The Harrison times. (Harrison, Boone Co., Ark) 1876-1938, 1882-10-21
3tlistcllaneolls.
Mythology In Literature.

language without imagery, ther
there could BIO little pleasure in il
study. Happily poetry can mover
be excluded from written tongue
Even the most prosaie of our writers
; and speakers frequently drop int,
mythology, and mythology is poet
ry. Without good degree of ac
quantanee with mythology, no ont
can read Milton with satisfaction
This Is true Of nearly all the grea
names in elegant literature.
Byron speaks of Rome as "thC
Nlobe of nations" and thus furnish
es a vivid illustration of his subject
The little poem "Comus," of Milton,
contains more than thirty similar
illusions.
Prose writers avail themselves oil
this method Of easy illustration
Our quarterlies and novels furnish
instances too numerous to mention,
How common is the reference to
Cupid, to Juno and Jupiter! Els.
Ipecially is this true ia statuary.
How painful to visit art galleries,
when the subjects are drawn Gas
they usually are) in large numbers
from the stories of mythology of
which the visitor is ignorantl
How frequently Hercules is made
to help out an idea We speak of an
"herculean" labor or work, or task
five knew precisely what was the
work which Hercules was said to
perform, we should have a more
happy conception of tho idea con-
veyed, and run no risk of an insan g
or polntless use of his namo in our
own speech.
The labors OF Hercules, to which
reference is frequently, although
sometimes ignorantly made, were
many. All of these have not found
their way into use; but some are al.
ludod to 80 commonly that their
history Ia mt least interesting, not
to say important.
A popular doclalmer against a
great popular evil is frequently
heard to characterize it as hydra.
headed monster, which must be
slain. The origin of this expression
is found IN the story of Hercules
and the hydra. This monster had
nine heads, of which the middle one
was immortal. His ravages of the
country (Argos) at length reached
the ears of Hercules, who came to
the rescue of the inhabitants, and
engaging their enemy, knocked of
his heads with rapid blows of his
club; but for eyory head displaced
two new ones grew forth each time
AT last, by applying fire to the
heads, and by buryiug the ninth
immortal under huge rock, he sue
ceeded. The fine use which an elo
giant writer or speaker could make
of this illustration is evident.
Another alluslon ia common use
in caustic political editorial, wher
the writer wishes to designate tht
corrupuons of party, is to Introduce
another labor of Hercules, viz, The
cleansing of the Augean stables
$ Augeas, the King of Ellis, had {
herd of three thousand oxen, who's
F., stalls had not been cleaned To-
thirty years.
Hercules heard OF 1t, and under
took the job. He performed. thi
immense labor in one day. IL
, brought to bear upon them two riy
ers, and cleansed them thoroughly
A very minute use might be mad
q of this story, and very happily
s where the writer wishes to describ
i the venality and corruption of a
s army of office.holders, whose stall
no wishes cleansed by the waters o
new dispensation.
Another labor of Herocules !
used as a geographical designation
"The pillars OF Hercules" who
protect the Straits of Gibraltar, ar
!, tabled monuments of the hero
4 Hercules, himself. Geryon ha
some oxen which Eurysthous cove
cd, and which Hercules undertoo
to obtain for him. In honor of hi
> progress IN this great enterprise, b
raised these two mountains, I
mark his triumphant approach t
the scene of his labor, which wa
y sure TO be crowned with success.
Without dwelling upon the labC
which gained the apples Of Hesp'
ill., -. k, r,,t nr,, arvar rV,ot,