The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-03-17
a DAUGHTER or THE GODS. BY Leo

a DAUGHTER or THE GODS. BY Leo
Donald, The Grafton Press, of New
York, publishers, PIP. 1876.
a delightful book on delightful
subject. The author claims merely
that II is n collection OF the thoughts
end sayings of others II this is SO.
II is yet well that an enthusiast has
put these thoughts toge Their with orig
final links, in such an attractive fashion
The frontispiece is IA reproduction
OF l.eighton's Helen of Troy con
ception of the great artist the inspira-
ton of which lie might have drawn
from TtrInyson's reference to her in
his Dream of Fair Women" which
says:
Stiller than chiseled marble standing
there;
A daughter OF the gods divnclS tan,
and most divinelS fair.
Her loveliness with shame and with
surprise
Froze my swift speech; she turning on
my face
4 The star-iike beauty of immortal eyes,
spoke slowly In her place"
The date of Helen's supposed birth
Is placed by Donald Lea at fifteen CEN
turtles before the Christian era. The
several different accounts of her birth
and parentage-that she was consider
ed the daughter Of Nemesis and Zeus
at Ramo in Attica that Hesiod called
her the daughter of Oceanus and
: Tethys are referred to. and then the
most popular legend making her the
daughter of Leda and zeus, who took
the form of swan and so won the
queens love, is dwelt upon at some
length.
Leda was the wife of Tyndarus.
! <inR nf Lad ha
quotes Euripides, who says that
Helen's birthplace was "rherapnae
seated where Eurotas whirls his eddy
ing stream" and informs the reader
that Helen is also called the "Argeian
Helen" the name meaning that she
was an Argine. domiciled in Troy.
That Helen. according to Donald Lea
was possessed with the power of en-
downing others with her gift of beauty
and of Furnishing those who spoke ii
of her. is proved by the author fror
the writings of Herodotus and frou
the fact that Homer's blindness is sale
10 have befallen him because he lait
upon Helen's shoulders the guilt ane
was an Argive, domiciled in Troy.
The scattered hints and fragment.
which show how artists dealt witt
y the myth of Helen are gathered to.
4 gether in this book. to render more
complete the outline of ITelen's life
The reader learns of a bas-relief en-.
graved by Millingen revealing he,
standing calm beneath the sword o
Menelaus, which is lifted. but will
not fall. In another btts-reiier she /.
X shown to the reader as "enterin.
{, Sparta on n chariot, side by side will
Alenelaus not like captive, but wit,
II head erect and naughty mien, an,
proud hand placed upon the horses
reins.'
Donald Lea, in approaching the per
sonality of Helen. speaks OF Philos
4 tratus, who mentions the picture o
Is Helen by Emelaus, the artist endow
y ing her with large and voluptuou
eyes, hair curling in clusters, an,
Z teeth of dazzling Wilderness Horne
MA IS the authority cited for making he
hair fair In color, and one is informc
that later artists i'll their romance
OF Helen used the poems of Lesalt
and Arcturus now lost. but of whic
the Posthumcrca of Quintus SnyI
naeus preserves a feeble reflection"
ketufning to the story of Helen he
abduction when She was only min
III Years by Theseus. and her rescue h
her twin brothers, Castor and Pollu,
come as IL prelude to her being sougl
IN marriage by all the Grecian prince
and the bestowal OF her hand on til
suitor of her choice. Menelaus. Kin
OF Sparta, follows.
Donald Lea quotes from the e,