Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-01-13
ALEXANDER THE GREAT.

ALEXANDER THE GREAT.
Some Interesting Features Of the Great
Mans Boyhood.
King Philip of Macedon had received
from Thessaly magnificent war horse
named Bucephalus, that was still wild
and unbroken. He and all his cour-
tiers went one day to see it tried, says
the New York World. The master Of
the horse mounted the animal, which
threw him Immediately. 1t was a
fierce and mettlesome brute and acted
as If in terror of something. A cavalry
officer mounted him, only to be thrown
in the dust. The best riders in the
army tried to ride him, but all in vain.
Besides the king watching this tri-
umph of horse over human stood Alex
ander, the young son Of Philip He was
deeply interested in the exhibition, for
he was already a famous athlete-one
of the swiftest runners, highest jump
riders and drivers in the country. He
had been asked to compete in the
Olympic games, but had replied: IF
I, the son of a king, enter these games
1 must have the sons of kings as my
competitors, otherwise those who COM
pete with me will not have fair
choice" So Alexander watched the
discontinue of the horsemen with the
eyes of a critic. King Philip said the
horse must be sent back to Thessaly.
But Alexander cried out in protest:
want of a man to ride him! 1 think
he might easily be managed by any
one who knew the way to do it. Let
me tryi"
Philip was angry at the presumptu-
Gus words of his son. But Alexander
insisted, and his father, perhaps to
teach him a lesson, told him to mount
the horse. Alexander seized Bucepha-
lus' bride and turned his head to face
the sun, for he had observed that the
animal was afraid Of his own shadow.
Then he mounted boldly, patted the
glossy neck reassuringly and spoke
kindly to the horse. Bucephalus was
won by his confidence and sympathy
and made no attempt to throw him.
The lad gave him his head and the
horse dashed off at full speed. Alex
or
arena and finally brought him up be-
fore the king. There was a tremen-
dous applause for the intrepid rider,
and Philip threw his arms about the
boys neck, saying: MY son, seek a
kingdom more worthy of thee for Ma
cedon is below thy merit"
1t was unwise advice to give to a
boy like Alexander, already wilful,
headstrong, vain and imperious, but
with a generous heart, noble emotions
and a deep love Of truth and justice.
1t was flattery of just this kind that
spoiled what might have been one Of
the noblest men the world ever saw.
Alexander had as a tutor the ia
nous philosopher Aristotle. He would
not study, but wanted always to be
playing. Aristotle insisted upon dill
gence, and Alexander replied that he
did not see the use of learning so much.
Aristotle reasoned with him awhile,
and then placed him alone in a room
to think. Alexander did think, too. 1t
occurred to him, first, that II he had
never learned he could not read the
stories of great mems deeds of heroism,
from which he derived his greatest
pleasure. This started a train of
thinking that brought him rushing to
Aristotle, penitent and eager to apply
himself to his studies. This he did
with such good effect that he became
proficient in all the learning of the
day. Under his pillow at night he al
ways placed a sword and Homer's
Iliad.
AleXander's father died when he was
only just 90. That was in the year
1886 B. c. Immediately the empire that
Philip had conquered rebeled. Alex
ander marched from victory to victory,
subduing the rebels, and then setting
out to conquer he world. At the head
of a little army he defeated the vast
hosts of Darius, king Of the Medes,
took Syria, Egypt, Babylon, Persia and
parts of Northern India.
He conquered the then known world,
but there was one thing he could not
conquer, himself. Outbursts of violent
passion led him to commit terrible
crimes, and excesses in eating and
drinking cut short his triumphant ca
reer when he was only thirty-fve
years old.
Such was Alexander the Great, a
noble, generous boy. who might have
been a greater man if he had not been
spoiled by indulgence and flattery