Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-04-21
A PAINTED STATUE.

IA L AIN i ILL Dl "a OI.
The last rays of an autumn sun were
lingering on the summit of Mount Olym-
pus. Seated on low bench, was care
fully looking over the fine proportions of
one of the newly discovered painted stat
ues set up for public view in the environs
of the Greek capital. l had finished my
second year at Yale and was about to re-
turn for another grind. Blessed with a
parent anxious to implant in me- his own
taste for the classics, had been sent to
Athens at the close of the college year in
the hope that an acquaintance with mod
ern Greek would stimulate respect for
its hoary ancestor. l had acquired GER
tain familiarity with colloquial Greek, but
my personal bias was in the direction of
athletics. AS captain of the football team
the sum of my desires was to repeat our
victories of the previous year.
The painted statue, with cesti bound to
its hands, stood in an attitude which if
not quite Sullivanesque yet showed the
magnificent development of the boxer. 1t
was not idealized-simplya copy of a man
splendidly muscled. The light tan color
ing gave almost the impression of life to
the figure. On the pedestal was the name
Polycratcs.
As the twilight deepened donkey driv-
er came down the road, cursing in most
earnest fashion and beating his animal
viciously. His cruelty was too much for
me, and demonstrated, but was met with
the answer that it was his property, and,
furthermore, he would serve me likewise if
did not pay less attention to an affair
clearly not my own. My training was not
to be so lightly challenged, and a short
scuffle ensued, after which he beat de-
moralized retreat.
Suddenly heard laugh and swell
done, my master. Polycrates himself could
have done no better!"
l looked around, yet saw no one, but
glancing in the direction of the statue
saw the boxer seated on his pedestal, from
which he quietly slipped and came toward
me. My hair began to stand erect, when
thought l saw the solution. "Playing
the statue, eh?" said Every good joke.
You had best go home now and put your
clothes on, or you'll catch cold"
"You are mistaken" he replied. II am
indeed Polycrates, the boxer, but now
awakened to life once more"
This was carrying sell too far, so in
timated that he wearied me, and was 60
ing home.
~, too, will go to your home" he re-
piled, land for the time allotted do your
bidding as commanded by Zeus."
''Look here" I said, "Zeus ISM in this
at all. You have had your sell-you took
me in, admit it. You looked like stat
lie, but you are common flesh like the rest
of us, and we'll let it 60 at that" And
with that started off.
He answered nothing, but followed.
began to feel annoyed at his persistence,
so turned around and said if he kept up
his foolishness would punch his head.
At this he grinned. lost my temper and
struck at him straight from the shoulder.
Then my hair did stand on end, for land
ed on solid marble jaw.
evil my master believe me nows" he
asked. looked at him dumbly, and he
continued: "The gods have vouchsafed me
the gift of walking among men once every
thousand revolutions of the earth around
the sun. When this period has been &C.
complished, attach myself to the doer Of
the first good deed that meets my eye.
am now your servant. Follow you l must.
A thousand men cannot hold me back"
At this gorgeous vision crossed my
mind. "a thousand men," repeated.
"Cut it down bit, can't your Suppose
only 20 men were piled on top of you,
what would you dor"
"Do? would rise, shake them off and
go my way"
His confidence settled the matter, and
told him to put on my ulster and come to
my rooms, where could find something
to add to his costume. He demurred at
this, saying he needed no clothing on SO
mild an evening, but having convinced
him that warmth was not the sole purpose
of clothing we started once more.
We had not gone 100 yards when the
second result of what Polycrates called my
good deed became apparent. Coming to-
ward us was my late foe with some half
dozen friends, evidently bent on having
his innings.
I intimated that we were somewhat
handicapped by numbers, whereupon my
statue said, II would not deprive my
master of share in an honorable encoun-
ter; therefore do you engage your former
adversary and leave me the Others"
/ soon disposed of the donkey driver and
watched my new acquisition. He hit out
neatly and dropped two men. Grasping a
third by the neck and shoulder, he drew
him with such force against his marble
wishbone that he dropped loosely to the
ground. The remaining three drew back
for moment, meditatinR combined at
tack, when polycrates picked up his last
victim and hurled him at the group. It
was a ten strike, and we hurried from the
scene, reaching my lodgings without at
tracing further attention.
at once proceeded to put Polycrates
into more conventional raiment, not with
out many objections from him, however,
to the number Of pieces and variety Of
shape.
1t made me feel creepy when touched
his hand or arm, and asked him If he
wouldn't soften somewhat with time.
"No," he answered. ~ remain as am
during one journey Of the earth around the
sun, when once more become lifcless
marble"
SWELL" said I, -" the first thing to be
done is to get away from this town, and
the next to get out Of the country, for
when the police get hold of this donkey
drivers story Jail will be too good for us"
.'Policci What Is policei" he queried.
explained the use and beauty Of police
in general and the New Haven force in
y,articu1ar Init NV fleacrintion 1id MT