The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-04

their demand to have the matter Of your unnatural crime strictly adjusted. Now, since the case has lighted in my charge, I will. appoint judges from the wise men of this, my city, who shall hearsthe case and judge It. And their Judgment shall be my judgment and shall stand against all time. Now both your sides summon witnesses and be ready for the great assize." Pallas sum- moned to assemble such wise and right eous men of Athens as she selected for the work in hand. They met upon tho hill of Ares. that rocky spur of the Acropolis now so well known as Mars Hill, from which St. Paul preached and for so many centuries after the time of 'Orestes the place of assembling of this first court known as the Areopa- gus.
 The Furies were assembled there and | to them entered Pallas-Athena, or Minerva, with Apollo Orestes and the Areopagites as judges. Gall silence, crier,e commanded the gaddess, and | let your trumpet blow with naughty clangor in the peoples ear. It is meet that while my council here assemblies that all the city stand mute to hear my everlasting ordinance and the due decision in the case" The Furies at first objected to the appearance of Apollo as advocate for Orestes, saying: What hast thou to do in this matter?' But ful suppliant His sanctuary was my hearth because to mine account is laid the spilling of his mothers blood, whereof I purged him and have come as his witness and his advocate"
 Orestes pleaded guilty of the crine charged upon him and urged in ex- ltenuation that what he did was by command of the immortal gods-that Clytemnestra had forfeited her right to her maternity when she slew Agamem- non, and that he had already been purged at the Delphic Oracle. Apollo averred that it was by his command that the deed had been done. He claim- i. ed that the staying Clytemnestra was necessary to clear the House of Atridea from the curse resting upon it, and that the vengeance for the staying of a 1 father could be intrusted to no moro distant hand than that of son. The Furfes, in reply, rested upon the ona undisputed fact that Orestes was, self confessed, guilty of matricide. The whole story of the death of Agamem- non and of Clytemnestra was retold | in detail, and then the Areopa gites, amid solemn and expectant silence, cast their votes. The teller opened the urn in which the votes had been de- posted and 1t was found that the verA dict was one of acquittal.
 Fearfully for while did the Furies rage, but Pallas with soothing words cajoledsthem and promised that if they would give up their horrible vocat tion, | transformed into benefcient spirits | they should have a sanctuary and great honors in this her city. So they con- sented, and, choosing a cave in the sido
 Of the Acropolis, they were there long
 worshipped and honored as the immor, tai beings who sent fertility upon the
 fields and increase among the f1ocks.
 Orestes, in gratitude to Pallas, mads With her solemn convenant that for
 all time his city of Argos and hers
 of Athens should be in league in peace and war. Then he returned to his capi- tai or Argos, where he was received
 with joy by his people, and reigned
 prosperously as loEg as he lived-ths
 curse had been taken from hls race. Az
 Tor the great council first convoked
 to try his case, it was continued, and
 as the Areopagus is known to eyerlast. ing fame.
 Next weeks one-page classic will hs
 The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" by