Birds by the Wayside 159 



B.C., or thereabout, and that the Homeric legends were not 

 altogether mythical. The near approach to perfection of the 

 goldsmith's art is established by various examples in the col- 

 lection. In it are swords inlaid with gold, on which are en- 

 graved figures of animals in action, superbly drawn. Of such 

 are the running dogs and lions, cats chasing ducks, and some- 

 times there are fishes. There is a beautiful gold cup with a 

 bird on each of its handles, which look like sparrows, though 

 the authorities identify them as doves. Birds are frequently 

 the motive in the designs. One of the most attractive of these 

 articles is a necklace, the ''repeat" in its design consisting of 

 two birds in very dovelike attitude and outline. Perhaps of 

 similar workmanship and design were the ornaments that 

 filled the jewel-case of scandalous Helen, when she fled from 

 Sparta; while the exquisite ornaments, here preserved, doubt- 

 lessly came from the tombs of true wives, whose existences 

 were forgotten ages ago in the land where false Helen and 

 wicked Clytemnestra were remembered. 



A carriage drive of about fourteen miles from Athens to 

 Eleusis was our first outing in the environs of the capital. The 

 impenetrable Eleusian Mysteries lifted not the veil of secrecy 

 while we walked about the ruined foundations of Demeter's 

 temples. Afterward we visited a museum, containing sculptured 

 marble relics, among which was one very beautiful little head. 

 Robbed throughout the ages by thieving vandals of all na- 

 tions, poor, old Hellas holds now small numbers of her art 

 treasures, and we wonder how long it will be before righteous 

 equity will rule the hearts of men, and they will return to her 

 that which was once her own. 



The road to Eleusis parallels the Sacred Way, when it is 

 not coincident with it. For four or five miles out from Ath- 

 ens it lay across a valley between fertile fields of wheat and 

 barley. Some deciduous trees were covered with the filmy 

 garm of hazy green that is characteristic of a northern spring. 

 The fig trees were putting forth their leaves and young figs, 

 and other fruit trees were in bloom. Doubtlessly spring mi- 

 gration was at its full height. A drive of similar length at 



