by
To my sons
Kingsley and Gordon
"Jason and his men seized the favorable moment of the rebound, plied their oars with vigor, and passed through in safety."
I. The Ruling Element, "Jason and his men."
II. The Golden Quality, "They passed through."
III. The Messenger of Fate, "They seized the favourable moment."
IV. The Active Hand, "They plied their oars with vigor."
Among the smaller forces which operate upon the mind and tend towardstrengthening and exalting the best ideals, are little books like this.They are especially valuable when so much of the author's own experienceforms a thread upon which are suspended jewels of thought and illustrationserviceable to those who would see and know the best things.
I have found these characteristics in this small volume, and gladlyrecommend it to all those who would become more familiar with what ourauthor calls "the key to that cabinet of character in which natureconceals not only the motive power of every-day life, but those latenttalents and energies that, through a knowledge of self, we can bring tobear upon our lives." This book will help many who have smallopportunities in the form of time and money to expend in the use oflarger volumes.
Charles Stewart Given
The fable of Jason and the Golden Fleece is known to old and young theworld around. To the latter, perhaps, no other simple narrative inGreek mythology is more fascinating, nor holds a more valuable lessonif they will but seek to learn it. But especially to the boy or youngman of thoughtful mind does the glorious adventure appeal and make itslessons obvious. By way of refreshing the memory of those who were oncefamiliar with the myth, but who, in the practical school of experience,have lost the chord of their adventure-loving days; and also for those,perchance, who are not acquainted with the tale, a brief sketch willhere serve our purpose.
In Thessaly dwell a king and a queen with their two children, a boy and agirl. The holy alliance between the two royal members of the householdbecomes disrupted, and Nephele, the good mother, appeals to Mercury, themessenger of the gods, to assist her in secretly placing the children outof reach of their father, the king. Mercury provides a ram with a goldenfleece, on which the boy and girl are placed. The shining creature springsinto the air, bearing its precious burden across the sea. Unfortunately,the girl falls from the ram's back and is drowned, but the boy is landedsafely on the other shore in the kingdom of Colchis. Here he sacrificesthe ram to Jupiter and presents the golden fleece to the king, who placesit in a consecrated grove under the care of a sleepless dragon.
Now Jason is heir to the throne of Æson, ruler of another kingdom inThessaly, from whence the royal children started on their adventurousjourney. Years have passed, however, since this remarkable incident, andJason, being now a young man and having been told the dramatic tale ofthe Golden Fleece, begins to think what a glorious adventure it would beto go in quest of the royal prize. Forthwith he makes preparations forthe expedition, and with a band o