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Show of Jupiter, was ft goddess of dignified and queenly mien. Venus was the goddess of love and beauty, and was the motner of Vncas. the hero of Virgil. Neptune, with' his trident, ruled 1 lie sea, and Mercury, with his winged hat aud sandals, was the messenger of the gods. Besides these, there were many other ueittcs. Among so many gods no harmony could exist, and they entered into an alliance only for personal aggiaudl.ment. In Virgil s theology the dicttes were superior to the beings who worshiped them only In power and majesty. They were endowed with human pHsslons and the strongest motives that controlled con-trolled them were envy, hatred, Jealousy and rivalry. All human characteristics. Can you i Imagine a god in the height of ecstacy at the din of battle, the sound of clashing arms, the gi'oaus of the wounded aud dying and the ground all stained with human gorer let such was Mars the god of war. Truly a base conception of a divinity ! Think of gods coming com-ing down to earth and allying themselves with depraved mortals to aid them In wreaking vengeance on some unwitting foe. Yet such was Venus the goddess of love. What degradation degra-dation for an Immortal deity! But these dark shadows in the pictures are somewhat relieved by the strong lights. In which are shown a great love for their cherished ones. What is mrro touching than Venus revealing to her weary, despondent son. lost on the Libyan shores, a vision of herself, his goddoss and mother? We have here a dawn.ug. as it were, of the light of Christianity, where faith and trust arc kept alive in the human heart bv a re elatiuu of the holy spirit, the comforter1' scut to man when the visible Christ had ascended. Virgil's conception con-ception of future joys and sorrows bears a strong resemblance to orthodox creed. He believed in an hereafter that the soul on leaving the body took Its departure to u future world where iu some foi in it lived forever. This realm of departed, spirits w as called the infernal regions, and consisted of several departments. The region of the miburied dead. The realms of sadness. The home of tho condemned and ElyMum. None but the dead may enter hero without lludlng the golden branch sacred to Proser-pino, Proser-pino, goddess of the realm. vEneas, the hero of Virgil, found it. Like tho mistletoe which is wont to bloom in winter and to twins the tapering trunk with yellow leaves, was I he appearance ap-pearance of the told sprouting forth ou the shady elm. After offering sacrifices t) t lie gods, he descended to the entrance of the region of shades, which was supposed to be a cave near Mt. Vesuvius. First he entered the abode of the unburied dead, where dwelt those souls whose bodies had received no burial. This region was separated sepa-rated from the others by the black river Cocy-tus, Cocy-tus, which they were not permitted to cross till thev had wandered along its banks for a hundred years. Here ho met his former pilot. Pallnurus. over whom while at the post of duty Somnus, the god of sleep, had waved a branch, moistened with Lethean dew. causing him to fall asleep and plunge overboard. His body was washed to an unknown shore and remained re-mained unburied. He plead with Eneas to tlnd his body and bury it. that his soul need not wander a hundred years, but might at once enter Elysium. The river Cocytus, black and turbulent, with its streams of molten lava for-everrolling for-everrolling thundering on, was presided over by Charon, a ferryman old aud grim, who in his iron-colored boat, carried across the river the waiting souls, when they paid him the price of the passage a golden coin. Eneas displayed the golden branch and was con veyed Into the realms of sadness, where winding wind-ing paths lead on through myrtle groves. Here roamed the victims of unrequited love, unfreed from sorrow even by death. Among these Ameas descried the form of Dido, the proud queen of Carthage, who for love of him forgot her throne and ascended the funeral pyre. When Eneas approached her with tender words she vanished from his presence. Beyond this region of sadness the road divided, di-vided, one way leading to Elysium the abode of the blest, the other to Tartarus, that of the condemned. Here 'neath the tire and flame that raged above was the mighty adamantine city, from which yEneas heard fearful groaus, the sound of the scourge, the cieali ingot Irons, and the clanking of chains. Suddenly the brazen gates unfolded and Eneas beheld the deep recesses of Tartarus, where Just punishment punish-ment was awarded to the souls of the condemned. con-demned. Some beheld suspended above them huge overhanging rocks, threatening to crush them iu their fall. Others were bound to the circumference of an ever revolving wheel. Still others stood in a pool of water, thetrchlns level with the surface, yet thev could not assuage as-suage their thirst, for as they bowed their heads eager to quaff, the water fled awny, leaving leav-ing the ground dry and parched. Near by was the judgment hall of Khadamanthus, who brought to light the crimes committed in life, which the perpetrator vainly dreamed were impenetrably hidden. Eneas next enters Elysium, the abode of thu happy, which pra-sents pra-sents a marked contrast to these melancholy Veglons. A spacious valley, sun and stars of its own. with balmy air, trees gently waving in the, breeze, and a tranquil landscape, through which flowed tho river Lethe. Virgil represents as dwelling here three conditions con-ditions of souls. Those sent back to earth iu the form of