Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1911-07-08
The Racing
Maiden
She Would Marry No Man
Who Gould Not Out
run Her
ny r. A. mitchell
Copyright BY American Press Assoc
citation. 1911.

3 Copyright BY American Press Asso-
p citation. 1911. z
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In the vatican museum Mt Rome
there is a statue of a Greek girl dress
ed for running a race. her body Is
covered by a single knit garment.
while her limbs are bare. The statue
takes ono who gazes upon It far back
toward the dawn of our civilization.
In the Grecian archipelago at a time
when this running maid Of the Vatican
lived was an island governed by King
Arta9ones. He had no sons TO sue
coed him. but daughter, Thesbia. had
been born to him. who grew up very
shapely woman. From childhood she
evinced q deep interest In athletics and
notwithstanding her royal birth took
part I'm 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-
rlared the champion runner.
Her success was n sad blow to the
king, for II 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 neighboring
islands who were suitors for the prin'
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-
copied the condition. and n day was
set for the trial. The king was pres
emit. and his subjects thronged the
stadium. The prince was known to
be we'll built for such encounters. and
the princess was regarded invincible
even by the strongest.
When the two stood on the starting
line It was seen that the prince was far
better developed above than below the
waist, while tho princess possessed q
feature that was both a mark Of
beauty In a woman and an element for
succeas In foot race. She was very
long OF limb between the knee and the
thigh As soon az they started this
superiority became evident. Her
strides were longer than those Of her
competitor and slowly but surely car
RED her away from him. She easily
won the goal. and the prince lost his
suit as well M the race.
This result discouraged other royal
suitors, and King Artagones was much
troubled In the matter Of marriage
for his daughter. FTe begged her to
change tho condition so that the
neetest among her suitors Of royal
blood might take the prize. but she
would not consent She would marry
no man who could not beat her In a
race, but she would marry any man
who could optrun her. She was con-
sidered 10 DO safe from matrimony on
these terms, for she had come to be q
marvel Of heetness. But the king was
much concerned lest some herdsnnan or
artisan or soldier In the ranks should
enter the lists and carry Off the prize.
Ono day there appeared In the mar
ket place of the capital a young man
dressed In loose costume never seen
there before, who. taking position near
q statue Of Minerva, began to dis.
course ON philosophy. At first he talk.
"a to vacancy. but ono passing stopped
to listen, then another and another till
q crowd stood rapt in the strangers
eloQusntly expressed ideas. Every day
he spoke. each day attracting 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-
in the audience hall BY the king. the
royal family and the court and Or
dered to expound his philosophy. All
were deeply impressed with his ideas.
When no had finished he was intro
duced to those present. including the
Princess Thesbia. who found him as
engaging I'm conversation az he was on
tho roStrum-
From this time tho strangers dis
and his conversations at the palace
more frequent. Among his audiences
ut tho latter place the Princess Thes-
bia was always TO be found and LIS
tened to his words with rapt atten-
don Later he was summoned to lee
ture TO her and her suat
There wan 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 a slave. who had de-
velopcd 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.
dered what would happen II she
should fall In love with him. Since
no one knew who he was, this result
was the moro TO be depiored. and II
q should turn out that he was. az
had been reported, tho SON Of slave
q marriage between him and the prin-
cess would bring down. hgurativsly