Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-02-28
clouds bearing the children upon it
ON'TabIeau No 2.rEetes.

In the beautiful grove Of Mars,
where Phryxus had sacrificed the ram
to the God Jupiter, because he had
guarded him safely through his peril
Gus journey, King Eetes nails the
Golden Fleece to a massive oak. A
sleepless and venomous dragon lies
coiled at the roots of the tree, always
on guard. Two brazen bulls, whose
nostrils emit fiery vapors of dreadful
smell, aid in defending the valuable
trophy, while dogs with demon spirits
stand neal at hand. Until a priestess,
with her magic charms, had rendered
the beasts ~powerless, he had not dared
to enter the forest, nor had any man
before him. King Eetes, meantime,
after listening in open court TO the
strange story Of Phryxus and his Jour-
ney, had Influenced him to marry
Glaucus, his daughter. He later on
killed Phryxus, thereby obtaining
full possession Of the coveted Fleece
The king bad another daughter,
Medea, a sorceress of wonderful gifts.
She does not figure in the present
picture. but will appear in a snbse-
quent tableau.
TabIeau No. 3-ChirOn.
Within a snow covered cavern amidst
lovely gardenoffragr flowers stands
Chiron, the most learned Of all the
Centaurs. The Centaurs we're a tribe
half horse and halfman, who inhabit-
ed the wilds of Mt. Pelion, near the
kingdom of Iolchos, in Greece, Chi
ron was the son of Philyra, and Sa.
bina. and famous for his knowledge Of
music, medicine shooting and sciences.
In the tableau he is surrounded by
his pupils, 0rpheus, whose divine mel
odies stayed the rivers in their course;
Hercules, the slayer of the strong Ne
mean lion, whose skin his mantle
makes; Castor and Pollux, mortal and
Immortal friendship, twin brothers of
time and eternity; Ksculapius, son of
divine Apollo, whose serpent staff
drives disease affrighted, Peleus. Jason,
Laertes: all the best blood of Greece,
and who afterwards served under
Jason in the Argo. After ac ing as q
preceptor to Jason, and instructing
him in the potent arts, Chiron. when
grown to msnhood's age urged him to
demand bis fathers kingdom Of Thes
sally from Pelias, his uncle, to whom
it had been given in trust. but who
usurped the throne and held it as his
own until after Jason's voyage in the
Argo to Colchis.
TabIeau no. 4--JasOn and PeIias.
Seated upon his thro e, his two
daughters near his feet, and surround
ed BY members Of his court, King Pei
las listens to the demand OF his
nephew, Jason, to be restored to his
fathers kingdom. Consulting the
oracle Of Trophonius, Pelias learns
that fraud, his constant companion,
will aid him in keeping his place as
king. lie relates to Jason how
Eetes. king of distant Colchis, has
basely murdered their common rela-
lation Phryxus, and after sending
him to Pluto's realms, had stolen the
Golden Fleece Promising every assist
ance. and holding out the induce
ment Of great glory likely to attend
the success of the enterprise, he fired
his ambition 10 conquer so noble a
prize. he replied to his persuasive
eloquence ITO Colchis-I 60, dear
uncle, this shield aud these arrows
shall the plentitude Of usage feel; with
me shall 70 the best blood of Greece,
and though the Golden Fleece were
guarded by a hundred bulls, and all
the harpies Of the inferno, we will
take it.V Preparations were at once
set on foot for the voyage; tn Cen
taur Chiron superintendent the build
ing of th ship, and provided a calen
dar to assist the voyage. Argos was
the builder and for him the craft was
called Argo.
TabIeau No. 5-The ArgOnauls.
With all the young princes Of
Greece, ffty-four in number and in
the vigor OF their joyous and ambi.
tious youth, Jason set sail in the
Argo for Colchis. Favorable gales
blew for them all the time as Jason de-
scendsd from Holus, god Of the winds
In addition to those mentioned uuder
Chiron's tutorship the oars were
manned BY Theseus, Butes. Hylas,
Tiphys, a pilot Of great skill, and
many Others. The prov Of tho vessel
WAS cut from an enchanted stick out
of the Dodona forest, and it wa,
gifted with powers Of speech
1t gave due warning when in danger
Gus waters. Near the Cynsnean
rocks a pigeon was sent out, and pass
ing through in safety, only losing a
few tail feathers, the Argo sailed
on and arrived 10 safety on the shores
of Celchis. The commander. Jason,
will be seen in the bow OF the heauti-
ful vessel, and near him stand the
heroes who aided him in navigating
the dangerous waters.
labtehu NO tuc Su'
preme.
The most celebrated of ancient
heroes, the most valiant and accom-.
plished Of Chiron's pupils vas the i'm
mortal god Hercules. v~ictorin a thou
sand contests, while guarding the
crew Of the Argo when resting for the
NIGHT on the shores Of Asia, where
they stopped for supplies, was sud
denly beset by barbanans, whose only
companions beyond their tribe, were
the wild beasts Of the forest. AZ the
Gerce savages advanced to the attack
Of the slHmbering crew Hercules is
seen slaughteF;pg them unaided and
alone.
TabIeau No. 7.--HyIas.
a charming forest and beneath its
shady bower yernal carpet Of surpass-
ing loneliness was seen during the
voyage Of the Argo as she sailed
the Mysian shores. An incident o.
the voyage was the stoppage made
here to get water, and Hylas, a son Of