COLUMN FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7479, 7 November 1885, Page 4 (Supplement)

COLUMN FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

[EDITED BY MARY STEADMAN ALDIS.] ALEXANDER THE GREAT.

Alexander wae born on the day on whioh the Temple of Diana at Epheaus was burnt. All the magi who were then at Epheans looked upon tho firo as a Blgn forerunning some much heavier misfortune. They ran about the town, etriking their faces, and crying, "That day had brought forth the great scourge and destroyer of Asia." His continonco displayed itself at an early period ; for, though ho was vigorous, or rather violent, in his other pursuits, he was not easily movod by the pleasures of the body ; aud, if ho tasted them, it was with oxtremo moderation : but there was something superlatively great and sublime in his ambition, fur above his yeara.

Ambassadors from Persia happened to arrive in the absence of hia father, Philip, Mid Alexauder, receiving them in his stead, won their regard by his politcnoss and his solid senso. He askod thorn no childish or trilling question, but enquired tho distancea of places, and the roada through tho upper provinces of Asia, and desired to bo informed, with regard to their king, how ho behaved to hia enemies, and in what the strength and power of Persia consisted. The ambassadors were struck with admiration, and looked upon the celebrated shrewdness of Philip as nothing, compared with tho lofty and enterprising genius of hia eon. And as a proof of thid. whenever intelligence was brought that Philip had taken some. Btroug town or won some celebrated battle, tho joung man, instead of appearing dclightol with it, used to say to hia companions, "My father will go on conquering, boys, till there will be nothing great and brilliant left for you ami me to do." As neither pleasure nor riches, but valour and gbry, were his prime objects, he thought that in proportion us tho dominions which he waa to receive from hie father increased, there would be less room remaining for his own exertions. Every now acquisition of territory he considered as contracting his sphere of action ; for he did not wish to inherit a kingdom which would bring him opulence, luxury, and pleasure ; but one which would afford him wars and coullicts and all the exorcise of lofty ambition. When Philonicus, the Theasaliau, offered tho horse named Bucephalus in sale to Philip, at tho price of thirteen talents, the king, with tho prince and many others, went into tho field, to see eome trial mad* of him. The animal appeared extremely vicious and unmanageable, and was bo far from an tiering himself to be mounted that he would not bear to bo spoken to, but turned tiercely upon all tho grooms. Philip was displeased at their bringing him so wild and ungovernable a horse, and bade them take him away. But Alexauder, who had observed him well, exclaimed, " What a horse they aro losing for want of skill aud spirit to manage him !" Philip, at first, took no notica of this ; but upon the prince often repeating the tame expression, and showing much uneasiness, he said : " Young man, you find fault with your elders, as if you knew more than they, or could tnanago the horse better yourself." "That I certainly could," replied the prince. "If you should not be able to ride him, what forfeiture will you agree to pay for your rashness '!" "1 will pay the price of tho horae." Upon this all the company laughed ; but, the king and the prince having settled the forfeiture, Alexander ran to tho horse, and laying hold on the bridle turned him to tho sun ; for he had observed, it seems, that the shadow which fell before the horse, and continually movod as he moved, extremely disturbed him. While his fierceness and fury lasted, ho continued spoakiug to him softly aud stroking him ; after which ho gently let fall his mantle, vaulted lightly upon his back, and seated himself with the utmost firmness. Then, without pulling the reins too hard, or using either whip or spar, ho set him a-going. As soon as he perceived hia uneasiness abated, and that he was only anxious to be put to hie speed, he pushed him into a full gallop, and pressed him forward both with the voice and the

gpur. Philip and all his court were at first in the uttnoat distress for him, and a profound silence took place. But when the prince had turned him and brought him straight back, they all receivod him with loud acclamations except his father, who wept for joy, and kissing him, said, "Seek auother kingdom, my eon, worthy of thy abilities; for Macedon is too small for thee."

