ng new and
uncommon. There was but little time before the date fixed for the party,
and the old stone-cutter tried in vain to think of a suitable object.
Seeing his grandfather so troubled, Antonio said to him, "I think I can
make something to please his lordship. If you will let me have some good
hard butter I will make him a butter lion."

"That is an excellent idea," replied the old man. And he sent for the
butter at once.

Antonio set to work, and very soon he had shaped a lion's head, with
fine flowing mane, out of the creamy mass. Then followed a beautifully
formed body and limbs.

[Illustration: A CLEVER PUPIL]

[Illustration: CANOVA'S BUTTER LION]

When the animal was complete his grandfather looked at it with intense
pride and admiration, and it was carefully carried to his lordship. It
attracted a great deal of attention at the dinner party, and amid cries
of wonderment was passed from hand to hand. When the nobleman and his
guests heard that it was the work of a boy, they expressed a great
desire to see the talented young artist. Antonio was sent for, and his
lordship was so impressed with his talent that he promised to see that
he had the best masters, and that he was given every chance to succeed
in his profession.

Giovanni Falieri nobly kept his word, and placed him as a pupil under
Bernardi, or as he is usually called Torretti, a famous Venetian
sculptor, who happened to be staying in a neighbouring village at the
time. By the aid of this kind friend, and the power of his own genius,
Antonio became a world-renowned sculptor. And not only was he a famous
sculptor, but he was even entrusted with great affairs of state.

When the great Napoleon conquered Italy he carried off most unjustly
hundreds of priceless works of art, and when the tyrant was overthrown
the young Canova was sent as ambassador to Paris to find the whereabouts
of these works. For these and other services he was made by the Pope
Marquis of Ischia, and given a pension of 3000 scudi. But Canova was
very good and generous and he devoted all this pension for the relief of
his poor brother artists. Thus the little figure of the butter lion
proved to be the stepping-stone to fame.

[Illustration]

Damon and Pythias

The city of Syracuse was once ruled over by a clever but very cruel man
called Dionysius. Perhaps he would not have been so harsh and cruel if
he had been able to trust his people; but he knew that the Syracusan