New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-06-01
To the nalnce then

Welcomed the chief. for plentifuly stored
The royal dwelling was.
After conducting the guest about this palace,
which will serve IS typical :One for all the coun-
tries visited the historian breaks out with this ref
erence to q well-known personal habit of the dis
tinguished pilgrim. The quotation is from Book
XXlI, line go:
Ulysses stepped in smoke the royal pile,
Both hail and court.
From time to time messages came to tho wanderer
from his faithful ones at home which strengthened
hun in his purpose lie impaired his faith to his
faithful chroncler, for in Book XIV, line 648, we
find this entry:
Ulysses gladly saw
That while hs was In distant lands his goods
Were watched 80 faithfully.
Suddenly, however, he received news which led
him to resolve upon an immediate return to his
native land. When hO was reasoned with on the
subject Book XIV. line 437l:
Ulysses, the great sufferer answered thus:
There is DOuRht
Worse than wandering life. Unseemly cares
hungry stomach brings to homeless men.
We next encounter him on his homeward voyage,
telling his adventures and displaying his presents
to devoted companion Book XIV, line 393):
There heard o. Ulysses. PheidOn told
How ne received him "a guest aud friend
When on his homeward voyage. Then he showed
the wealth Ulysses gathered, brass and gold
And steel dtylnely wrought
The enthusiastic greeting which sounded in his
ears when he set foot again on American soil seems
to have convinced HIM that .his journey had been
we'll taken Book XIX, line 800:
And here Ulysses would have been long sinoe
But that he deemed II wise TO travel far
And gather wealth-fOr we'll Ulysses knew
Beyond all other men tue al Is OF gam.
The historian refers to the pilgrims quiet life in
his old home at Galena in this graphic sketch Book
XIV, line 1885,
The flesh with eager appetite and drank
Tho wine in silence, meditaing woe
To all the suttOrs.
The short journey to Chicago to encourage the
zeal of his followers and agents by his personal
presence seems to have moved the poet to unwOntcd
anger, for how otherwise could he have compared
the goOdly city Of Chicago to Hades Book XI.,
line ssh:
Ulysses what bath moved thee to attempt
This greatest OF thy labOrs 2 How Is 1t
That thou hast found the courage to descend
To Hadesl
Here the narrative ends but not here the resources
of the historian. The clanor of the opposing fac
tions at the coming Chicago Convention seems to
have so confused his prophetic vision that he was
in doubt about the outcome. Like thrifty prophet
whose reputation was at stake, ne prepared two
sequels for his story leaving posterity to clap on
the ono which would fit the actual outcome. In
case the .third-term scheme succeeded he Supplied
this comprehensive triplet to round out the tale
Book XIV, line 500:
Now that the great Ulysses has avenged
His wrongs, let there be d faithful league
With oaths, and let Ulysses reign.
In Of failure two passages found to fit the
case one to be addressed by the hero himself to a
faithful follower, swhO may ipossibly bs Senator
Logan Book XIV, line 205)i
Old man. shall not give thee that reward,
For never will Ulysses come again
To his own palace.
While the .otter Book XIV, line 450) indicates
that the historian has lost faith In his hero;
The gods all hate
Ulysses since they neither oaused his death
In the great war OF Troy, nor, when the war
Was over. suffered him to die at home,
And III the arms Of those who loved him moStt
For then would all the Greeks have reared 10 him
monument, and mighty would have been
The heritage Of glory for his son.