The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1885-05-23
Historical Information.

IllC NttllCNlbl az 1 NtSl'OlotSi' liNi
remains were afterwards removed to
Westminster Abbey, by her son,
James J., who had her monument
placed beside her great rival, Queen
Elizabeth, at whose command this
unfortunate princess was put to
death.
The great earthquake at Lisbon
took place in the year 1856. ltwas
the most dreadful calamity which
ever bctell a modern European city.
Six thousand houses were thrown
down, thirty thousand inhabitants
killed, and, to add to the horrors OF
the scene, u conhagration sprung up
which spread still wider destruction
around. Shocks Of earthquaks more
or less violent, are often felt in Eng
land, but no no such calamity as
that which occurred at Lisbon has
happened to this country so far as
history goes.
PhmniX is the name of a fabulous
bird of antiquity, which is described
as being, in outline and bulk, very
like an eagle, and as having part
Of his plumage gold-colored and part
crimson. 1t was said to live five
hundred years in the wilderness,
and then return to Egypt, where,
having built itself nest, it was con-
sumed by fire, and from the ashes
of the old bird sprang its successor.
The phTnix has been fertile sub
ject for the Imagination of the poets
Of all ages, and even by some of the
early Christian writer's this myth
was advanced as evidence of the re-
surrection.
Beatrice Cenci was the daughter
Of Il Roman gentleman of the 10Th
century, infamous, even in that age,
for every wickcdncss. Driven to de-
spair by horrible outrages, his second
wife, Lucrezia, his daughter Beatrice,
then only fifteen years old, and his
two surviving sons, conspired to
have him murdered, and carried out
their terrible design. The murder
was detected, and the whole family
suffered death, except the youngest
son, who was consigned to Il convent.
Although Beatrice was deeply in
jured, and probably no worse than
the women about her, she was by
no means spotless victim of cir
cumstances. Shelly has made the
Cenci the subject of Il noble tragedy.
The Sphinx was Il fabulous mon
stcr, and appears to have been dis
tinguished both for wisdom and
cruelty. The Thcbans were told that
the Sphinx would destroy herself as
soon as one Of her cnigmas could be
explained. She proposed the follow
ing; "What animal walketh on
four LEGS in the morning, two at
noon, and three in the evening?n
Creon, King of Thcbes, promised
his crown and his sister in marriage
to whoever could rid the world of
the monster, by solving the riddle.
Gdipus succeeded, observing that
"man walked upon his hands and
feet when young or in the morning
of life; at noon he walked erect on
his two legs; and in the evening of
his day supported his infrmities
with stick" TheSphinxn no sooner
heard the exclamation than she
threw herself from q rock and ex-
pircd.
The Colossus at Rhoades was Il
celebrated brazen image, and formed
one of the seven wonders of the
world. Its feet We're upon the two
molcs which formed the entrance of
the harbor Of Rhoadcs, and ships
passed in full sail between its legs
e..
it was 70 cubits or 105 feet high. 1t
was made by Charcs, the disciple of
Lysippus, and the artist was twelve
years in making it, 1t was partly
demolished by an earthquake 224
b. c. \ winding staircase ran to the
top, from which you could easily
discern the shores of Syria, and, by
the help Of glasses, ships ON the
coast of Egypt 1t remained in ruins
S94 years, and in the year G72 of the
Christian era it was sold by the Sar-
acens, who were masters of the is
land, to a Jewish merchant, who
loaded 800 camels with the brass,
the value of which has been estima-
ted at e36,O0O English money.
The true and good never die. Sci
cncc, philosophy, and art have their
limited cphochs, beyond which they
] l.