Life — July 14, 1904 — page 13: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

-LIFE.- 49 The Primal Curse. FTER the gods had done amusing themselves with the puppets, they tossed them into a corner. But when supper was done, they were surprised to find them still in working order and quietly playing with a broken goblet that had fallen beneath the table. So Vulcan, at whose forge they had been fashioned, and who was always vain of his work, picked them up and cried out: “IT say now, these manikins are really rather a nice piece of work. Jove! I say, breathe a little of the real fire into them and let's establish a Race."" The gods and goddesses, with delighted acclamation, agreed tothe idea. So Jove laid down his pipe, and injected a cloud of smoke into the noses and ears of the playthings ; and when he laid them down, their limbs quivered eagerly and their eyes blinked with a new fire. The gods looked in- du'gen‘ly upon them. “And now,” said Jove, taking up his meerschaum again, “T have done my share—and each of you people can give the creatures something, just to set up housekeeping with.” “But first," cried Mercury, who always had an eye to the main chance, ‘‘let us make a little sporting event out of this. Here, let’s make a pool, and whoever bestows the best gift on the new race gets the pot."” Again the gods agreed. Any kind of a novelty was sure of a warm welcome among the rather bored inhabitants of Olympus. So Venus flung in the Golden Apple; Mercury his sandals ; Diana her new, smokeless Winchester, together with showers of gold from the other deities ; the table resembled the bargain counter at a Rummage Sale. Paris was called up and appointed stakeholder, a:d the con- aid Minerva, pompously give Wisdom.” pectability,” nd I, Beauty,” “Commercial Integrity ‘and Syndicates!" Some objection was raised to this double entry, on the ground of hedging. Mercury, however, explained that it was all the same thing, and his bid was entered as above. The competition proceeded, till Youth, Strength, Fame, Rank, Wealth, Cocktails and Honor had all been bestowed upon the new beings which lay with an unconscious smile in their midst. Finally, all the immortals had registered, with the,exception of Venus. She looked up with a rosy smile. “1,” she said slowly, ‘give that without which all your gifts are useless—that which gives you something to win Fame for, to spend your money on; to give joy to Youth and radiance to Beauty.’ She paused and smiled again. “Lgive... Love..." she said softly. Paris looked at her, and, without hesitation, he swept the stakes over to her side of the table. The other gods nodded in silence. Venus stretched out her hand languidly to pick up her winnings, while the decorum of the proceedings was broken by a sadden, ironical grunt. It was the voice of Hecate, a social climber who had recently moved in from cried Juno. id Apollo. !" put in Mercury, triumphantly, Hades, and whose many attentions to Juno had to-night procured her a rather grudging invitation to dine. “Now, that is too easy," she said; ‘a contest for Blessings—I'd be ashamed to take the money! Double the pot and make it a contest for Curses —that would be something like!" Again the gods seized eagerly upon the new idea. Venus was, after some coaxing, persuaded to give up her prize; the stakes were doubled, and the contest began afresh. The unheeding recipients of all these gifts sat munching a bit of ambrosia that somebody,had given them, and blinking their eyes at the light. “1,” said Minerva, “ give a Babbling Tongue.” “And I, Civilization," cried Saturn. “War,"’ growled Mars. "’ simpered Venus. so in turn Sickness, Popular Govérnment, Old Age, Envy, Advertising Sign-Boards, Poverty, Breakfast Foods and Death were bestowed upon the Helpless Innocent. Hecate voted last. All eyes were turned toward her. “T," she said, with a sneering imitation of Venus's soft drawl—I give... Love..." The assembled gods laughed loudly; and Paris, curling his mustache, was about to push the stakes over to Venus again, when Hecate raised her hand. “Do you not see,” she said, ‘‘that all your curses are powerless against him who preserves your blessings—even Death, which comes at the end with quiet sleep? But against Love, what do all your gifts prevail? Love, which seizes on the heart, and tears and twists it with a pain that it cannot understand, yet is powerless to forget. You give them strength—under Love, the ruddiest cheek shall grow pale! Youth and Beauty !—it shall be the young and fair who shall most often wither and die beneath its sting. . +. Why," she broke off, her voice fairly crackling with scorn, ‘‘haven't you people sense enough to see that there is simply nothing else which can be relied upon to set peo- ple by the ears every time—to make them rend their dearest ties, and drag their honor to the mud? Give me the prize— AT THE EXPOSITION. He : SOUSA DORSN'T SOUND SO WELL OUTDOOKS ! Shes 10} THE AGNOSTIC PROPERTIES AREN'T SO Coop.