Johnstown High School - Spectator Yearbook (Johnstown, PA)

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THE SPECTATOR 3 object of their affection was a maiden of the name Actia. She was very beautiful, in a classic way. Her features were regular and clearly cut, her body was slender and graceful. Besides being so beautiful, she had many accom- plishments, and it was small wonder that she had many suitors. Of these Glaucon and Phidias soon came to be thought the most successful. Tho these two saw the inev- itable issue, yet neither spoke of the matter, each tacitly agreeing to let it go as long as possible. Matters stood thus when a messenger came to Melos to speak with Phidias. By this time the fame of Phidias had gone out all over Greece. This messenger was a repre- sentative of the board of men in charge of the public art works of Athens. They proposed that Phidias should come to their city, where they would give him a good position. They wished him, however, to carve first some statues to be sent to Athens for the critical judgment of the Athenians. . The young man was delighted with this proposal on account of the advancement it offered, and his friend rejoiced with him. ln spite of his friend's protests, Phidias decreed that Glaucon should not see the statue until it was altogether hnished. The people of the island became inter- ested in the affair and helped him in any way possible. Phidias was allowed to work in a buildihg on the sacred hill. This was a slight eminence covered by olive trees, which was used somewhat as a pleasure park as well as for religious purposes. Here Phidias toiled unceasingly. At length the statue was completed. Many rumors had gone out about the beauty of the carving, and Phidias had con- sented to unveil the statue publicly the next day. Early on the preceding evening Phidias took his friend Glaucon to see the statue. For a moment after his first glimpse of the carving Glaucon stood there torn by the conflicting emotions of anger and admiration. Well might he admire, for the statue excelled all others he had ever seen in beauty and grace! It represented, according to the artist's conception, the ideal womanhood. It was indeed a noble statueg but the woman-it was Actia in marble! This was the cause of Glaucon's anger. With an effort, however, he controlled his feelings and praised the statue

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2 THE SPECTATOR The Vandal BY HERBERT GRAHAM, '10 T was the golden days of Greece, when Athens was at the height of her glory and the strength of her position was made even greater by the brilliancy of he-r rival Sparta. Beneath the protection of these two powers the smaller Greek states dwelt in security, cultivated their fields and sacrificed to their gods in safety. Among the latter was the beautiful little island of Nlelos, one of those many beauty spots that dot the blue shores of the Aegean. The people of Nlelos were little disturbed by the troubles that distracted the political life of the larger states. Generation succeeded generation, each following the placid way of its ancestors. To cultivate their Helds, to sacrifice to their gods, and to recognize the beauty of the nature and art that lay around them-these were their duties. The last of these was by no means neglected. Nature had out- done herself in this little isle and the people grew up real- izing it. They tried to bring up their children not only to appreciate what was tangible about them, but to see the aesthetic side of it as well. So each generation increased in skill in sculpture and painting and architecture until their little island became famous even in Greece for the beauty of its buildings and works of art. At last there was born into one of the principal families a baby boy, who, as he matured, showed especial promise of artistic development. As a lad Phidias studied and played with equal earnestness. ln his play Glaucon was his companion. Glaucon, a youth of godlike form, was his constant playmate. Phidias himself was not unusually handsome, yet there was about him a peculiar charm of manner that drew one to him immediately. Between these two there grew up a friendship such as could have existed only between two Greek men. Even when they became older and when they both came to love the same maiden they were still friends. Tho Glaucon did not possess the manual skill of Phidias, yet he was much interested in his friend's development. The young woman who was so fortunate as to be the

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4 THE SPECTATOR in terms that it really merited. As soon as he well could, he turned away and walked thru the olive grove. He had to walk, or do something to quiet his excited feelings. How had his friend dared to commit such an overt act? His suit must be prospering well, indeed. Glaucon himself had noticed no change in Actia's cordial man-ner toward himself. Suddenly an idea came to himg he would bring matters to a head before she had seen the statue. He would declare his love to her that very night. He turned away and walked down the hill toward her home. lt was almost darkg here and there thru the olive groves groups of people were strolling along enjoying the quiet peace. Suddenly Glaucon stopped as tho some one had struck him. He heard the voice of his friend mur- muring words of burning love. With whom could be his companion? Who but Actia? Glaucon listened for a mo- ment, and then came Actia's sweet voice, tenderly assuring Phidias that she was already his. With a suppressed cry of rage, Glaucon turned on his heel and strode up the hill, his heart torn by hate, envy, and anger. He was hardly conscious of where he was going, but at last he found himself before the statue of the one to whom he had just been about to declare his love. In one wild, mad moment of rage he seized a mallet, and, with a few quick strokes, he partly mutilated one of the most beautiful pieces of sculpture ever produced. In a moment he was seized with remorse at what he had done, but it was too late to repair the mischief. The next morning Phidias found that he had sustained a double lossg both his friend and his statue had disap- peared. The centuries roll by. Our three friends are long since dead and buried. Two are forgotten, but one has earned himself fame eternal. A laborer digging a well on the little Greek island of Melos discovered a partly mutil- ated piece of sculpture that the world immediately pro- claimed a masterpiece-the Venus di Nlilo.