Dancing Horses Of Sybaris

In the St. Nicholas, James Baldwin telis of the decline of the Greek colony of Sybaris, after the inhabitants had given themselves up wholly to plpasure. Of the battle in which they were finally conquered, Mr. Baldwin writes: Vhen a gpy reported to the Crotoniates that he hari seen all the horses in Sybaris dancing to the music of a pipe, the Crotón general saw his opportunity at once. He sent into the Sybarite territories a large company of shepherds and fifers aïmed with nothing but flutes and shepherds' pipes, while a little way behind them marehed the rank and file of the Crotoniate army. When the Pybarites heard that the enemy's forcea were coming, they marshaled their cavalry - the flnest in the world at that time - and sallied forth to meet them. They thought it wouid be fine sport to send the Crotoniates scampering back across the ftelds into their own country; and half of Sybaris went out to see the fun. What an odd sight it must have been - a thtfusand fancifully dressed horsemen, splendidly mounted, riding out to meet an army of ur.armed shepherds and a handful of ragged foot-soldiers! The Sybarite ladies wave their handkerchiefs and cheer their champions to the charge. The horéemen sit proudly in their saddles, ready at a word to make the grand dash - when, hark! A thousand pipes begin to play - not "Yankee Doodle" nor "Rule Britanriia" - but the national air of Crotón, whatever that may have been. The order Is given to charge; the Sybarites (hout and drive their spürs into their horses1 flanks- what fine sport It is going to be! But the warsteeds hear nothing, care for nothing, but the music. They lift their slender hoofs in unisón with the inspiring strains. And now the armed Crotoniates appear on the field; but the pipers stiil pipe, and the horses still dance - they caper, curvet, caracole, pirouette, walti, trip the light fantastic hoof, forgetful of everything but the delightful harmony. The Sybarite riders have been so sure of the victory that they have taken more trouble to ornament than to arm themselves. Some of them are pulled from their dancing horses by the Crotoniate footmen - others slip to the ground and run as fast as their nerveless lefe will carry them back to the sheiter of the city walls. The shepherds and flfera retreat slowly toward Crotón, stil! piping merrily, and the sprightly horses follow them keeping step with the music. The dancing horses cross the boundary line between the two countries, they waltz across the Crotoniate field, they caracole gayly through the Crotón gates, and when the fifers cease their playing the streets of Crotona are f uil of fine war-horses! Thus it was that the Sybarites lost the fine cavalry of which they had been so proud. The complete overthrow of their power and the conquest of their city by the Crotoniates followed soon afterward - for how, between so idle and so inc!ust:ious a community, could it have been otherwise?