A general assembly of the Greeks being held at tho Isthmus of Corinth, they came to a resolution to aend their quotas with Alexander agaiust the Persians, and he wai unanimously elected captain-general. Upon this occasion many statesmen and philosophers came to congratulate him, and ho hoped that Diogenes, cf Sinope, who then lived at Coriath, would have been one of the number. Finding howover that ho made but little account of him, and preferred the enjoyment of his leisure in a part of the suburbs called Cranium, he himself went to pay him a visit. Diogenes happened to be lying in the sun, and, on the approach of so many people, he raised himself up a little, and fixed his eyes upon Alexander. The King addressed him in an obliging manner, and a»kcd him: "If there was anything in which he could serve him." " Only stand a little out of my sunshine," said Diogenes. Alexander, we are told, wae struck with such surprise at finding himself so little regarded, and saw something so j.reat in that carelessness, that while his courtiers were ridiculing and abusiug him aa a monster, he said : " If I wore not Alexander, I should wish to bo Diogenes."

Upon taking Gordium, which is said to havo boon the seat of the ancient Midas, he found the famed chariot fastened with cords made of tho bark of the cornel tree, and was informed of a tradition, firmly believed among the barbarian*, "That the fatee had decreed tho empire of the world to him who should untie the knot." This, as most historians state, was twisted bo many private ways, and the ends of it were so artfully concealod, that Alexander, finding ho could not untie it, out it asunder with his sword, and so made many ends instead of two. But Aristobulus aflirms that he easily undid it, by taking out the pin which fastened the yoke to the beam, and then drawing out the yoke itself.

As he was naturally munificent, that inclination increased with his extraordinary acquisitions ; and ho had also a gracious manner, which ia the only thing that gives bounty an irresistible- charm. To adduce a few instances: Ariston, who commanded the Pwonians, having killed one of the enemy and cut off hie head, laid it at Alexander's feet, and said : " Among us, sir, such a present Iβ rewarded with a golden cup." iThe king with a smile replied, " An empty one, 1 suppose ; but I will give you ono full of good wine, and drink out of it to your health into the bargain." One day, as a Macedonian of mean circumstances was driving a mule laden with the king's money, the mulo tired; upon which the man took the burden on his own shoulders, and carried it till he tottered under its weight. Alexander happening to see him, and being informed what it wae, said: " Hold on, friend, the rest of the way, and carry it to your own tent; for it is youre." Lie was generally indeed more offended at those who refused, than at those who solicited his favours. Honce he wrote to Phocion, " That he should no longer number him among hie friends, if he rejected the marks of his regard." He had given cothing to Serapion, one of the youths who played with him at ball, because he asked nothing. One day, when they were at their diversion, Serapion took care always to throw the ball So others of the party; upon which Alexander said, " Why don't you give it to me?" "Becauseyou did not ask for it," said the youth. This repartee pleased the king exceedingly ; he laughod, and immediately made him very valuable presents. To hie mother, likewise, he made many magnificent presents; but ho would not suffer her busy genius to exert itself in state affairs, or in the least to interfere with the proceedings of government. Of this she complained os a hardship, and he bore her ill-humour with great mildness. Antipater once sent him a long letter, full of heavy complaints against her; and, when he had read it, he said, "Antipater knowe not that a single tear from a mother can blot out a thousand such complaints."

He found that his great officers set no bounds to their luxury, that they were extravagantly delicate in their dint, and in every other respect most profuse ; insomuch that Agnon of Teos wore silrer nails hi his shoes; Leonatus had many came.! loads of earth brought from Egypt to rub himself with, when he went to the wrestling-ring ; Philotae hEd hunting-nets which would enclosa tke space of a hundred furlongs;

and others more frequently used rich essences than oil after bathing. Thia degeneracy he reproved with all the temper of a philosopher. He told them "It was strange to him that, after having undergone so many glorious conflicts, they did not remember that those who come from labour and exercise always sleep more sweetly than the inactive and the effeminate ; and that, in comparing the Persian with the Macedonian manners, they did not perceive that nothing was more servile than the love of p easure or more princely than a life of toil. How will that man," continued he, " take care of his horse, or furbish his lance and helmet, whose hands are too dolicatG to wait on his own dear person? Don't you know that the end of conquest is, not to do what the conquered have done, but something greatly trauaoedent ?"—From "Plutaroh's Lives."