bird or lieast. Those that return to eart h endowed with human bodies aud those that remain in the land of the blest, Eneas saw wandering along the bauks of the river Lethe, countless multtludes Innumerable as the insects in the summer air. Those were the souls to which bodieB were to be given in due time, meanwhile they dwelt off Lethe's banks aud drank obllviou to the'r former lives. The anclent-i believed there were but four simple sim-ple elements earth, air, lire and water and from these the Creator fashioned the material from which should spring the souls of men. The union of these elements took the form of t he better part. lire, and this produced flame, which was scattered like seed among the heavenly bodies, the sun, moon and stars. Of this seed the inferior gods created man, unci all other animals, mingling with it in greater oi less proportion earthy matter by which its purity was reduced. So. in proportion to the time which the union of body aud soul lasted wtis the Impurity of the spiritual increased. After death the soul must be purged. This was done by exposure to air, water or flame. When perfectly pure the soul was returned to life. If still so corrupted that it could not be trusted with a human body, It was doomed to enter the body of an Inferior animal. Among the happy souls that remained In the happy land, Eneas fouud his father Au-chlses. Au-chlses. Here we catch a semblance our own, the Christians' creed. However changed and glorified the risen body may be. we expect to know the loved ones gone before, when we too shall have crossed the black river and shall stand on the further shore. As in Virgil's belief one pathway path-way led to happiness supreme and another to ce.'tainwoe; so we have the straight and narrow nar-row way that leads to perfect peace and the broad and downward way that ends in certain death. As iu the Rhadamanthlan hall of Tartarus, all hidden crimes were brought to light, so will the veil be lifted and a Unlit shine on the page where iu plain, indelible in-delible writing the tale of each life will be told. As they found oblivion in the Lethean Btream and remembered no more the past, so we in ' the living waters" are cleansed and made free from slu. There is and always has been iu human hoarts a longing and a craving for something to adore, something higher and better t han itself. it-self. But us the stream cannot rise above its source, any attonfpt of humanity to evolve from itself the divine was of necessity au impossibility. im-possibility. Search as we may in this wonderful wonder-ful Held, although we And much praise and admiration, there Is in the heart a need unsatisfied, un-satisfied, a longing unfilled. The reason, there is no Christ . Both of tho graduates were fairly smothered in flowers. A pleasing feature feat-ure was the presentation of these tokens of admiration bythrco liny little fairies. Iu presenting tho diplomas, Prof Baxter made a neat .speech, giving them ( ho best of advice. The diplomas, he said, could not make them women. It required something more perseverance persever-ance and faithful work. Tho floral parasol presented to Miss Laplmm by Mr. L. A. Mentz was a very beautiful and artistto piece of wort, and attracted a great deal of attention. It was probably the tiuest floral work ever seen in Utah. After the singing of an nuthem by the M. K. choir, Kov. Dr. Hi ft" mado a few closing remarks, congratulating the young'ladies upon the successful close of their school days aud sending his best wishes out to the world with them. The exercises were then closed by the benediction by Rev. R. (J. McXeice. TP F1IR1LS. They Constituted the Graduating Class of the Salt Lake Seminary Last Evening. FAIKLY SMOTHERED IN TL0WEES. The Twentieth Annual Commencement . Exercises A Pleasant Evening at The Presbyterian Church, ; Two fair young maids last evening stepped out upon (lie stage of active life at tho Presbyterian church. The occasion was the twentieth annual commencement com-mencement of the Salt Lake Seminary, aud the young ladies, Miss May Lap-ham Lap-ham and Lulu Moore, constituted the graduating class. Tho haudsome auditorium of the church presented a scene of beauty. Every seat was occupied by the friends aud parents of the graduates. The bright colored summcrdrcsses.the still brighter faces of expectaut friends and pupils and the gay flutter of fans made tho scene one of unusual animation. The church was handsomely decorated with flowers. Huge bouquets crowned the posts at the corner of the altar, aud wreaths of evergreen twined around the railing. A ladder of evergreen, typical of the height of learning scaled, leaned against one side. A few minutes before 8 o'clock tho pupils of the seminary formed at tho school building on Third South street and, headed by their teachers, marched to tho Presbyterian church. The exercises ex-ercises were held there because the M. Yj.