Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1885-09-17
1.-THE Augean Stables"

ne Augean STABLES,
During the last presidential campaign
ii was the frequent boast of democratic
orators and newspapers that when the
democratic party came into power the
"Augean Stable" the sever
al departments and offices of the govern
ment then filed by republican officials
would be made clean in single day.
The comparison, as time proved, was
an unfortunate one.
The fable of the Augean stables,
briefly told, is as follows: Hercules,
the ideal of human perfection, as con-
ceived in the heroic ages, was the son
Of Zeus and Alcmene. Previous to
the birth of Hercules. Zeus had made
the declaration that whatever child
should be born on a certain day should
be fated to rule all the descendants of
Perseus, he having no doubt that that
child would be his own. IIera. who
was an enemy. contrived TO hasten the
birth of Eurysthens, the son OF Sthene-
lus. and to defer the birth of Her
cules. Eurysthens. who was born on
the day designated, became by a decree
of Fate, the chief of his people. Her
"nle-, a. he grew in strength and stat
ure. did many mighty deeds, and it was
with the utmost difficulty that Eury--
thens hi> ruler. could ret him into sub
lection. He finally succeeded. how
ever, and required of Hercules twelve
great lahors, which We're performed
the fifth being no less task than the
cleansing Of the Augeau stables. the
property OF Augeas. King of Els.
where three thousand oxen had been
confined for many years. Hcrcule.
finding there was no escape from the
task and wishing to get some recon-
pense for job of such proportions, went
10 King Aueea- with whom he made
trade TO clean Lis stables in a single day
for tenth part of hi cattle, concealiug
the fact that he had been commanded To
perform the task by Eury>;hcn- Her
cule- thea went to work and turned the
rivers Alpheu- and Peneu> through the
stables. cleaning them according to con-
tract. The finale. however. was not in
accordance with the hopes and cNpecta
tons of Hercules. for when the facts
became known. Eurys,hens refused 10
have the task counted a. one of the la
bors. and Augeas declined to pay over
2 tenth of hi, cattle on the ground tina,
the work was done Tor Eurvsthens, aud
NOT for him. A. might be expected a
big row followed out of which those
most concerned got no satisfaction what
ever. 50 much for The story. now for
its application.
When the democrats came into pow
CT. they were disappointed. for they
found the "Augeau stables, exceedingly
clean and perfect in every part, pre~id-
ed over by men OF ability and efficiency
who had been remarkably faithful to
their trust Nothing was found that
required change. no spot or blcmi-h
that needed To be made clean. Because
OF facts ike these the democrats are
looking blue and telling one another III
most emphatic language that the rivers
have not been turned through the stables
Il, all. only small brook At the very
best. and instead Of accomplishing in a
single day. according to promise. that
for which they had hoped, and toiIed,
and prayed, there is prospect that it
may take some time longer. before all
the republicans are washed out. and
democrats IN.
Even the small brook has been ex-
eeedingly troublesome. not 80 much be-
cause Of what it has failed to wash o,t.
as of what it has actually washed os.
So much of the democratic figure of
speech a applies to the maunuveriug Of
Hercules. and the big row which fol-
lowed the final settlement of the whole
matter, addressed To the party now i'll
power. is very apt iadeed; and we
cheertully commend it to the especial
attention of our democratic friends.