The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-22
Agsmem mons Daughter,

Agsmem mons Daughter,
A poem, by Denton J. Snder is before the read
ing public in neat volume of more than 200
pages 1t is tenderly inscribed ITO Mine Own
Only Daughter" The lines, read in the light of
the nineteenth century, tell of the influence
which gentle spirit clothed with high purpose,
had upon both Greek and barbarian by bring
ing them to truer thoughts and the realization
of higher life.
The wrong committed by Agamemnon in the
forest sacred to Artemis is delicately told The
just gods claimed restitution for the death of
the consecrated fawn by demanding the sacrifice
of his pure and beloved daughter lphgenia.
Agamemnon a skeptic in regard to the
oracle. He acknowledged no power greater than
his own will, and prepared to avenge, at Troy,
the same wrong he had committed at Aulis; but
justice overruled: his ships were scattered like
toys on the wave. To save Helen, Iphgenia
was to die.
The pure must give itself for the distaineJ;
1t is the worlds last law.
But when she became willing sacrifice, the
will was accepted for the deed; she lifted by
example the burden of sin, not only from the
Greek, but the world outside
The stories of Iphicenia and Helen are woven
together. The first felt the subtle power of the
Eastern Prince.
feathery touch slept in his tender hand
Loves smiles played from his lips into his eye,
Which codly thence its charmed object scanned.
When Helen first saw this young maiden, she
felt strongly her own deficiency in high purpose
The strength of character which the future de-
veloped in Iphigenia. and the power with which
she overcame for good that which was thrown
in her path for evil, seemed in her bearing
already ac com plished. To her, Helen said: II
feel ashamed that cannot attain to what thou
art, and would gladly give my fame for thee.
Tell me thy story" But Iphigenia had as yet,
story to relate; but her nobility of nature re-
called Helen for time from traitorous thoughts.
But when her will ceased to force back inclination
she decided to make Troy her home and laid the
responsibility upon fate, over whom Zeus had no
no control
Then, as later, woman was thought to be one
thing. and her faithfuness to herself and her
vows another; that her loyalty was not absolutely
in her keeping, but depended upon forbearance
and the vigilance of her protectors. From Illium
to chivalry, up to the present day, the sword
and pistol have stood for purity. To-day,
friends of the fallen have slain the tempter; but
who lays responsibility at the door of temptress?
One man kills another, then kisses his gun. say
ing that his wifes honor is now avenged but
who is responsible for the honor of the slain2
The individual can only be perfected thro' per-
sonal responsibility, the tacit acknowledgement
Of some Paphian power outside the will is de-
grading in every sense, and which the nobility of
true human nature will reject
The procession of Helen filed the Argive
plain with glory, as she came to witness the
festival of Agamemnon, whose welcome gives her
high place in the hearts of the Greek:
Hail. Helen! coming like the singing sun
Through thee, what lies within us dark or blurred
Breaks out the brightest strain that time hath heard"
Her abduction is forcibly told:
A horseman dashed into the Lions Gate
One day, with foam.f flakes showing from his steed;
And the pale rider ely could await
The struggling word to break the woeful deed;
'"The gods the loss of Hees have decreed
A Spartan home hath our fair Helen quit;
Along my path the Mother Earth did bleed
As if she in her very heart were hit"
The story is not of the recovery of Helen by
force entirely. but through her new intent of a
new spirit:
Iphgena and Helen belong together in my lay
Found in deep-storied old calamity
The one thro' deepest fall could highest rise,
And from her stain become once unstained;
The other through perfect sacrifice
Without the fall she stainless aye remained;
Each only thro' the other grew complete
Both sides were one in thought divine contained.
AS related, Iphigenia, instead of being sacri-
feed at Aulis was carried by Artems to wild
Barbary by her supposed death the winds were
hushed and the white sails sped with an army to
conquer Troy. But greater achievement than
the Greeks rescue of Helen was the power
wrought by Iphigenia when she carried the
Greek world into the fertile wilderness, where
the slender shafts of Artemis's temple soon took
the place of rough stones defiled by barbarous
USE With Attic culture she transformed ruder
nations.
From East and West froIn new Teutonic stock
All find in her their souls most sweet devotion;
They come. they come from farthest bleakest Thule
Where her fair temples bind the edge of ocean,
Fen from Atlantis. where no king hath rule.
Although the ruler of Barbary. in the highest
sense of the word, she declines 20 be its queen
to reign over one people would have prescribed
her power to the extent of losing it Hers was
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