The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-06-01
First Beef Trust and How it Ended.

Editor of The Times:
Sir,-The present interest in the beef
trust calls to mind the very clever poem
from the Lost Tales of Nfiletus a book
read some twenty years ago, but have
never seen since. and the exact title Of
the poem escapes me but it very face
tiously details the first beef trust, and
how it was overturned. and may be will
give timely suggestion as to how we
should meet this modern octopus which
commands so much attention at present.
II my memory is not at fault, a clever
chap named Sisyphus conceived the idea
of buying up all the beeves and he
thereby so put up the prices that pious
persons could not procure the customary
sacrifcial offerings to Jove, and the
god missing his usual and due enjoy
nlent of incense from such sacrifices,
dispatched Hermes TO earth to find out
the cause Hermes reported that Sissy
plus had "cornered' the beef market
and Jove instructed Pluto to send Death
forthwith for Sisyphus and "yank'' him
to Pluto's jurisdiction that he might be
deservediy dealt with by the Internal
Tribunal for his impious act in thus put
ting up the prices of beef so high that
mortals could not render due service to
the gods.
Death presented himself to Sisyphus
and was warmly received, welcomed in
deed, much to his surprise. for generally
his awful presence made a mortal shake
with fear. But Sisyphus babe him well
come. and commenting on his bones and
evident want of enjoyment of good
things to eat and drink, cheerfully con-
sented to obey Jove's writ and go to
PIutos court, but asked first for few
moments to take leave Of his family,
and meanwhile proffered Death a seat
at a table. Death, fell into the trap and
took his seat; but. 10! the chair was
curiously constructed: indeed had been
devised by the cunning Sisyphus for just
this purpose. 1t was made OF iron, and
when Death took his seat in the prof
fered chair numbers of metal clamps
and springs came out, and catching the
occupants bones in their clutches held
Death a prisoner. safe and secure, caught
fast and held tight.
Death fretted and fumed at first but
Sisyphus proved a genial host. and so
1aviShed the luX1IrieS of his wealth of
wine and viands on his starved guest,
that Death was we'll content to abide
where he was. and so fed and Toasted
that he became instead of "a bag of
bones" a fat ''true-bellied" Death.
Meanwhile Jove. still missing the sac
rifces, dispatches Hermes again to
earth, where the winged-foot messenger
of Heaven found the world full of laugh
ter and joy amidst young and old because
dread Death had ceased to NOW down
nortals with his relentless scythe. and
religion was at an end. and inquiring he
found Death securely shut up in Sissy
plus hospitable home, while the Beef
Trust was f1ourishing and Death was
grown thoroughly content to stay where
he was. Hermes reports to Jove and is
dispatched by Jove to Pluto with per-
inc v~ t1,1 = !,
Court of He'll to go ir person to earth,
release Death and deal with Sisyphus
properly.
My memory fails to enable me to re-
port accurately the splendid passage In
the poem picturing Her1nes' descent from
the Eupernal to the internal regions as
a brilliant star cleaving the skies and
falling like glorious meteor into the
waters Of the Aegean Sea, and the equal
ly fine description of Pulto's ascent from
Hell to Eartn to release Death.
Pluto enters Sisyphus' abode and there
discovers his recreant official grown fat
and ''twin-bellied,' and, 10! the sulphu-
rous heat of Pluto's presence fuses the
clasps and clamps which held Death a
prisoner, and SisyphIs very gracefully
submits; is hurried to He'll, where ever
since ne has been condemned to roll a
d eavy stone up a high hill. which he does
over and over whistling merrily all the
while. the stone tulnbling back to the
bottom and the task never ends. Thus
Jove broke up this first Beef Trust, but
he had to call upon Hell to help Heaven
accomplish the end. Maybe the modern
initators of Ssyphus. with their imA;
mense powers and vast wealth. who. like
Sisyphus. have put an end to Death In
creating the corporation. a person with
out soul to dread He'll or worship
Heaven. incorporated and immortal, can
only be successfully conquered and an
end put to their practices by Joining
Heaven and Hell in their overthrow.
I hope have not transgressed proprie-
ty, or violated correct quotations by APP
plying this old story, with its manifest
moral. to our modern menace. trust
you will get the Las. Tales Of Miletus
from the State Library and publish with
1t at least the passages referred to-
JAMES P. HARRISON. s
Danville, Va, May 20, 1902.