The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-03-06

No words. but murmured in a faintingsound.
| In towns not woods the sooty bats deliEht.
| And never till the dusk begin their flight.
In stately pile, with all the tasteful decora-
tions of ancient art, next came the palace OF
Circe, in front of which were grouped
ULYSSES AND HIS COMPANIONS.
Ulysses having remained some time at tbs
court Of Circe after he and his companions
| were thrown on her shores, the latter partook
OF feast she gave, and were changed into
swine when tasting Of Circe's magic cup. When
Ulysses heard Of their misfortune he set out
to release them from their tolls or TO share
their fate. Meeting Hermes he received
plant called Molly, which was potent
against Crce's magic. Arriving at the temple
Of the queen she offered him the medeated
had produced its usual effects, Circe struck
him with her wana and babe him join his swim
ish companions In the sty.
Ulysses drew his sword and defied her,
when terrified, she restored his companions
to their original form.
In the tableau given by Cornus, Ulysses
stands confronting Ciree, who has just risen
from her throne, whilst behind the hero are
grouped his hog headed eompatriots.
On either side of the queen gorgon-eyed
dragons recline, their scaly necks glistening
In the light.
"She is sitting in q beautiful alcove on her
wonted throne and clad in splendid robe.
Over it she is arrayed in garment Of gold
tissue"
Illuminated as was this car, it presented an
interesting study In its details The arohitec-
ture OF Circe's throne, the richness Of the cos
tunes and the moral of the story made 1t
most entertaining, as well rs instructive. AS
Ulysses passed on we next beheld
| DAPHNE CHANGED INTO LAUREL.
| The daughter Of the river Peneus stands Oh
| bank, her lower limbs covered with bark,
whilst from her arms and head sprout out
| laurel leaves Near by Is Cupid, who has done
lie Wit ia kac cd
| her to the brink in his passionate love, and
| then she stops to call upon the water gods for
| aid as she, with extended arm, chides her pur-
suer Nymphs in beautiful dress added to
| the scene their charms. Apollo, alter having
| been pierced with Cupid's dart. gives chase to
| Daphne into whose breast the archer had
sent his leaden shaft creating q repugnanee
| to desire.
"Sbe heard not half, so furiousy she flies,
| And on her ear the imperfect accent dies.
| Fear gave her wings, and as she fed. the wind
| Increasing, spread her flowing hair behind
As when the impatient greyhound slipped
Bounds Ger the glebe to course the fearful
She in her speed does all her safety lay.
| And he, with double speed. pursues the prey.
| He gathers ground upon her in The chase.
Now breathes upon her hair with nearer pace
| The nymph grew pate, and in mortal fright
Spent with the labor OF 50 long ligh ,o
| Upon the streams of her paternal brook
| She pleads for aid to the water gods as she
| reaches the river. while the god Apollo is in hot
| pursuit. and pleads that her form be changed.
| AS the fable goes
| "A filmy rind about her body grows,
| Her hair to leaves. her arms extend to boughs.
The nymph Is oil Into laurel gone
| The smoothness of her SIX in remains alone:
Yet Phoebus loves her still and cas- Ing round
| Her boIe his arms some little warmth he found"
| THE tree still painted In the unfinished part.
| Not wholly vegetative. and heaved her heart
THE SACRIFICE OF ANUS
| followed Grim warriors stood In the fore
| ground armed pie, surrounding the bull.
| which was bedecked with q wreath about its
| neck Behind stood the high priest OF Jupiter,
near an altar. from whence in lurid light the
| fire burned. Beneath rich temple stood the
statue of Apollo, whose erect form, with sceptre
in hand, looked down upon the sacrifice. The
| priest, with naked arm, held forth the SaCri-
| iicial knife awaiting the moment for the aw
| full ceremony to begin.
According to Virgil, ANUS was the King of
Delos and priest to Apollo. He was a de-
who through their deyotions, brought many
presents to the temple of Apollo. This was
one of the most finished pictures of the
nights pageant The flames from the affairs
fire, the stately grace Of the priest, and the
| tout ensemble made it most picturesque.
Following came, in the glare Of colored
oRPHEus IN HADEs.
Full of the weird Shadows Of the world be-
low, and lit up now and again by the
fearful flames, Orpheus appeared on his de-
scent into the valley OF the shades in search
of his wife Eurydice. On q throne, about
| which the fire burned the guardian of he'll sat
with his queen, whilst In the foreground Tan
| talus unthirsty. views the river, and lxion on
his wheel has crest. The vuture charmed
Belides theI, toll benoan. Sisyphus ceases
his labor with the stone whilst Orpheus
makes his entry. The throne of the god Of
darkness was of deepest black, ornanlen5ed
with stars, and at his side sat his queen.
| The old books tell US that Orpheus by his
skill in music obtained from Pluto the resto-
ration of his wife. Eurydice, on condition of
his not looking behind him while in the
upper regions. Orpheus, however, forgot his
promises and turned to gaze upon his long
| lost wife. who instantly is lost in air. Ovid
| in his verse sings:
Thus while the bard melodiously complains
| The very bloodless shades attention keep.
And silent seem com passionate to weep.
| Fen Tantalus his flood unthirsty views.
Nor flies the stream. nor he the stream Dursues.
| Ixion's wondering wheel its wtirl suspends,
| And the voracous vulture charmed attends.
/ No more the Belides their il bemoan.
And sisyphus. reolined sits listening on bis
With flood of music came the tabeau of
sYR1Nx CHANGED INTO REEDS.
Syrinx. nymph of Arcadia, after long
chase, fleeing from Pan. Pan arrives at the
spot in his chase of Syrinx, who, in order to
| release herself from the opportunities of the
god, is transformed into a reed.
The picture as presented shows Syrnx near
the river bank, near which are growing water
lilies Just behind three nymphs following
| attend
The chase is unfortunate to the god, for
Sy1inx. on his near approach, changes to s.
reed, and from her shoulders and neither limbs
the reeds shoot forth. Pan, not to be outdone,
forms a pipe Of the reeds, with which he
makes the music which has given him such
fame.
The scene was most artistically gotten up,
and showed the taste of it's originators. AS
Ovid gives it, speaking of Pans advances,
But ere he thus began she took her flight.
80 swift she was already out of sight,
j Nor. staH'd to hear the eonrEhip If the god