The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-06-07
company us upon our walks and give
new zest to our recreatiOns."

company us upon our walks and give
1ew zest to our recreations.
Dear teachers whose constant care
and frequent encouragement have been
so helpful to US through these days of
of labor, who have so untiringly guided
our footsteps in the paths of knowledge
and have urged us on to effort, you,
also, we warmly welcome.
ADDRESS TO THE
HELOTS. "
The day had been calm and beauti-
full; such an one as is often seen in
sunny Greece. AS usual the slaves had
toiled long and hard in the fields of
their Spartan masters; and now eve
ming had settled over the landscape |
and in the sky; no trace remained of
the earthquake which but few days
before had appalled, the hearts of both
Spartan and Helot. The twinkling
stars of heaven shown down upon the
still earth and no sound was heard but
the soft ripple OF the Eurotas as it
moved on in it's ceaseless course to
mingle it's waters with the billowy
deep.
In huge cave, formed in the side of
a rocky cliff some distance from Sparta
had assembled a band of Helots. Their
faces, already pale with anger, looked
more CHASTITY by the Pickering blaze of
a single torch. Every toil-hardened
hand was clenched in determination
and every eye CLEANED forth smoth-
cred hatred. Scarce had the echo of
the last approaching foot-step died
away, when Xenestophenes, rising from
their midst thus addressed them:
Sons of the brave warriors of ancient
Helots, sons of those men still famed
for their strong-walled cities, their
well-tilled fields and their temples to
the gods, and whose illustrious deeds
are still sung by bards, dwelling far to
the east, where they recite the same
daring adventures of which we so often
hear. The poet still tells of their laws
under which the poor as we'll as the
great were granted heavens justice.
They picture those massive structures
covered with the carvings of our
sculptors, now replaced by crude build
ings of the Spartans. The relate the
glory of our first encounter with the
fierce barbarians as they sweep down
from the north, subduing the entire
peninsula and driving nation after ma
tion before them without resistance
until they reach the cities of our
fathers.
We see these patriots, undaunted by
their powerful foes success, go forth to
meet them; hand to had they struggle to
save their homes from the fierce in
vader; and when the overwhelming
numbers of the enemy drives them
within their walls, thence they offer
bold resistance. They realize what
they have at stake. They feel that
upon them rests the whole future oil
their noble race and fierce is their en-.
deavor to maintain it's honor and its
freedom. Alas, in spite of their DIES.
perate valor they are overwhelmed
yet they recognize their superiority in
arms, in culture and government, and
allow them to enjoy unmolested their
happy homes and to dwell in peace an6
security with their wives and children
although still they are denied the full
and equal rights of citizens.
T But from that time until now, the
Spartans have jealousy watched ou1
rapid advancement and have adopted
every means possible to remind us o
our inferior position. We must veal
these leathern caps and sheep-skil
clothing; we must toll day after day il
the fields of our masters; no matte,
Q how bravely we fight, no matter hov
often we win, never can we rise allow
i the position of mere foot soldiers in tn,
] army; twice each year are W.
brought in chains before the Ephor
c and each in his turn, whether innocen
VI guilty uuSU UCdI 11uuuIOO
s. from the cruel lash of the officers
i. Thus are we deprived of our rights un
!; til now we must bend and cringe be
u meath their naughty rule as degrade
y as the most ignorant slave-yea wors
r for Pheobus in all his course sees n
e slave so abased. And if perchanc
n they see that our numbers are increa:
~ ing and that we are growing in powe
and strength, they send their band {
ruthless murderers among us t
slaughter our bravest and our best.
But yesterday an innocent boy, m
neighbours son, over whose head scare
four olympiads had lightly passed, wa
returning from the pastures with hi
herds at sunset. His merry whist
@ resounded through the mountains
K heraldinp his coming to the anxiOJ