Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-02-28
To be UnrOlIed To-uOrrOw Might.

, Ancient Greece has transmitted to
succeeding generations memories OF
herself for the admiration and benefit
of mankind. The very oldest event
recorded in her history, and certainly
one of the very richest in its inAu-
ences was the A~rgonautic expedition
which went in search of, and captured
the Golden Fleece. Poetry and his
tory combined to render the story Of
the adventurous voyage, brilliant and
interesting to the ancients, and both
in modern times concur in rendering
it equally entertaining. 1t is celebra-
ted as the first voyage of discovery
ever made upon the sea, and a record
of its remarkable incidents, perils and
results has employed the pen of many
writer's, historians as we'll as poets.
The story belongs to the heroic ages,
the date of its occurrence being set
down as 1863 years before Christ and
eighty-nine before the Trojan war.
Az event Of 3l44 years ago, told in so
many different ways by a host Of wri-
ters, is very naturally clouded in some
doubt. in lie more minute particu
lars. but the proof Of such a voyage
having been made is as certain
as that OF any other Of the ira.
ditional occurrences Of which &C.
counts are imperfect. The story be-
ing this years chosen subject for illus
tration Ia moving tableaux by the
Mystic Memphi briefly explained is as
follows:
TabIeau no. I---Phryxus and
Helle.
The immortal goddess Nephele sent
down from Mount Olympus a ram with
a golden fleece, having called upon
Mercury to save her children from the
Jealous hatred and anger Of their step
mother Ino. The latter had an ugly
temper. a common trouble with step
mothers in ancient as we'll as modern
times, and Inc sought to sacrifice the
children on a flaming altar to get them
out Of her way. She had a child Of
her own, hence her desire to make
away with the stepchildreR. This tab
leau or float illustrates the flaming
altar upon which the children are to
be placed. kephele and Mercury
having led The sacred ran down from
Mount Olympus close to the altar
take up the children and place hem
on the back Of the ram. The animal
suddenly cleaves the cir and flies to.
ward Colchis, a country OF Asia on
the eastern shores Of the EuxiHe Sea
near Caucasus. In It's course the
delicate Helle became dizzy and fell
from the ram while passing over
the narrow strait between Eu.
rope and Asia and connecting the
Mediterranean with the Black sea
The name Helles9ont was afterward
given in memory Of tbe body Of water
where the accident occurred. AL
Greece mourned her untimelg end
and Neptune has q guardian care Oyel
her maues, which rest ia an urn old
time shall not destroy, while the sor.
rowing waves Of the Hellespont chan
her funeral dirge. Plryxus, however
arrived safely at the end Of his aeria
excursion in Colchis. where Hetes, thu
king. received him cordially and treat
ed bin with marked Hospitality. Th
starting point a near Thebes, i
Thessaly, the most beautiful regiol
10 classic Greece. Phgyxus was th.
son Of King Athanias, rRlar Of tn
province, WHO first married Eephele
his mother. afterwards div0reiHg he
70 unite himself with Ino. The pie.
Of the latter for sacrificing Phryxu
and Hello was that Nephale had dur
ing a period of frelzy possessed field
of grain, causing a sweeping plague
and the oracles had declared the god
50 offended that oHlg tie slaughter o
the children would atone for Der awful
conduct. Hermes OF Mercury ant
Nephele ere exhibited in the tableau
and they have PhFyxus and Helle OF
the back Of the ran, which is seer
passing high in the cir through tb.