Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-04-30

THE BELOVED
NAUSIcAA's BALL
But Did the Girl Marry Tele-
machus. tho lnept9

"6CI1u8s IN0 tU0pSI Y
n. M. Selby. in the Christian Register.
And what is this?" I asked OF the
professor, who was showing me the
spotls of some excavations in the Greek
islands.
This" was a spherical object, formed
OF strips OF cloth. shaped like the pigs"
OF an orange, crossed with fine wicker
netting.
That" replied the professor, "is a
child's ball. found In the temple of
Athene at Ithaca. I maintain HI it
IS the ball with which Nausicaa and
her maidens played on the famous
washing day"
to Ithaca? Surely, Musicals ball
would be at Phaeacia, if anywhere"
Az" thereby hangs a tale" said
the professor.
he proceeded to tell me the follow
ing story. which, as he says. he found
m a collection of memoirs-one of the
recently discovered papyri. He did not
name the author of these emo and
was agu about the date; in fact, the
ucidity, which is one of his marked
characteristics. entirely deserted him
wnlle ne was answering my question on
this matter.
The story, however. is clear enough
1t runs as follows:
The enmity of Poseidon toward Odys-
seus-engendered by the binding. by
the latter, of the gods son, the Cyclops
folyphemus-was not stated by the
of the hero; in fact, the god
was only further enraged by the es-
cape and safe return home Of his vic
tim. as we may see by his changing
into stone the ship supplied to Odys-
seus by the kindly Phaecians. But to
narm odysseus on the sea was now
| lnlnnSSlhIa Cfnnn- No -
iand, rejoicing in reunion with Pene-
rope ana IelemachuS, and setting in or
der the affairs of the kingdom, which
had SO long suffered from the absence
OF the master. What should the angry
goo 40! After long meditation he at
SELF invisible and whispering in Pene-
lope's ear as she slept: THE BALI"
Find the ball" ASK him how he
m by the ball" .
When Penelope awoke-feeling sure
that him" must mean "Odysseus"-she
mad brought from Phaecia. and-sure
enough!-there was the ball. She won
dered how the %plaything came there,
put no unworthy suspicion clouded her
noble mind, as-obeying the voice she
a heard in her dream-she sought
and questioned her husband. Odys-
seus answered her truly. Gle lied to
other people, sometimes, but he always
told the truth to Penelope). He re-
lated how. in the storm raised by Pose
ldon, ne was saved by the help of the
sea -goddess Leucothea and cast on an
unknown shore. where he fell into a pro-
FOUND sleep. from which he was awak-
ened by the sound of merry young
voices, which he soon knew to proceed
from a group of maidens who were
paying at ball a little ways off from
the place where he was. how. after
%shrouding his nakedness, as well as
he could. in leafy boughs. he came forth
ana stood among the damsels; how the
troop screamed and made off, like star
tied deer-all but one. who remained
standing before him in simple dignity,
and, after listening to his tale of woe
with kindly pity. and graciously prom
Using aid, told him. in answer to his
questions. that he was in the land of
the Phaecians, of which her father, Al
cinou was king; that she had been
urreeeea, IN a dream, to come .hither,
stream which flowed nearby, the gar
ments and linen of the palace.
G"Ihanks, gracious Athene," inter-
polated Penelope at this point of the
story, knowing that the dream must
nave been sent by the divine protect
ress of her spouse.)
Nausicaa directed her attendants to
give him some Of the garments thew
had washed, and, when he had dropped
them. made him mount the wagon on
which she and her maidens had come,
she herself leading the party on foot;
how. when they came to the house.
she made him alight and go up to the
palace alone, for fear of scandalous
tongues If he were seen with her or
her attendants.
s Mrs. Grundy dates back even to
days of Odysseus." I remarked. The
professor nodded. and continued the
etory:-
"odysseus added that in the ex-
element the maidens forgot the ball,
but he noticed it among the bushes
where he dressed. and picked it up, in
tending to restore 1T to Nausicaa. He
forgot. however; and he now proposed
to dedicate 1t, as a votive offering. to
his p~reseryer, Athene.
Do so. dearest Odysseus,' said
Penelope, and let me accompany thee
to tbs shrine and join In thy thanks
gtvings to the goddess and prayers for
blessings on the gracious maiden of
Pheacia. Would that dearest Telema-
chus might have such a princess for
his bride!".
"'such a p%rincess." exclaimed
self ~
rs she still unbetrothed? asked
Penelope.
she is replied odysseus, and her
rather is willing that she should be
our sons BRIDE"
In process of time, as we know,
Nausicaa became the daughterinlaw Of
Odysseus and Penelope"
wasn't half good
enough for her" I cred. as the pro-
lessor finished the tale. 1.-The gods
gave a very poor response to her de-.
sire for o husband like Odysseus."
True" replied the professor, but
let us hope that Telemachus improved
as he grew older. At any rate, it is
good. to think how the Vaccinations Of
the malignant sea-god were powerless
against the generous faith Of a love
mat was rooted in friendship"
Toe Much to Expect.
From the Voice.