The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1909-07-29

SALTWATER,
further declared them unworthy of any
consideration and returned the intend
ed gifts to Sardis. This SO enraged the
Delphians that they falsely accused him
of sacrilege and hurled him from a
great rock to death.
The wrath of the gods, it is related,
Immediately descended on the COM
munity and only by special restitution,
years after, were the Delphians able to
regain the favor 80 forfeited. 1t is a
sadly amusing story, half fiction, half
truth, this life of Aesop, as it comes to
us. Yet it is quite probable that he
lived and died in just the way that is
claimed. Much difference of opinion
has existed and still exists concerning
his nativity-his personality-in fact
his whole life. Some writer's have con-
fused him with the Arabian fabulist,
Lokman, and assign to his lot many
strange circumstances. With Piutarch
and Herodotus as guides it seems i'm
probable that Aesop could have been
the Arabian notable. However un-
certain and elusive the facts of his ex-
istence are it is at least positive that
the fables attributed to him are of a
very high order of excellence. You
will all remember some of them, The
Fox and the Sour Grapes; The Wolf
in Sleeps Clothing; The Lamb and the
Wolf at the Brook; The Goose and the
Golden Eggs; The Lion and the Mouse;
Litigi0us Cats. Ali of these must sure
iy have familiar ring in your memo-
ries, for they have been with each of lis
as common language on mems tongues
from childhood up.
It is a very difficult labor this writing
of fables, the purpose of which is to
securely. There is wide difference
between fable and story, or tale and q
fable. The one is narration designed
merely to please: the other must not
only please, but the very. pleasure de-
rived from it must imply and definitely
illustrate some moral. Humanity as a
whole is very curious. It is even anxi-
Gus to learn provided the process is
covert enough. But better far remain
in ignorance, it seems to wish, than to
be bluntly told the truth. The fable
was happy conception. 1t afforded
means of remedying foibles by tickling
vanity. In it were found no lofty mien
of superiority, no august aspect, but
with "sweet smiles and graces" it
abounded and with an eloquence and
an energy augmented thereby it was
the more fitted to engage this passion,
excite the Imagination aud strike home
a glowing comprehension of duty and
general truths.
A fable is actually offensive if it does
not point out clearly and unequivocally
what was intended to be understood.
In fact any composition the purpose of
which is obscure is bound to be serious
ly at fault. But fable the more, be-
cause on an unerring illustration de-
pends its value. The topics suitable to
the fabulist are practically unlimited
1t is always expedient, however, that a
natural arrangement be chosen, that
the subject matter be founded at least
on probability, that 1t accord with the
popular opinion of things, or at the
most that it does not stray too far from
that analogy which exists between the
different orders of the animate and the
inanimate. A lion should not be pic.
tured as crafty, a fox as bold and i'm.
perious. A majestic tree should not be
pictured as weakling and a bit OF
sedge as strength. Harmony should
always be sweet and discord displeas
ing. 1t should not be the aim of fable
to portray more than one example in
any single instance. Whenever the
circumstances of the recital point il
different directions the real object be
comes obscure and the human minG
turns in disgust from the bewildermen,
and embarrassment of the situation
/ A very good illustration of this is {
fable of DIR. Croxall intended to ad
monish US to repress our inclination,
to complain. "a coachman," says he
"hearing one of his wheels creak, wa
surprised, but more especially when b.
preceived that it was the worst whee
of the whole set, and which he though
had but little pretence to take such ,
liberty. Upon his demanding the reas