The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1922-02-25

= = in which he portrays the birth
Of a nation.
The author goes far back into his
tory as Homer told it, to find a ma
tional hero for his people.
In Homer, AeneaS stands alongside
Hector as one of the greatest cham
pions of Troy. When the city fails
he is one Of the few TrOjans to escape
destruction. With his venerable father
Anchises on his shoulders his son held
by the hand, and his wife following, !
he makes his way to the shore anu
takes ship with a large company OF
his following to seek new land ana
found a new kingdom. But he mas
hanging over him the inveterate nos
tility of the goddess Juno, the per-
sistent foe of all that was Trojan. IL
is at this point that Virgil takes up
the tale of his Man of Destiny. After
the fashion advised by Horace, ne
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 hao
long since persisted. At Juno's orders
the god of the winds sends forth tenn
pest which drives the ships to Africa.
His mother, the goddess Venus, does
her best to make up for the harshness
Of Juno. foretells to him the greatness
that lies in store for him and his race,
and directs him to Carthage, the rls-
ing city of Queen Dido. Happy chance
brings the hero and the queen together
generous and kindly hospitality FOL
lows, the ever-watchful Venus pro-
duces in place of Aeneas' son Ascanius
her own mischievous Cupid. Inc
queen of Carthage can no more resist.
A regal entertainment is set De1ore
the visitors in a scene of vast mag
nificence. At the end Of the banquet
the queen demands his story from
the royal wanderer, just as klng Al
cinous had asked the same from Odys-
sens. With all the magnates OF ner
court gathered around, with Aeneas'
companions as well, the queen ION
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 MS
people, and his many years WANDER
inps. his meeting with Andromacne ID
Epirus, and all the events that nae
taken the six years of his life.
Then follows the famous fourth book
If the Aeneid, the great story OF the
passionate love of Dido for the Mar
of Destiny. The queens confession o.
her love to her sister; the great hunt
/ ing party for her lovers entertain
mont. the storm that separates thu
hunters and drives the royal pair 10
cave alone; the queens tenderness
and then the flight OF the plOu'
Aeneas: the queens entreaties; tn
nortrayal of all the passion OF slight
cd woman: and finally her own sell
inflicted death as the hero fees to
higher duty-it is splendidly done. fo
4 the hero as an individual there can D.
= nothing but the most perfect contempt
4 His only excuse is that he Is the Ma
d Of Destiny; individuals must play
= subordinate role in the great dram
y of q race. !,
For the modern world the interest i
. the Aeneid grows less after the grea
n tale Of Dido's passion is told. In
h Troians set sail for Italy once NOR
u ord once more are driven to Sicll!
a There the prince celebrates great II
ID nara, games on the anniversary OF n
~ fathers death, after the fashion {
sr those which Homer pictures Acnliie
), celebrating in honor Of the dead Patr'
Is Gins. The Trojan women, weary
y tho long wanderings, try to burn u
shins. hut are only partly successfu
at Aoneas leaves them and all who WIS
- to tarry, and at last reaches ltai
whore he makes the famous descent
the lower regions to consult mis- Iatne'
he perhaps, after the episode OF Dio
feels the need Of being told again
the great destiny Of himself and n
race. The journey is, OF course,
. imitation Of Odysseus' descent
. Hades. and was the great model I
Dante. ;,
ACnoaS Journeys III ~ sAIS
] the Tiber and forms an alliance WI
King Latinus, which includes marria
with the kings daughter, Lavinia.
the reader is inclined to murmu
!. "What, again? Naughty man. Z
answer is that good Aeneas has be-
under the burden from the first OF
ing the Man Of Destiny, and the uni
l with the daughter of King Latinus
RI produce the Latin race. But q
without a final struggle on the pa
4 Of the jealous Juno, who raises up
nifty under the leadership OF Turn'
one of the suitors for the hand OF l
e vinia. He can compete with fate
:E more successfully than could pc
re- Dido. and after glorious battles p
are; ished in single combat at the hand
ach the Man of Destiny.
Mt. Copyright, 1919 by the Post Publish
ca Co. (The Boston Post) Copyright
- the United Kingdom, the Dominions.
u Colonies and dependencies. under
mrs copyright act, by the Post Publish,