Wichita eagle., 1888-09-26
THE P0TTER'S SECRET.

HE PUIIERS SECRET.
Toward the middle of the Third century.
the city of LiusanIusn in Arvernie had not
the calm and modest aspect of Lezoux the
little town which is the chief place Of the can
ton Of Auvergne, located upon the same site.
Iiusannum was a 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 VERT
able artists il 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, Illyria, PhQnicia, and
even Judea. Their names, preserved upon
the fragments of their vases, clearly indicate
their origin. Ellenus, Asiaticus, Particus,
Acircis, UxopillI1s, 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 2Go of our
era, presented a very noteworthy aspect It's
cosmopolitan population offered to the view
a 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
lies the conquerors had succeeded, little by
little, in spreading their customs and their
beliefs.
Some rare children of tho soil, pure from
all contact with Rome, full Of hatred for the
invader, nursing stu in their hearts vague
hope of acknowledgment, remained faithful
TO the creed and the manner of their ances-
tors. Among these were distinguished, from
father to son, the descendants of the Arch
druid Diorix, the same who encouraged the
son of Celtill TO resist Cesar. This numer-
Gus 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 toe Roman influence and
their refusal of the highest dignities, the pro-
praetors of Augusto-Nemetum had always
protected them against the zeal of their lieu
tenants. zone must know how to wait"
raid one of these able administrators; ''time
and persuasion win 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 Nercingetorix, its sons
had fought courageously against the pro-
consuls OF Rome, but, little by little, their
anger had Gained as their hope vanished, and
for long time they had contented them
selves with the direction of the most cele-
brated pottery Of Liusaunun, 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 rose
colored or greenish glaze Of a vitreous and
brilliant luSter, the secret of which they alone
possessed.
The Gallo-Roman, Phonician and Greek
potters, their rivals. also made with rare
talent, the same utensils, with glazing uni
fornly pink, unalterabe, decorated with
mythology; but they could not equal the
finish, the Transparency, the luster of the
works signed "Diorix," because, in spite of
all 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 a spirit of patriotism
rather than through interest, guarded it
The father of the last of the Diorix had
said TO him on his death bed: Il leave you
the secret of our fathers engraved upon these
tablets. Preserve it previously 1t is the
only means left to US of resisting our con-
querors. You are very young, but you viii
remember the prediction Of our ancestor the
archdruid, who said: When the stranger
knows our secret destruction, ruin and ami
hilation VIII hang over our heads"
SO Nobert, at Is years of age, after having
heard the last wishes OF his father, and having
sworn to aim to respect them, remained the
sole heir Of the immense riches and sole pos
SCISSOR Of the secret OF his family.
1t was q fine evering toward the end of the
summer. Upon the summit of the hillock in
the neighborhood Of Liusaunum, near the
verge of & superb forest, a young man and q
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 Tho saugum of
ri stuff, the collar from which huIl- q large
clrbuncle, the bracelets of fine gold. all his
costume proved him rich and powerful Ar Z
verne. The young Sirl Was beautiful, wish 4
her white robe falling in straight, harrow
folds, covered with the stole of the same
color Brunette without color. her BLACK /
hair. fasteGed@with a pink coral pin, marvel /
ousIv finished her perfect profile. She was /
Certainly one Of the prettiest girls CT tie .
Roman colony.
Watching the two seated on u bank of moss
In the trembling shadow of the foliage. il ,
was apparent that one sentiment animated 4
this loving couple. They gazed long and 4
silently into each others eyes; then their +.
looks wandered over tie vast panorama 4
which 0arolled 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
N iulDosfpg mass. and the sound OF its hustle.