Anderson Union High School - Aurora Yearbook (Anderson, CA)

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desses were again assembled around the throne of Jupiter, and Minerva was again appointed spokesman. No one was late but Apollo, who wandered dreamily in and took his place at .lupiter's feet. Apollo is now in the land of poetry, said Jupiter in as hushed a voice as he could command, for poetry is a sacred thing to the gods as well as to human beings. Come, Apollo, what are your thoughts ? he asked as soon as the god of poetry and music began to stir. Apollo's lustrous eyes narrowed as in thought for only a moment, then he spoke. WX form shall be made from the earth and air. lfrom the sun's bright beams of radiant hue WH: will spin a web of golden hair. The eyes, from the stars and the heavens blue. The pearls from old Neptune's Ocean, The teeth so white shall be: '.l'he pure soft clouds in the skyis commotion, The skin so velvety. lle hesitated and then continued in a more prosaic frame of mind. Now, having called upon the elements of heaven and earth, we will call for personal gifts. .-Xs it is becoming late and time for Diana to awake the moon and sail O11 her nightly voyage across the sky, I suggest that we call upon her first. Diana, with boyish grace, arose, and in a silvery voice began: l have not much to give: Venus is more beautiful than l: Minerva is more wise: jupiter more powerful: Vesta more pure: Juno more1 liInough, thundered jupiter in his gruff but kindly voice. You will in- spire yonr virtue of modesty into this creation of ours. It is your best gift and a virtue most admired by all. And, while lf am on my feet, he continued. I will give my gift. It is my best gift and l believe it is good. lt is called power-power to rule and to influence mankind. ff this creature have power and is a combination of all the gods, my gift will, l am sure, be used to good advantage in benefiting the world. Your gift is good, said Nlinerva, and it is worthy of you. Now will ,limo kindly present her gift? ,luno arose, her eyes flashing and head held high. A shiver ran through the assembly. Could it be possible that Qluno would spoil their gift by giving a part of her own questionable disposition? .lnno spoke: l, queen of all gods and goddesses, have been called upon thirdly. to present to this foolish creation of yours, my gift. li, who should have been tirst. No, I decline to give up one single thing of mine to this crea- ture: but, mark ye, if this idea of yours, Minerva, turns out as well as you expect, and you decide to create others in the likeness of this half human, half divine, l, hluno, will have a hand in the making. Furthermore, I will not deign to listen to your silly quarrelsf' NVith a toss of her superb head, which would strike any one other than a god quite dead, Juno walked away. There were audible sighs of relief. Y'zt'e1iz'y-setwiz I

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Ellie Cftift nf the Muna lf-y C.x1.Lu2 IMRNEY, '17. For eight successive nights the gods and goddesses had met at this beau- tiful spot on the summit of Mt. Ida. They had argued and quarreled and argued and quarreled, but could come to no agreement. On this, the ninth night. Apollo, having tinished his daily task, found them again at strife over the same question. XVhat, nothing settled yet? he exclaimed. lX lr. Chairman, addressing jupiter, I move you that we allow Minerva to decide for us, this all important question. She is supposed to possess more brains than the rest ol us, and therefore let us leave this to her excellent judgment. A good suggestion, said Jupiter, do l hear a second? From somewhere came a voice, I second the motion. No doubt the voice was lN linerva's own. At this, the goddess of wisdom arose, tall and stately. HI thought it was high time someone decided. l have a very good idea which has not yet been touched upon. You all know the question, but l will repeat it so that it will be fresh in the minds of all. Some nine days ago it was decided that things were in a rather bad state of alliairs on the earth and that we, the divinities, should do something. One thing we did decide upon, and that was that the world should be presented with a gift from us: some- thing which would do it more good than any other one thing. The question now is, what shall that gift be? just what could help the world, make man happy and overcome these unsatisfactory conditions? lrlere is my plan. lit is an experiment which might have the required effect, and granting that it does not, it can, on the other hand, do no harm. Why not sacrifice a part of our- selves to the making of a wonderful creature? lly this l mean each one of us give up a part of himself or his possessions and combine them to form this creation of which I am speaking. Wie gods and goddesses are not perfect: we have our faults, but there is not one among us who has not some good in him. Now, my plan is to take from ourselves that which is good and with these divine qualities form this creature. .lt remains to be seen what the result will he, and as l say, it is merely an experiment. lrlowever, a combination of all the divinities cannot but be perfect. W'hen this work of art of the gods is complete, we will place that which is the result of our ellorts on earth among men and see if we have labored in vain. HA powerful plan, spoke jupiter. rising while heaven's artillery echoed again and again. A beautiful idea, said Venus, moving with outstretched arms and lloating draperies toward the majestic Minerva. A brilliant plan. cried Apollo, grasping his sisters hand. Oh, l see you are all impressed with the wisdom of my decision, inter- rupted Klinerva, not waiting to hear from the others. l'o-morrow evening we will meet here once more and begin our work. lt is my opinion that we will get no small enjoyment out of this work and 'l' am sure every one of us will unsellishly submit his best gift. Wlith a quick glance toward the right ol Qlupiter where sat Juno. sullen-eyed, Minerva vanished. Un the next evening when the sun had been put to bed, the gods and god- Twenty-sir

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Evidently Juno was not aware of her faults or she would have sought to mar the beauty of the wonderful gift. Mars arose, his mighty muscles stretching. I have one gift to give, he said, and .l willingly submit it. My gift is strength. i Yours also is a good gift, Marsf, said Minerva, no creature, mortal or immortal, could accomplish without strength those things which we desire this one to accomplish. Your gift is of no small value. Come, Apollo, you seem impatient. 'W'hat is it you wish to give which will be a valuable aid to the world, through our gift as a medium F IVith agility, Apollo sprang to his feet. No beingf' he said, is complete without a love for music and poetry. I give them both for the good of the cause. Also, from my shining' chariot, the rays for a bright and sunny disposition. Uh XVoncler Creation, there is nothing you can not accomplish with your power, your strength, your modesty and artsf' cried Minerva. You next, Neptune. I have nothing to give, said the god of the waters. 'fAlready I have given my best treasures-the pearls from my palaces under the sea. I have given thirty-two in number of my most perfect pearls-each one of which is worth a pot of gold to a human being. And that is enough, interrupted Minerva. You next, Venus. The personilication of grace and beauty, Venus rose to her feet. A creation such as ours can do much with beauty alone. Love and beauty go hand in hand and help greatly toward lessening the burdens of life and brightening lives. I give beauty. My son Cupid found it necessary to attend a wedding, the most beautiful which he has ever brought about. between Pan and his lnost favored Dryad and determine into whose hands the bride's bouquet should fall. I-Ie asked me to tell you of his promised offering. He gives lovcg love for all mankind. lt is perhaps the best gift of all, though given by one so young. Our creation would be most incomplete, Venus, without your aid and that of your son. said Minerva. Now, where is Vulcan? Pluto sprang to his feet. Vulcan asked me to make excuses for him. He was very busy and also said that anything which belongs to a rough and lame blacksmith would hardly be suitable to present to such a divine creature as was spoken of last evening. I also wish to be excused. I have nothing to give. I will do no good, but on the other hand I promise to do no harm. USO- long as you refrain from playing the part of the tempter, Pluto, said Minerva, we will not complain. lfVe know your gift, Vesta. It is purity. and no other gift could be as suitable and blend so nicely with the other characteristics of our ideal. Now, I shall give my gift of wisdom and I believe this creature divine will be complete. 'l'he only thing left for us to decide upon is how she shall be called. For nine long days they discussed the question, each one suggesting a different name and each one determined to have his own way. T'zve1zty-eight