The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1911-06-16
The Racing
Maiden
She Would Marry No Man
Who Gould Not Out
run Her
By r. A. mitchell
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.


there is statue of Greek girl dress
ed for running race. Her body Is
covered by single knit garment,
while her limbs are bare. The statue
takes one who gazes upon 1t 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
Artagones. He had no sons to sue.
coed him. but daughter, Thesbia. had
been born 10 him, who grew up a very
shapely woman. From childhood she
evinced deep interest In athletics and
Notwithstanding her royal birth took
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 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 outrup
her. The strongest one Of them &C
cepied the condition. and a day was
sci for the trial. The king was pres.
ent. and his subjects thronged the
stadium. The prince was known to
be well built for such 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 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 q marriage
for his daughter. He begged her to
change the condition so that the
feetest 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
race. but she would marry any man
who could outrun her. She was con-
sidered to be safe from matrimOny on
these terms. for she had come 70 be a
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 of, the prize.
One day there appeared In the mar
ket place of the capital young man
dressed I'm loose costume never seen
there before, who. taking position near
statue Of Minerva, began 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
eloquently 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
hof rnanhnA "a ro
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 expound his philosophy. All
were deeply impressed with his ideas.
when be had finished he was intro
duced TO those present. including the
Princess Thesbia, who found him as
engaging In conversation as he was on
he rostrum.
From this time the strangers dis
courses In the maj ket 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-
tion Later he was summoned to leo
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 q slave, who had de-
veloped a 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 Installing into them
higher motives for their living.
1t became known that he was often
at the palace, and 1t began to be whis-
pered that the princess was coming
under bis 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 more to be deplored. and II
1t should turn out that he was. as
a