fame, consider
ing the circumstances with which he is sur
rounded. Achilles goes on to say that he
would rather in the sunlight
Serve some poor chur who drags his days in grief
Than the whole lordshp of the dead were mine.
Battle of the Frogs and Mice.
When the Had and Odyssey have faded
in the distance comes the battle of the
frogs and mice. Here is seen King Puff
cheeks, commanding his army of frogs in
council assembled. For spears, they are
armed with bullrushes; for shields, they
have cabbage leaves.
Opposed, King Chaw- bacon rises, with
his mice in council and his army ready for
action.
Then come the crabs-those peace max
ers-intervening to stop the row, and the
representation awakening ripples of laugh
ter wherever it moves.
Castor and POllux.
And now Castor and POllux appear.
Castor, hsrseman bold;
POllux unmatched in pugilistIc skill.
These great twin brothers rescued their