The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1922-01-27

/ "A RMS and The Man OF Destiny
- are the subject OF Yirgil's story,
~ -. ia which he portrays the birth
OF nation.
| The author goes tar back into his
tory ms Homer told II, to find ma
tionai hero for bis people.
| In Homer, Aeneas stands alongside
| Hector az enc of the greatest cham
| pions OF Troy. When the city falls
be is one of the few Trojans TO escape
destruction. with his venerable father
| by the hand. and his wife following.
no makes his way to the shore and
takes ship with a large company Of
his following to seek new land and
found new kingdom. But he has
hanging over him the inveterate hos
tility OF the goddess Juno, the per
sistent foe Of all that was Trojan II
Ia at this point that Virgil takes up
the tale Of his Man OF Destiny. After
tho fashion advised by Horace. he
plunges into the midst OF things.
After some SIX years Of wandering
Aeneas sets sail for italy. after he has
lost his father In Sicily. His wife had
long since psrished. At Juno's orders
the sod OF the winds sends forth tenn
pest which drives the ships to Africa.
His mother, the goddess Venus. does
her best 10 make up for the harshness
of Juno, foretells 10 him the greatness
that lies in store for him and his race,
and directs him 10 Carthage, the ris-
Ing city Of Queen Dido. Happy chance
brings the hero and the queen together,
generous and kindly hospitality fol-
lows. the eyer-watchfui Venus pro
duces In place of Aeneas' son Ascanius
her own mischieyous Cupid. The
queen Of Carthage can no more resist.
A regal entertainment liz set before
the visitors in scene OF vast mag
nificence. At the end of the banquet
the queen demands his story from
the royal wanderer. Just as King AL
cinous had asked the same from Odys-
seus. With all the magnates OF her
court gathered around, with Aeneas'
companions as well, the queen fon-
ding the little Ascanius in her arms
remember that rogue Cupid was play
ing the part--the prince began the ia
NOUS tale Of the last night Of Troy,
the stratagem of the wooden horse, the
story of LAGOON. and all the rest, to
which follow his own escape with his
| people, and his many years wander
lngs his meeting with Andromache In
Epirus. and all the events that had
taken the six years Of his life.
Then follows the famous fourth book
OF the Aeneid. the great story of the
| passionate love OF Dido for the Man
OF Destiny. The queens confession Of
her love 10 her sister; the great hunt
ing party for her lovers entertain
ment; the storm that separates the
hunters and drives the royal pair TO
cave alone; the queens tenderness:
and then the flight OF the pious
Aeneas; the queens entreaties; the
portrayal OF all the passion OF q slight
ed woman; and finally her own self
inflicted death as the hero fees TO a
higher duty--it Ia splendidly done. For
the hero as an individual there can Be
nothing but the most perfect contempt.
His only excuse is that he Is the Man
OF Destiny; individuals must play
subordinate role In the great drama
OF race.
Fer the medern world tho interest In
the Aeneid grows less after the great
tale Of Dido's passion is told. The
| Trojans set sail for italy once more.
and once more are driven 20 Sicily.
There the prince celebrates great fts-
neral games on the anniversary OF his
| fathers death. after the fashion OF
those which Homer pictures Achilles
celebrating In honor of the dead Patro-
elue. the Trojan women. weary OF
the long wanderings. try to burn the
ships but are only partly successful.
Aeneas leaves them and all who Wish
| to taryy, and Mt last reaches Italy,
where he makes the famous descent 30
| the lower regions to consult his father:
he perhaps, after the episode OF Dido.
| feels the need Of being told again OF
the great destiny Of himself and his
race. The Journey Ia. OF course. In
imitation Of odysseus' descent to
Hades. and was the great model for
Dante.
Aeneas journeys on to the mouth OF
the Tiber and forms an alliance with
King Latinus. which includes marriage
with the kings daughter. Lavinia. II
/ the reader Is inclined to murmur:
| swhat, again7 Naughty mani" the
answer is that good Aeneas has been
under the burden from the first of be
ing the Man of Destiny, and the union
| with the daughter OF King Latinus Is
to produce the Latin race. But not
1 without a final struggle on the part
of the jealous Juno, who raises up en-
nifty under the leadership Of Turnus.
one Of the suitors for the hand of La
yinia. He can compete with fate no
more successfully than could poor
Dido. and after glorious battles per
ished in single combat at the hand Of
the Man of Destiny.
Copyright, 1919. by the Post Publishing
Co 1.-THE Boston Post) Copyright in