The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1893-11-26


The true Cinderella lived a great
many years ago. long before the little
cindergiri who had the wicked Sis
ters. and whose adventures pleased
you so much in the story book. Thou
sands of years ago the little dark
skinned boys and girls of Egypt lis
tened to thr real story from their
mothers or their nurses lips with the
same interest ana delight with which
you read the adventures of the young
girl whose fairy eod-nother dressed
her out so Wonderfully in silk and gold
and gave her the tiny glass slippers
that have been SO famous ever since.
But there were no cruel sisters in
the first story; no mice were changed
by magic into gay steeds, and no
pumpkins became stately chariOts.
The good old godmother was left out,
too, for an eagle did all the managing
and carried the beautiful slipper over
the silver sands and the gray
old pyramids to the fascinated
prince, who afterwards wOoed and
won its mistress. The story has come
down to us accompanied by a sort of
mouldering and exquisite perfume
from ancient papyrus archives. which
modern science has learned to trans
late from Egyptian hieroglyphics.
In the first place her name was not
Cinderella at all, but Nefertsu, which
is quite as pretty, think She was a
beautiful Persian princess, who had
been taken captive bv an Egyptian
general and brought with the rest of
his spoils to mis- home on the banks of
the Nile. Persia was called in those
days the land or flowers and glass slip
pers, for nowhere else were there so
many roses. and nowhere else did
they manufacture glass slippers. Ne
fertsu, though = slave. Wore on her
feet Il pair Of those wonderful crystal
sandals. Most wonderful Of all. they
Were 50 small shat nobody but Ne
fertsu could wear them.
One day Nefer:>u went with her
mistress 20 bai~e in the cool tank in
the garden. She left her glass slim
pers on the bank and walked down
among the cailaS and lotus blossom g.,
with her pearlv feet shining like ala
baster in the water. While they
sported in the current they saw an
eagle swoop doy' T; upon the shore and
be&G away something bright il its
talGns-
''It Is my slipper" said Ncfertsu
sorrowfully. The eagle has carried
it away.
Never miad,' said her mistress.
sit may bring You good luck An
eagle, you know. is Il symbol of SOW
ereignty."
II am glad % that" answered Ne
fertSu, and she checked her tears and
hobbled home a. best she might with
one foot slipperless-
Now at Memphis rcigned King
Ramesis in great glory. lie was
young man and had just come to the
1 j.,
too, but he was not married.
Women are all ninnies," he said to
his councillors. 1t is better to reign
alone than reign with one you do not
love"
The king sat one evening in the
cool portico of his palace overlooking
the Nile. The last rays of the sun
light quivered on the sands of the
Lybian desert. Delicious breezes rose
from the river scented with the odor
of callas, palm groves and orange
flowers. The sweet voices of beauti-
ful slaves hummed a gay tune. but
Rameses was very sad and thoughtful.
Suddenly the shadow of huge bird
passed over the palace court
what is it, asked the king of his
servants.
IAN eagle. my lord. There is luck
for you. He brings a message from
Osiris.
The royal bird flew nearer and
nearer. At last he swooped down and
dropped uoon the bulruhses at the
foot of the por hwy steps the tiny
glass slipper that Nefertsu had worn.
'''Tis u wondrous foot which this
will fit" said Rameses picking mp the
plittering thing. None of the ladies
of Egypt can have u foot so small"
s'Nay, your majesty" answered his
wise old councillor. 1.-The shoe is not
of Egyptian make, but surely the
owner cannot be far off.
II will make the maiden my queen
Pk you can find her, declared Rameses.