The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-06-19
A BIT OF HISTORY,
An Ancient story M Rsvis48 zmd q.
feefea bysan American ssudeui.

Norristovn Herald
Orpheus was the alleged son OF the
muse Cslliope and the god Apollo. CAL
Hope was no relative, we believe, to the
steam calliope that used to travel with a
circus, and made more noise than two
country bands at "a agricultural fair.
Orpheus played the Tyre with such fss-
cinating power that the birds in the air,
the fish in the streams. wild beasts, and
even trees. rocks ard hills gathered
round him to listen-truly, a large,
varied and sppreciative audience. The
applause was made by the foot OF the
hills, and the trees wouldn't leave as
long as Orpheus didn't strike up For
Pm Called Little Buttercup." A man
nowadays might play Tyre until his
eyes bulged out, and not accumulate
such an audience as Orpheus fascinated
save the rocks, and these would con-
gregate about him in such a hurried and
reckless manner that he would have to
dodge and go away from there if he
valued his health. 0rpheus' faverite
song was all about fair maiden named
Eurydike whom he loved and lost. She
didn't run away and join a Pinafore
troupe. She died from the bite of a
snake that lurked in the grass over which
she had run to escape from another i'm
petuous lover. This was before whisky
was discovered as a remedy for snake
bites. Tue bibulous god Bacchus was
often bitten by snake, but the wound
never proved fatal. He was always full
of the remedy, Orpheus mourned for
Eurydike, and accompanied by her sister
nymphs, wandered over the hills and
valleys, filling the pure air with plaintiff
strains to call her back sgsin-and csus'
ing the old grangers to unloosen their
cross dogs, and wonder why the fool.
killer didn't come along that way. They
assured him that if his girl was dead, it
was easier to get dozen new ones than
to call her back again. But Orpheus
still INDUCED in his little game of field
bawl. He even prosecuted his search in
the remains of the lower world, the
sweetness of his music soothing the
savage breasts of the monsters and
wicked spirits dwelling there. BE con-
sidersbly augmented the weeping and
wsiling existing in thst subterranesn
place. Even the heart of Persephone
and the ,merailess Erinys were softened
by his passionate grief, and they finally
agreed that Miss Eurydike should be
permitted to return with her lover to
the upper world on condition that he
should not look upon her face on the
journey back. Orpht US gave his promise,
and, of course, broke it. He wasn't
proof against the temptation. He looked
back. Young man, you who think
all your future happiness and
heaven itself dwells in the face of
a certain young person OF the spring
bonnet gender, put yourself in his place,
and then eensure him if you can. He
wanted to ascertain whether she wore
her hair criaped or banged. 1t is prob
able that if she had worn it Ia idiot
fringe ne would have "cut" her then
snd there. Eurydike was obliged to
retrsce her steps, and was lost to Orpheus
forever, He felt mighty bad about it,
and his appetite became prodigiously
out of repair. For several months he
sat in doleful mood by the banks of q
river, under the open SKY, refusing food
and drink. 1t was a long fast, but he
was over s29s in pocket by having no
bosrd to pay. lie was reduced to first
class living skeleton, but he refused
several tempting offers to travel with q
show of "l.ving wonders" He evidently
thought q great deal of Eurydike-
snd unless he had an umbrella, his hat
snd garments got several sOakiBgs, and
if he didn't get an awful cold in the
head it is miracle. At the expiration
of seven months ne withdrew to the
elevated regions of the mountains and
resumed the weeping and wailing bust
hess in higher key. But it was an IN
healthy withdraw for him. He was do
covered by a ssnd OF Texas roughs
called Msnsds, and torn by them limb
from limb. As strange as it may sp>
pear, this sort of treatment proved fs-
tai, it killed him. He looked as if he
had been fooling with esa Of nitro
glycerine. His head and Tyre foated
down the Heb7os and were carried to the
sea, the Tyre sounding sweetly with the
swell and fall of the waves, to she island
of Lesbos. There the head was buried,
and nightingales selected the spot to
sing their sweetest lays. ...r, ~ J..
The story of Orpheus teaches that
truth is stranger than fction-much
stranger-and no one can read about his
musical instrument without exclaiming,
" oh, what ly1e !" p Il,
M0rmOns in Mississippi.
n.Vo