Northern Weekly Gazette. — 1919-09-06 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

EDIPUS: THE KING.  By J. MtNDELL.  What a curious name for a, monarch. It is not an English term, but is derived from two Greek particles: " edi,' one, and "pedis," a foot. It reaZy aign.fies the one-footed king. This clue of language gives us the home of our story, ancient Greece. It occurred over 2,000 ytars ago. Our quest into this theme will lead us into the strange and mysterious career of this ruler of the remote past. What, happened to him? What was his end? And what can it teach us?  Our scene opens in a lovely and gorgeous Asiatlo palace. Massive walls, with domes and arches. An apartment of rich-ooloured decorations and brilliant lights look down on a great feast. The air resounds with music, la,ugnL•er, and jovial life of a great oompany. The King and Queen have met all their friends to commemorate the birth of a son, whom they destine hereafter to assume the purple robe on the throne. The feast ended, the cry is: "Bring the child into our presence; let us see him and have his fortune told by the soothsayer." This latter person answered to what wus usually called the witol3, or in ancient times they were termed the fairies. They were supposed to devine what will happen in the future, and to have prophetic utterance. In these days, as now, there is in every one curiously minded at craving to know the future, especially of the young. Such superstition, we say, in ancient times was excusable, but there is much around us to-day. Thc gipsy in the lane can still get coppers from the weak-minded; there are still written books, and well sold, telling us what will happen to us if we are born under a particular planet. This is the craft of the astrologer. On stable doors and outhouses you can still see the nailed horse-shoe to drive away evil spirits. We often say the world progresses to the truth, but how slow worthless superstitions die out.  The Prophesy. But to our theme again. The guests of the great feast are for a. time silent. The entrance of the soothsayer is momentarily expected. Listening, her limp:ng footstops are heard approaching. Another moment and in comes this strange personage, weird in aspect, arousing awe and fear. She has haggard face, glistening eyes, and seedy-eoloured garb. She points with a wither:Lig finger towards the child laid before her, and in shrill tones cries: "The moon it blinks, the door it clinks; .1 am a shrew, but speak what's true. Tim, child is comely and good in body, but his eyelids and visage speak. With age and strength he'll do the foulest deed: he'll murder hie own father and marry his owu =other."  This quickly said, he instantly vanishes. The guest chamber for a time is silent, and all seem aghast, at this strange omen of the future. After the feast is over the parents, inclined to the superstitions of the time, consult w:th concern on this prediction. They determine at. all costs to prevent it. They decide to put the child away and end its life. The child's foot is pierced with a wound, so that it would bleed to death. They then had him carried to a far d.stant mountain; he is there lafd on the grass, and left to die. Shortly ofterwurds some shepherds happen to pass the spot, being attracted by the cries of he child. Pityring him, and seeing it a goodly-shaped child. they bind up his wound, and carry him to their far-off