THE STORY OF THE ODYSSEY OR THE ADVENTURES OF ULYSSES For Boys and Girls BY DR. EDWARD BROOKS, A. M. Superintendent of Schools of Philadelphia, and author of The Story of the PREFACE HE Iliad and the Odyssey of Homer stand peerless THE in the realm of epic literature. They have been the admiration of the wisest and most cultured of mankind for centuries; and have done more to shape the world's literature than any other works ever written, except, perhaps, the Bible. With the desire to extend a knowledge of the Iliad among the young people of our country, I published a simple version of it last year, entitled "The Story of the Iliad." I now follow that publication with a similar version of the Odyssey. A few thoughts upon the nature of the work may be appropriate here. The many points of difference in the Iliad and Odyssey have raised the question of their common authorship; but the best judgment ascribes them both to the same gifted mind. This very difference is a mark of the fertile genius of their great author, and gives an added charm to each. "The Iliad," says one, "is a tale of the camp and the battle-field; the Odyssey combines the romance of travel with that of domestic life. The key-note of the Iliad is glory; that of the Odyssey is rest.” For this reason it has been thought that the Odyssey was the work of the author's old age. Both poems are marvels of poetic genius. In graphic descriptions, simplicity of style, and felicitous phrase, they are unsurpassed. Their characters are drawn by a master hand, and seem real portraits of living men and women; and the touches of human nature are as true to life as if the author had lived but yesterday. Of the two works it is difficult to decide which possesses the greater interest for the reader. While the former is full of fire and martial ardor, the latter concentrates the attention on a single character and holds our interest in his fortunes to the very last. The Story of the Odyssey has been called "a lady's story," while the Iliad is more particularly a story for men. A distinguished writer, Bently, says: The Iliad Homer wrote for men; the Odyssey for the other sex." There are good reasons for this opinion, for, as Richter remarks, women are more interested in persons, men in events." Besides, the Odyssey treats of several very beautiful and attractive women, who stand as typical of the virtues or traits with which they are endowed. There are Circe and Calypso, two beautiful and powerful goddesses who wished to win Ulysses for their lord; Nausicaa, the sweet and modest daughter of Alcinous, who found Ulysses shipwrecked on the shores of Phæacia and saved his life; while a glimpse is given us of the golden Helen and her daughter Hermione, whom Homer describes as beautiful as Diana. And, last of all, there is Ulysses' faithful wife, Penelope, than |