The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1878-01-30
MARRIAGE IN RIPE OLD AGE.
Historical Nuptials Brought to
Mind by Mr.. Lords Case.
SOphOcIes and his Wicked Sons
Charge that he was Insane--- Is
ao The Father and Mother of a
the Earl Of Leicester
TinooIu Hair

OnafRo GnaC ne was 1nSan0---
I Ho The Father and Mother of s
the Earl Of Leicester
4I A Timely Heir.
To the Editor of the New York Sun: .sI
Permit me to transfer your million
readers to a scene that occurred
more than 1000 years ago. and yet
is as fresh to the classic mind as 8
theme of yesterday, and carries with
it suggestion upon an event of the
present time. af ta
The scene was in ancient Athens,
when the victories of Marathon, Sa-
lamis, and PlatRa had already made
the city of Minerva immortal when
the warrior-poet Sophocles, the com
panion Of Pericles, and his tragedies
eclipsed those of his master, Eschy-
lus. # 8a siasg
SophOeles had reached the age OF
nearly ninety years. laurelled with
undying fame. and one of the wealth
lest citizens OF Athens, from the
public success of his dramatic wsrks.
and his many mental prizes in the
Olympian contests. r sss5Ea
He had two sons, who. envious of
their fathers wealth and estates,
sought to obtain possession OF them
before the death of the father. There
was only one way legally. and that
was. If the accusations were true, to
publicly accuse their aged parent Of
insanity, and have it proved in open
court. The sons made the charge !;
the father was duly cited to appear
and defend, by counsel or otherwise,
before the high and final tribunal OF
Areopagus. The day of trial arriv-
ed. yet no counsel appeared as sub
sequently upon the trial of Phryne.
The sixty silver-bearded Judges
we're seated in the semicircle. the al
tar FIRE before them, TO swear wit
nesses. that their evidence should
bs as pure as the electric fire from
Jupiter. The sons gave their testi-
mony, rather to natural incidents of
old age than to any fermentation OF
the father; yet no counsel appeared
for the defence. and the Judges were
about to pronounce judgment against
the parent by default. and, by 8 de-
cree, to transfer the estates to the
impatient sons, when, sudden IS q
flash of light from day-crowned
Apollo. appeared before the wonder
ing tribunal the silver bearded So
phocles! The Judges arose to re-
ceiye him. He took no notice of his
ungrateful sons, but at once took
the altar stand, and was sworn as q
witness in his own behalf. and like
st. Paul in aftertime, and en- that
very spot, pleaded the cause of i'm.
d1GleSA u ueAs fi 55 a-sf =
Sophocles would not condesceud
to deny the accusation of his sons /;
but, taking from the fold of his clas-
sic garment an original manuscript.
which he had composed and written
during the two previous years. while
his sons were falsely denouncing his
insanity. he oratorically read aleud
Qor the poets of Athens were alse
tragedians) his original tragedy of
'"Gdipus in Colonus," which We now
possess. Upon its termination all
the Judges arose, and by .acclama-
tion acquitted him of the charge of
insanity. and thereupon sentenced
the sons to death for filial impiety.
Then the poet ceased, and the father
pleaded for the life OF his sons. For
the sake of Sophocles, and at his in
tercession, the sentence of death
was committed to life exile, and non
| inheritance of the parents property
after mis- death; and the Judges
gave him legal power to adopt new
heirs. as if new born children to his
name and honors. sa
In chapter Of the First Book of
the Kings we read Now King
David was old and stricken in years,
and they covered him with clothes,
but he got no heat Then follows
the statement, and. of course, adj
vice, that "a fair damsel was sought