The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-22
CINDERELLA.
The Ancient Egyptian Version of Il

KING OF the twenty-slNth dynasty lies
buried the original story OF Cinderella and
her slipper.
There is, indeed, only one variation OF
any consequence between the two YER
sions, and the ancient one is certainly the
more romantic. Cindcrella's princely adj
mirer finds in the lost shoe clew to his
vanished encliantrcss, but King Psam-
metichus falls over head and cars in love
with he knows not whom, from only see
ing her sandal.
The ancient Cinderella was beautiful
Greek. Sappho calls her Doricha, and
that was most likely her proper name; but
the Greek people, with whom fairness OF
skin was one OF the highest qualities OF
female beauty, named her, from the love.
illness oil her complexion, "lthodopls,"
Rosy Checks, and as Rosy Cheeks she is
known in history.
She is mentioned by several writers, but
the slipper story rests on the authority Of
ELAN. lie relates il as having occurred
TO Psammotichus.
There were three kings of the name, and
he probably meant the third (Psametik Ill.
OF the scnptures), the last Of the dynasty
OF the SaiIe Kings, who was conquered and
deposed by CambysCs the Persian.
Rhodopis was originally slave and n
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS of .Esop the writer OF
fables, IN tho house OF Cadmon OF Samos,
and. like the heroine OF the modern tale,
mental and drudge, 50 the parallel
holds good from the beginning. Like Gin
dcrella, too, she had fairy godmo,hcr,
but more powerful And lavish one, and
her name was Aphrodite.
This patroness procured her liberty, and
hcapcd upon her riches; and RhOdopis, TO
make her name immortal by an Offering
such rs Ind never been made before, dcd-
/ icltcd with tenth pGrt OF her property q
| quantity Of iron spits in the Temple OF
| Apollo at Delphi, and this extraordinary
| gilt was still to b. seen there in hcrodo-
| tns' time. t..
Some also say that she built one Of the
| pyramids OF Egypt; but, as Horodotus nc
/ marks, those who say 50 evidently know
nothing about II; and, however this may
I be, II RhodOpis wac not So simple ns our
/ own Cinderella, she was at All events more
| lucky; aud II her Upachman and horses and
clar.ois wcrc really ris and mice and
I pumpkins, they never resumed their
proper shape; aud no disCnchanting clock
s,ni her hJrying back 10 her scu'iery,
one shoe Of and one shoe on Midnight
never struck for her aud she lost hoi sA0,
! In quite another way.
a; the time 50 'ak Of she was slid e
/ DO the most beautiful woman in Egypt Huc
] she lived 10 Nlucr,ils, resort on Tic
I Carupic branch of the Nilc, founded in the
p. preceding roign by ,Dloui-is from Milc'us
/ and, though n born Greek, living IN
/ Grick city, u pleased her now and tlci
10 play an Egyptian aud adopt the man
nris aud fashions OF her new cogiiry
And ~ il came about i.at one morning
before the sun WIS yet high, she wen
down, jus, ~ did ihnpoh's daughter
with her maidcns to bathe in the Mic.
At a short distance from the bank III
left her litter and sought secluded crycl
where, screened IN by Tie icalhcrin
papyrus, she would bc undisiurbcd an
unseen from the busy river, and there hc
girls unmadc her toilet Now The bank
uf the Father of Rivers arr hsrl ia plac,
"A mixture Of sand sud clay baked b
the scolching sun, aud rosgh 10 dclicl.
feet. 10 l,hudopis I'LL not quit her sit
( dals until the moment when she sicppc
p down into the siill, cool water, herself q
; white and rlsy ns The luiuscs around hc
, There, halt valiug mud half swimmn.
! she played aud iU.ckcd, happy in u
= pure ioy ol living Ike the CAV buiirrili.
4 that tuitorcI about thH rushcs. She gait
crrd handouts oi loiu,.s and threw thci
u away amin: aud then. iu q lazy ~, NJ
u hpatcl ON her back and save hens
Z up t0 the thoughts on things in ggnUr
! anil on hru,n IN particular. But
: return 10 her sandals, which VI
j. bad kicked or on thc rivers huuI
% Thoy lay a. fhc had lIlt them
/. pair % dainty shoes, tl Tor sug
dainty foot They were ombwi
I, erred IN gold anl brilliant Cd
D or with q quaint pattern, ml with q
rN,-Vp-cnt lotus AMI, most cuious
D. 900. iHr upper surface ui thc sole ON While
l. Der loot ra,d before thc figure OF ci
tive with bound arms, on ono sandal .
Egyptian, on the other Greek a .Hncii
b, uay ct surwsling Doe domination Of th,
- owner over the h,rt's II two nations.
a, Now Il ch1nrrd iili just above, nilil
uuni In hs vast circle, mere spCtk
n. the dancing blue sky, WIS nn eagle ~
i, as the sandals ritcrd by the wuici
\, edge they caught DIS eve. Now. Whrih
!, hr Thought they were good TO eat,
N whether be was hirl ui cultivated tdsl
~ know not bat s'Fishtway he swoopI
aud seized one.
n Rholopis, rE'7l from lcr rcyctio
,hc rush u wins, caught sight oi q
,r rp,at bird ~ ID llrw 90 and. irighicno
I'D n f,framing, and then duckcd.
/, the umr she hal recovered herself III
y, taken IN what bal happened, Tire cif
aud her sandal Vsrc Iu thr next parish.
OF course, difuH'v Do was over I
J" Girls. who bad ~ 10 busy telling ono q
other secrets. hcslu boo their alarm 10 III
'S everything away iu place OF safety, ~
"a thoy expected i whole phalanX ol Dat
were coming 10 cary 90 their mifir
~ clothes. Aud % doubt they hal tot
~ reason Tor theif concern. i0r ancient lad
had variety ~ aiuIablr little WAYS Of n
w ducinr rympaihy Toe their slaves VIA
things vent wrong and Khoi0ps. gwu
o' ns She was 70 BOX at. Was iiko the ID,
lint. after at. itwgT not very aorio
W matter. for Rosy Checks hal cupboai
mn of sandals at home. and besides, !
hg liitcr waa only round the curuor. 20. NJ
ber frat aaionishmcnt and fright MI
over, shc thought little about H.
n Now this event was Ia rcality the On
ing point Of her. bic, Tor what did 4
~ mystcrioua bird DO but ny straight aw
with his PROV, over the delta, iar up I
ne long river 30 Memphis, and there, ~ II
rh mission ended, he dropped the sandal
lac fore the judgment seat Of King rsamm,
chus.
,es The King was sitting In tho open .
n. close 90 tho city gate, dispensing Justice