OCR Text |
Show by this exemplification of honor and I Inlthf illness 10 duty that tin- air resounded re-sounded with whouts of appreciation, for a virtue (hat hud long been burled under selfishness nn.J tyranny. Kv.n I the lyrani gazed in wonderment an. iidmiratlon upon the strange .-.cene, : i""1 whon Damon presented ' himself before the executioner ho received a ryal pardon. The order of Knights of Pvthlas Is I founded upon this' Morv. The cardl-' cardl-' nal principles f (h0 order arc those set forth In the story of Damon and , Tythlas. It will be or Interest to lo-, lo-, cal Knights and their friends to learn I that Mi.- historical drama. "Damon 1 an, r.vthias," will . presented in this city Tuesday evening, ftcc. fi. I The production will he given by Philip Phil-ip Kecne and a highly capable c0tn-lany c0tn-lany of eighteen. DAMON AND PYTHIAS STORY The story of Damon and Pythias is a story of real friendship, of true devotion de-votion aud of willing sac-rillce, rnio man Tor another, that thrills one with admiration and inspires that fraternal feeling that teaches the brotherhood of man and makes all the world akin. Damon was a senator of Syracuse, in Sicily, and fr being a champion of tin? rights of the people had incurred the wruth of Dic.nyslus, the tyrant, and was unjustly under sentence of death. Many delighted to do him lienor while he was senator, lut now when under charges and stripped of the robes of office, he has but one friend In all the world. But Pythias remained true; he went to the tyrant ! and plodded that Damon be permitted to Kce hl9 wife and child -before lu died Pythias agreed to g. into the . dungeon and wear the chains as a ! pledge for his friend's return. The fervor of this strange request touch-; cd the heart of Dlonyslus, uud a re- ; spite of lour hours was granted Da- mon. who hurried to Ids home by thc I distant sea. The beavtlfu maiden, the fair Ca-lenthe. Ca-lenthe. visits Iythlas in the lonely dungcem. tells him that a means of etscun' has been arranged, that Damon Da-mon will not return, and uig.s her lover to Hy with her to a safe- retreat. Although he Is deeply touched by her pleadings, he refuses to go; he has pb-dged his word of honor, which is d- arer to him than life. The king begins to wonder If Damon Da-mon will return. The love of bis wife and child, and the lender memories that ciu -.ter around his once happy home hold him until the last hour of his respite begins to pass. Glv- j ing a laJt and an affect innate embrace em-brace to his loved ones, a last and I longing look at his vlnc-cla. cottage, he leaves for Syracuse, to redeem his promise and to eave his friend. j The hour of execution has arrived; Damon has not returned, and his hotctuge Is brought to the block to suffer in bl stead. As Iythias is being be-ing led to the place of execution the people who Une tbe street taunt him with the seeming falseness of his friend. IU:t, trusting In the honor and friendship of Damon, he heeds not the cruel Jeers of the m..b, and turns to meet his fate. At the Lift moment, wheu the hcadsmau is alout to etrike the fatal blow, when the luxe Is raised and ready lo descend, a horseman Is sc en in the distance, coming with tb-fleed tb-fleed of the- wind. It Is Damon! He biw kept his promise; he baa saved his friend. The puoplo were io deeply ujoved |