St. Landry democrat., 1886-06-05
SCYLLA AND CHARYBDIS.
A Most Learned Discussion on Ancient His
tory and Modern Wisdom.

A Most Learned Discussion on Ancient His
tory and Modern Wisdom.
A correspondent, whose eagerness
for information is as beautiful as it is
praiseWorthy, writes to ask the preg-
nant question: "Who were Scylla and
Charybdis, and what were their functions
and peculiarities that they shcnld be
quoted SO often?' The dissemination
OF useful knowledge being at once a
duty and pleasure, we hasten to i'm
port the desired information. Scylla
and Charybdis we're the great rival sea-
serpents of antiquity. The word ''func-
ton" which our correspondent applies
to them, is peculiarly applicable, Web
ster defines Function as 1.-THE act OF
executing, or performing activity, duty,
office or calling; performance. The
second definition, performance, is
what the function of Scylla and
Charybdis was. Being sea-serpents,
they were obliged to appear and per-
form for the benefit of mariners.
Charybdis was rather cheap and in
ferior order of sea-serpent. and his per-
Torrance was remarkable in degree
only, but not in kind. He lived in a
rock on the Sicilian shore of the Straits
Of Messina, and gave three perform
ances day. At each entertainment he
sailed forth from his stronghold, gulped
down the surrounding seas and cast them
up again. History does not record the
reason why he chose this mode of exhi-
bition, but tradition has it that, having
one day, in fit of emotional insanity,
taken a deep draught of ordinary Sicilian
drinking water, he was ever afterward
vainly searching for relief. Scylla was
much better sea-serpent than Charybdis.
He lived Immediately across the straights
from the latter, in a comfortable rock
situated in latitude 80 degrees IA min
utes so seconds north and Is degrees
45 minutes east. He rejoiced in natural
gifts which enabled him to give much
better performance than Charybdis and
in flow of spirits which gave him the
strength to remain constantly before the
public. He was the happy possessor of
twelve feet and six long necks and
mouths, each of which took victim
from the deck of every ship that passed
within reach.
For centuries the competition be-
tween these two serpents was very ac-
tive. Mariners urged by fatal curiosity,
went out year after year to try to find a
northwest passage between their abodes.
Charybdis would come forth and swal-
low the sea, thus making navigation
extremely difficult, and then would cast
it up again, usually driving the ships
upon the rocks of the Italian coast,
where Scylla would recline at ease and
pick the latest sailors from the docks
to grace his festal board. Charybdis
finally awoke to the fact that his role in
the daily performances was what is
technically known in the theatrical pro-
fession as feeder In disgust he
wound up his exhibitions by throwing
up his part and retiring to the whirl-
pool of Galoforo, ten miles south of his
former habitation, and has not been
seen since. Scylla, however, elated by
his triumph, went on the road, and, as
is usual in such cases, lost all he had
made before. He has now become q
genuine marine tramp, glad of an oc-
casional engagement to perform at a
summer watering splace and when
sensational appearance before ships
crew at sea procures him a few good
notices in the daily newspapers Thus
our correspondent learns at one fell
swoop chapter in ancient history and
a lesson in wisdom, namely, to let well
enough alone, lest in trying to avoid
Scylla he should fall upon Charybdis.-
N. 7. Times.