THE LABOURS OF HERCULES

Timaru Herald, Volume CL, Issue 22156, 27 December 1941, Page 7

THE LABOURS OF HERCULES

HERCULES AND THE WILD BOAR CHAPTER 5 Thus did Hercules perform his third labour and was ready for the fourth which was nothing more than the capture of another wild animal. This time it was no timid stag, but the wild boar of Erymanthus, which was at large in Arcadia, to the destruction of every growing thing; and although the people of the country often banded themselves together to hunt him, they never succeeded in killing him, while they themslves seldom came out whole. On his way to the scene of the wild boar’s ravages among people and cattle, Hercules fell in with the Centaur Pholus, half man, half horse. Hercules was given food •by the Centaur, and after the meal he asked for wine.

Now Pholus was the guardian of the wine of the Centaurs, many of whom lived in the neighbourhood, and the wine was reserved for their use only to be used when they met together for a feast. Pholus had no other wine, and he dared not offer this special drink to Hercules, who however was not content with the explanation given him. Despite the protests of Pholus, who dreaded the anger of his fellow Centaurs, Hercules took a long drink from the cask in which the wine was kept. Now the wine had a delicious fragrance which floated on the breeze, and told the other Centaurs that someone was drinking the wine which should be touched only when they were all together. “Pholus has betrayed his trust,” they said, and galloped, a wierd company, across the moorlands to the cave of Pholus. Hercules heard the noise of trampling feet, and rushing out, saw the troop of Centaurs who were crying out for Pholus, threatening him for having 4ared to open the cask of wine. Then the hero realised what he had done for Pholus. and resolved to stand by him. The Centaurs hurled great rocks into the cave, and tried to force a way in, by the aid of uprooted trees. Hercules stood boldly against them, throwing burning wood at them; but finding this of no avail against the ferocious foes, he drew his bew and shot some of his poisoned arrows.

No sooner was a Centaur struck by an arrow than he fell dead, and the terrible execution wrought by Hercules so scared them that they suddenly turned and fed. After them went Hercules, chasing them to the house of a Centaur who had been the hero’s tutor many years before, and whom Hercules greatly loved. The discontented Centaurs crowded into the house, and the owner, who had taken no part in the fight, came out to see what all the troubla was about, and to make peace. ' But Hercules pressed forward dealing deadly blows and occasionally sending his poisoned arrows into the house, and one of these hit his old tutor. As soon as he knew what had happened Hercules was filled with grief; he stopped fighting and tha Centaurs made no attempt to harm him, while he tried to heal his friend. No arts of Hercules, no herbs which be frantically gathered, could hesS th 4 wound caused by the arrow poisoned in the blood of the Hydra—and Centaur died. It was a sorrowful Hercules who went back to the cave of Pholus, who had been marvelling at the wonderful deadly work of the arrows, and wai inspecting one of them when the hero returned. He handled it carelessly, and it fell from his grasp, striking into his foot and wounding him mortally. Thus, all unwittingly, Hercules had brought death among the Centaurs. Yet, despite his grief. Hercules did net forget the work upon which he had been sent, and eventually he reached the mountain where the wild boar lived. He was prepared to be attacked by the animal who in the past, had rushed out at every man who dared approach. But instead of doing so this time, the boar took fright; the towering form of Hercules, his great strength, struck terror into the animal, and away it rushed, closely pursued by the hero. Over mountains, through valleys- and across rivers Hercules hunted the boar, and yet could not come up with it; and it seemed that here was a task which he could not carry out. But, at last the boar fell into a deep hollow filled with snow. This was an opportunity that Hercules was determined to seize; he hurriedly made a net, and spreading it out, caught the boar in it. Although the wild beast struggled to get free, Hercules swung it over his shoulder and set out for home— a strange looking figure with his kicking, grunting burden on his back! Hercules did not care what he looked like; be had done what he set out to do, and after a long journey appeared before Eurystheus with the wild boar as a trophy. . (To be Continued)

CHRISTMAS IN SPAIN The Spanish children enjoy Christmas just as much as you do, but they celebrate the season in a different way. Before the bells ring for the midnight Mass, on Nochebuena, or Christmas Eve, they hasten to do some good deed for others. They may have to leave tho gay crowd, with its joyous mixture of castanets, dancing and singing. They may have to take off their best red. yellow and black velvet jackets in order to do the good deed, but do it they must. When it is done and when the tapers are lighted before the image of the Virgin, they are free to mingle with the crowd. They see the markets crowded with turkeys, pigs, sheep, cheeses, flowers and, oh such beautiful toys waiting to be purchased on Nochebuena. The crowds keep up the dancing and the singing all night. Breakfast is served at midday on Christmas. There are chickens, garlic, sweetmeats, fruits, and always the best chestnuts you ever tasted. Men, wearing broad brimmed sombreros, lean up against their carts in the streets offering chestnuts for sale. Perhaps the most beautiful Christmas custom in Spain is the ancient dance. It is devoutly and earnestly given before the altar of the cathedral, to the accompaniment of castanets.