Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1900-07-21
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beautiful land. 1t was a spring o.
pure water, fresh, cool and sweet
rain from heaven, and it supplied the
larger part OF a great city
All around the fountain was a broad,
low meadow, where violets and lilies
bIossomed, and the grass grew greer
and sweet.
The great city was Corinth, in
Greece, and the spring of water was
the famous fountain OF Pirene-
1t was about this fountain that rbe
winged horse made his home through
all the warm summer months-and II
is mostly summer in Greece. His win
ter home was Mount Helicon, in
Pieria.
Where he came from, nobody just
knows, for they have told so many
stories about him that we hardly
know. what to believe. Some say that
he sprang from the body of a terrible
woman, Gorgon Medusa, when the
hero, Perseus, cut Off her head; and
there is a story that as soon as he was
born, the fiery creature flew up into
the heavens and became the horse OF
Jupiter, for whom he carried thunder
and lightning.
But whether these stories are true
or not, Pegasus was really a wonder
full steed- He was a snow white horse
of most graceful proportions, and had
a pair of beautiful, gauze-lilze, silvery
wings. These wings were so large
and powerful that they would support
him in the air like a bird. His hair
was smooth like satin, and his eyes
had a beauty and intelligence that
were almost human.
There was no other steed like him
in all the world. He was wild as he
No lp' 10Th
as swift as his AIT the sight of man.
He had never been backed nor brid-
led by master. For many years he
remained free and happy.
AS l have said, Pegasus often came
to the spring. He would then close
his silvery wings, and gallop like
colt over the green meadows and hill
sides.
He was dainty fellow. feeding only
where the grass was sweetest, and
bathing his white limbs in the foun-
tain where the young girls came with
their jars for water.
Sometimes a maiden would get a
glimpse of Pegasus as he was sport
ing the turf or having his sides in
the water; but it was only a glimpse,
and such wonderful stories were told
that none believed them. Finally,
two peasants happened to stumble on
the winged steed as he was asleep by
the fountain His terrible snorting
nearly heightened them to death;
but he had been seen, and the testi-
mony of two could not be gainsayed,
so the Corinthians thought.
There was at that time living in
Corinth a young prince by the name
of Hipponous. He was the son of
King Glaucus. and was noted for his
marvellous beauty of face and form.
Feminine as he was in his looks. with
his long. golden hair falling around
his shoulders like a woman 5, he never
theless had the strength and courage
of a hero.
This prince WAS unfortunate enough
in a quarrel to kill a Corinthian
named Bellerus. In order to save his
| life. he was obliged to fee from Cor
NTH to Argos, where he took refuge
with King Praetus. Ever after this,
he was known as Bellerophon, taking
the name from his countryman whom
he slew.
Bellerophon had not been long ait
Argos before he got intotrouble again.
| This time it was on account of his good
looks, and the enemy he made was no
less a parsonage than Queen Anteia
herself. She conceived violent hat
red to him. and by false accusations
endeavored to prevail upon her hus-
| band to kill him.
Praetue refused to have the deed
done in his own house. but dispatched
him on an errand to his son-in-law,
the King of Lydia. in Asia Minor,
with private instructions to have him
slain at the first opportunity
The young phince. stately and hand
some as one of their great gods,
reached the court of King Iobates in
safety.
No sooner had the monarch read the
letter of his father-in-law than he re-
solved to ser.d Relleropon against
Chimae-a. a terrible, f1re-breathing
monster that was ravaging his king
dom and Staying his people
OF course he never once thought
that Belleropon would escape with his
life.
For Chimaera was a dreadful mon
ster. and no mortal or number of NOR
him Tt had three different parts,
each with the head of lion, the body
of a goat and the tail IF a serpent. 1t
nostril.
Daily 1T fed upon dozen men and
as many maidens-
The monsters haunt was a deep,
rocky valley. shut in by overhanging
rocks. and with only one entrance,
which was guarded day and night by
one of those terrible heads, which
never slept.
Bellerophon seems to have accepted
King Iobate's order very coolly. al
though he must have known what a
fearful being he had to encounter
'sLet me have weeks rest, and I