- ehurch, under whose charge the school is, is at present undergoing some repairs. , . , j Tho exercises were of a high order throughout and reflected credit upon both teachers and pupils. That they gave pleasure to the large assemblage of friends was evidenced by tho hearty plaudits of approval that greeted every effort. The fair young graduates were both dressed iu pure white and wore huge corsage boquets of fragrant roses. Their essays were bright and original and showed thought and research much beyond the usual school girl effort. Miss Mooro had been very ill during the afternoon and was rather palo, but her part of the programme was none the less well done. The exercises opened with a piifuo solo, a selection from Faust, by Miss Susie Harper. The piece was reudered with much feeling aud good taste. Rev. Mr. Jayne offered an earnest prayer, in which he gave thanks for opportunities well used and called down the blessing of the Almighty upon the young ladies whoso school days were there closing and who were preparing to step out into tho active duties of life. A declamatian by Byron Janes, "Tho School Close," gavo a moving picture of the relationship between teachei aud pupil, and was rendered with considerable consider-able feeling. This was followed by a German soug, "Schusucht," by Miss Lulu Moore. The exquisite melody of word and music are charmingly reflected in the voice of the young singer. A declamation, "Love of Country," by Thoswald Lar-sen Lar-sen was a piece of pure and lofty patriotism pat-riotism aud was reudered with considerable consid-erable force aud vigor. It was followed fol-lowed by a solo, "Angels Ever Bright aud Fair," by Miss Nora Omenn. "There is no lock but a golden key will open," was the subject of Miss Moore's essay. Tho apparent pessimism pessi-mism of the title found no reflection in the thesis, which was an earnest plea for a better eonception of the duties of life. Persevereuce was the golden key which opens every lock. Everything which had had ever been built, constructed or accomplished ac-complished that was good, beautiful or noble had been douo by perseverance, and through it only could the highest good of lite be realized. Tho solo, "Welcome, Pretty lVtin-rese." lVtin-rese." by Miss Lapham, was the musical musi-cal treat of the evening. The song is melodious and lilled with the bright suggestivenesN of the ever-pleasing springtide. Miss Lapham has a full, rich voice and sings with much feeling. Her solo was followed by a declamation "Toussaint L'Ovcrluro," by Harry Waudkss. "Tho Parting," a duet by Miss Moore and Mr. J. A. Graham, was rendered iu a graceful mauner. Miss Lapham chose as tho subject of her graduating thesis, "The Theology of Virgil." Tho paper showed earnest study and careful investigation. The mythology of the grandest of the Roman poets was carefully outlined. His many gods, the deification of the powers of nature, wrere pictured in words that were models of easy aud eloquent Eug-lish. Eug-lish. The essay closed with a parallel between the the'ology of Virgil aud that of the christian, pointing out the continual con-tinual striving in the former for something some-thing then not possessed, aud which is the essence of tho christian belie f the presence of Christ. The essay is as follows: THE THEOWKJY OF VlUUlt Iu central Kentucky is a desolate hillside, The uninformed traveler gives it not a second glance, yet from many lauds come tourists who find beneath its Burlaee a new world, a world of rivers, mountains and palaces. A barren hillside hides a world marvel, "The Mammoth Cave." So to some is Virgil a barren bar-ren Held, yet to the student he offers a new world most beauteous aud enchanting. That there is a supreme being and a life beyond is very generally admitted, but what his attributes attri-butes and what the nature of that coming life, tire problems which always interest inter-est the human mind. In studying the history of men as of nations to form a just and a true estimate of their character we must understand the motives that underlie thvlr actions, tho beliefs that mould their moral and spiritual being. We cannot judge bf the same Ktaudard the Hindu mother who casts her child into the Ganges, and the English Eng-lish mother who cherishes with loving care the babe whom God hath given her, because their belief in God differs. To this well known fact may .be attributed the interest so generally shown in discovering, if possible, the theology of the man or nation we are to judge. Virgil was a Roman, born la Andes, a small village near Marltna. October 15, 70 B. C. He died September 19 B. C. Living as he d.d before t ie name of Chr.st was heard n Rome, be aid not know of tnt one true U. d ,u whom are muted u the power and majesty ascr bid to t e innumerable deities of auc.eut Greece or R jn . it m through his ep.o po.mi the Aene.u. t .at he is best known to the student stud-ent of thd presei.t day. Althouiutbe cnait.'.te.sportrayed,the scenes described, eves the ioc.kl.uet Uts.0nu.eu are but a blend.n, of myth, legend ana truUtiou. yet these reveal the taeoiog il u lisi of the author and his nation. Vu$4 wor&n.pped not one scripture being, but uelieved that a multiplicity of gods ruled the universe and these he worshiped. He believed be-lieved that these duties controlled the affairs and the destinies of men, and as Individual Individ-ual weal or woe depeuded ou the favor of the gods, men courted this good will by offering frequent Faerltioes upon' their altars aud by holding annual festivals iu their honor. Virgil Vir-gil regarded thera as endowed with human forms aud of various rank nnd station. The chief and father of gods was Jupiter, who controlled con-trolled the atmosphere. Wirh thunderbolts in his right hand aud au eale at his side, he sat upon nis rhrone on Mount Olympus and received re-ceived the homage of the other gods and goddesses god-desses who all acknowledged him supreme. Venus, when her he.rt was tilled with sorrow and anxiety cfor her son. tmea. 1 hits pleads with him, "O thou supreme, who rulest with eternal command.'' .Meu. too. recognized rec-ognized bis suprenmey. When Haines were alsiiit to consume the Trojan Meet, .-ttneas knelt and extended his hsnds toward heaven, exclaimed, "Almighty Jove.'' Juno, the wife .... |
