The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1888-03-23
THE POTTER'S SECRET.

THE P0TTER'S SECRET.
Toward the middle Of the Third century,
the city Of Liusannum in Arvernie had not
the calm and modest aspect Of Lezoux, the
little o v which is the chief place Of the can
ton of Auvergne, located upon the Same site.
Lusannum was q vast industrial town, an
important center, where the manufacture of
pottery occupied a multitude of workmen and
enriched numerous families, proud to sign
their names to the works issuing from their
establishments.
Since the Roman occupation, many verit-
able artists in designing, coming from all
countries, had established themselves about
the old Gallo potteries in this region, where
the finest ceramic earth was found in album
dance. A great number came from Rome
and the other cities Of the peninsula; many
were from Greece, nlyria, Phonicia, and
even Judea. Their names, preserved upon
the fragments Of their vases, clearly indicate
their origin. Ellenus, Asiaticus, Particus,
Acircis, Uxopillus, Borillus, and a hundred
others We'd in imagination to create these
decorative subjects, these wreaths and orna-
ments which stand in relief upon the grace
full vases, whose beautiful pink glazing has
resisted alike the action Of humidity and of
time.
Liusannum then, about the year $50 Of our
era, presented a very noteworthy aspect. It's
cosmopolitan population offered to the view
q strange mixture Of all sorts Of costumes.
All dialects, all accents, all races mingled
upon the public squares, in the shadow Of the
temples and under their porticoes, though
the Latin element was dominant. Through
their alliances with the principal Gallo fam
lilies, the conquerors had succeeded, little by
little, in spreading their customs and their
beliefs. .* "M. N.."."#:
Some rare children of the soil, pure from
all contact with Rome, full Of hatred for the
invader, nursing still in their hearts a vague
hope Of enfranchisement, remained faithful
to the creed and the manner of their arces-
tors. Among these we're distinguished, from
father to son, the descendants of the Arch
druid Diorix, the same who encouraged the
son Of Celtill to resist Caesar. This nulner-
ols family, thanks to its pride, its virtues.
and, perhaps, to its wealth, had finally
achieved the respect of the conquerors them
selves; and, Notwithstanding their declared
attitude against the Roman influence and
their refusal of the highest dignities, the pro-
p~raetors Of Augusto-N emetum had always
protected them against the zeal of their lieu
tenants. zone must know how to watt"
said one Of these able administrators; 'time
and percussion will finally conquer their
resistance" In effect, time had considerably
diminished the number Of representatives Of
this opulent family. Since the time when
the brothers and nephews of the archdruid
fell in combat near Vercingetorix, its sons
had fought courageously against the pro-
cousuls Of Rome, but, little by little, their
anger had claimed astheir hope vanished, and
for a long time they had contented them
selves with the direction Of the most cele-
brated pottery Of Lusannum, wherein they
produced, with the aid Of true artists, works
which were known and sought for through
out the empire.
The products of their immense establish
ment were distinguished by the purity and
harmony Of their lines, by the elegance Of
quiet designs wherein the human figure was
rarely represented, and, above all, by q rose
colored or greenish glaze Of q vitreous and
brilliant luster, the secret of which they alone
possessed.
The Gallo-Roman, Phenician and Greek
potters, their rivals, also made, with rare
talent, tho same utensils, with glazing uni
formly pink, unalterable, decorated with
various subjects inspired by the Grecian
mythology; but they could not equal the
finish, the transparency, the luster Of the
works signed 'Diorix," because, in spite Of
Ill their efforts, they had been unable to dis
cover the secret Of the incompatible glazing.
This secret was revealed to the eldest son Of
the family, who made the mixtures himself,
and who, through u spirit Of patriotism
rather than through interest, guarded it
sacredly in spite Of the most tempting offers.
The father Of the last Of the Diorix had
said to him on his death bed: II leave you
the secret Of our fathers engraved upon these
tablets. Preserve it previously. It is the
only means left to us of resisting our con-
querors You are very young, but you will
remember the prediction Of our ancestor, tho
ar%chdruid, who said: when the stranger
knows our secret destruction, ruin and ami
hilation will hang over our heads"
So Robert, at Is years Of age, after having
heard the last wishes Of his father, and having
sworn to him to respect them, remained the
sole heir of the immense riches and sole pos
SCISSOR of the secret Of his family.
+ +
It was a fine evening toward the end of the
summer. Upon the summit of the hillock in
the neighborhood Of Liusannum, near the
verge Of q superb forest, q young man and @
young girl were seated. The young man,
with his long yellow hair, his blue eyes and
fresh complexion, was a perfect type Of those
fierce Gauls who, in olden times, had made
Greece and Rome tremble. The saugum of
rich stuff, the collar from which hung a large
carbuncle, the bracelets of fine gold, all his
costume proved him q rich and powerful Ar
verne. The young girl was beautiful, with
her white robe falling in straight, narrow
folds, covered with the stole of the same
color. Brunette without color, her black
hair, fastened with a pink coral pin, marvel
ously finished her perfect profile. She was
certainly one of the prettiest girls of the
Roman colony.
Watching the two seated on a bank of moss
in the trembling shadow Of tho foliage. it
was apparent that one sentiment animated
this loving couple. They gazed long and
silently into each others eyes; then their
looks wandered over the vast panorama
which unrolled itself at their feet, between
the gigantic oaks and great white beeches
whose branches interlaced above their heads.
Before them, not far from the forest, the out
lying potteries showed their red roofs scat
tered over the plain. Then the city, with its
pediments, ~colonnades and temples, formed
an imposing mass, and the sound Of its hustle,
abated toward evening, family reached the
hillock. Beyond stretched the immense plain,
covered with trees from among which
emerged, here and there, hillocks crowned
with grand monuments. In the distance,
Augusto-N emetum, eight Roman miles away,
was hardly visible through the mist; but
above, the undulating line of the mountains,
clear and intensely blue, bordered the hori-
zon and stood boldly out against the sky, in
AavnoH hp thu Aroe ~ <ho Aoo1iuSn0 CIR In
the center, upon tho highest cone, a slight
brated Temple Of Mercury Dumiatus, and, at
one side, a shining point revealed the pres
enc Of the gigantic statue, the marvellous
work Of Zenodurus.
This oft contemplated spectacle appeared
to absorb the attention Of the two silent
lovers. The young Arverne was Robert, last
named Lydia. Her father, Balbuo, who
came from Rome in early youth, was one of
the wealthiest potters of Liusannum. His
sumptuous house was adjacent to the estab-
lishment Of Diorix, but no intimacy, no tie
Robert, then, since the death Of his father,
forgotten the proud dignity Of his ancestors!
How could he humble himself before one OF
the abhorred race Of the conquerors9
When Robert first found himself alone at
the head of his Aourishing industry, Lydia,
almost a child, had not yet attracted his no
tice, but in less than q year the child was
transformed into a woman, and her sovereign
beauty expanded suddenly. Robert occa-
sionally saw her, and became madly en-
amored Of her. Long did he struggle against
a passion which in his eyes was criminal,
1on- IA - ->0>~k .nnr A11 4-n~nn1n ~ his