The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1911-07-11
The Racing
Maiden
She Would Marry No Man
Who Could Not Out
run Her
BY T. A. MITclIEL
Copyright BY American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.


In the Vatican Museum at Rome
there is statue Of Greek girl dress
ed for running rsce Her body Il
covered by single knit garment
while her limbs are bare. The statue
takes one who gazes upon it far bach
toward the dawn of our civilization.
In the Grecian archipelago at time
when this running maid OF the Vatican
lived was an island governed by Kins
Artagones. He had no sons to sue
coed him, but daughter, Thesbia, had
been born to him, who grew up a very
shapely woman. From childhood she
evinced deep interest In athletics and
Notwithstanding her royal birth tool
part in games which were open to
women. When she was eighteen years
old she captured many prizes in those
athletic contests that were instituted
by the king, her father. and was de.
clared the champion runner
Her success was a sad blow to the
king, for 1t put into her head fancy
that became a fixed resolution which
seriously interfered with his arrange
ment for the succession There were
several princes among the neighborine
islands who were suitors for the prfn.
cess hand, any one of whom would
have been acceptable to her father,
but she announced that she would
marry no man who could not outrun
her The strongest one Of them ac-
cepted the condition. and day was
set for the trial. The king was pres
ent, and his subjects thronged the
stadium The prince was known to
be well built for snch encounters, and
the princess was regarded invincible
even by the strongest.
When the two stood on the starting
line 1t was seen that the prince was far
better developed above than below the
waist. while the princess possessed a
feature that was both mark of
beauty in a woman and an element for
success In foot race. She was very
long Of limb between the knee and the
thigh. As soon as they started this
superiority became evident Her
strides were longer than those of her
competitor and slowly but surely car
ried her away from him She easily
won the goal. and the prince lost his
suit as well as the race.
This result discouraged other royal
suitors. and King Artagones was much
troubled in the matter Of marriage
for bis daughter. He begged her to
change the condition so that the
deetest among her suitors of royal
blood might take the prize, hut she
would not consent. She would marry
no man who could not beat her in q
race. but she would marry any man
who could Outrun her She was con-
sidered to he safe from matrimony on
these terms. for she had come to be
marvel Of fieetness, But the king was
much concerned lest some herdsman or
artisan or soldier In the ranks should
enter the lists and carry off the prize.
One day there appeared In the mar
ket place of the capital young man
dressed in a loose costume never seen
there before. who. taking position hear
a statue Of Minerva. begun to dis
course on philosophy At first he talk
ed to vacancy. but one passing stopped
to listen. then another and another till
a crowd stood rapt In the strangers
eloqnently expressed ideas Every day
he spoke. each day attracting a large
crowd and exciting more attention till
the whole city WAS interested In his
discourses. OF course the reports of
what was going on reached the ears
OF the king. and the stranger was sum-
moned TO the palace. He was received
In the audience hall by the king, the
royal family and the court and or
dered to exponnd his philosophy All
We're deeply impressed with his ideas.
When he had finished he was intro
duced 10 those present. including the
Princess Theshia. who found him as
engaging In converse ton as be was on
the rostrum
From this time the strangers dis
courses in the market place grew less
and his conversations at the palace
more frequent Among his audiences
at the latter place the Princess Thes-
bia was always to be found and lis
tened to his words with rapt atten-
ton. Later he was summoned to lee
ture to her and her suit
There was great curiosity to know
whence the stranger hailed and what
was his name But on this subject he
would give no satisfaction Some said
that he was from Athens, but of
many persons who had visited that
city none could be found who had
ever heard him discourse or had even
seen him there Others averred that
he was the son of slave. who had de-
veloped remarkable gift for oratory.
The stranger neither confirmed nor
denied any of these suppositions, con-
tinuing to devote himself to instruct
Ing the people and instilling into them
higher motives for their living.
1t became known that he was often
at the palace, and it began to be whis-
pered that the princess was coming
under his influence. Every one won
iered what would happen II she
should fall In love with him. Since
40 one knew who he was. this result
was the more to be depIored, and IL
{ should turn out that he was. as
had been reported. the son of a slave
4 marriage between him and the prin-
sess would bring down. figuratively
speaking, the royal palace on theil
heads. Besides, the princess had de-
clared that she would marry no man
who could not outrun her, and this
man made no pretense whatever to
athletics.
One day. to the surprise of all, It
was announced that the philosopher
had made application for the prin-
cess hand and had offered to abide
by the conditions she had laid down
for her suitors. The city was at once
thrown into great excitement. Onel
said that the race would be given to
the stranger Intentionally, another
that when 1t should come of 1t would
be found to be with the intellect In
stead Of the legs. and III this case the
stranger would surely win. All sorts
Of rumors were atioat, greatly exag-
gerated from those that had before
been circulated, as to the Identity of
the sutton. A few Of her admirers
claimed for him a divine origin, hint
Ing that he was the offspring of Mi
nerva. beside whose statue he had be-
gun his discourses. and that his moth
er had put In bis head the words Of
wisdom that came from his mouth.
At the other extreme were those who
upheld the theory that he was a freed
man.
That the race was to be muscular
one was soon evident from prepare
tons at the stadium for the event.
a large number Of extra seats being