` The poor little Atalantas are sadly distracted and delayed by the obstacles thrown in their way -- not golden apples , by any means -- but I think they will stand a fair chance when they have learned to run better , ' laughed Uncle Laurie , stroking Josie 's breezy hair , which stood up like the fur of an angry kitten . ` Whole barrels of apples wo n't stop me when I start , and a dozen Teds wo n't trip me up , though they may try . I 'll show him that a woman can act as well , if not better , than a man . It has been done , and will be again ; and I 'll never own that my brain is n't as good as his , though it may be smaller , ' cried the excited young person . ` If you shake your head in that violent way you 'll addle what brains you have got ; and I 'd take care of 'em , if I were you , ' began teasing Ted . ` What started this civil war ? ' asked Grandpapa , with a gentle emphasis on the adjective , which caused the combatants to calm their ardour a little . ` Why , we were pegging away at the Iliad and came to where Zeus tells Juno not to inquire into his plans or he 'll whip her , and Jo was disgusted because Juno meekly hushed up . I said it was all right , and agreed with the old fellow that women did n't know much and ought to obey men , ' explained Ted , to the great amusement of his hearers . ` Goddesses may do as they like , but those Greek and Trojan women were poor-spirited things if they minded men who could n't fight their own battles and had to be hustled off by Pallas , and Venus , and Juno , when they were going to get beaten . The idea of two armies stopping and sitting down while a pair of heroes flung stones at one another ! I do n't think much of your old Homer . Give me Napoleon or Grant for my hero . ' Josie 's scorn was as funny as if a humming-bird scolded at an ostrich , and everyone laughed as she sniffed at the immortal poet and criticized the gods . ` Napoleon 's Juno had a nice time ; did n't she ? That 's just the way girls argue -- first one way and then the other , ' jeered Ted . ` Like Johnson 's young lady , who was `` not categorical , but all wiggle-waggle '' , ' added Uncle Laurie , enjoying the battle immensely . ' I was only speaking of them as soldiers . But if you come to the woman side of it , was n't Grant a kind husband and Mrs Grant a happy woman ? He did n't threaten to whip her if she asked a natural question ; and if Napoleon did do wrong about Josephine , he could fight , and did n't want any Minerva to come fussing over him .
They were a stupid set , from dandified Paris to Achilles sulking in his ships , and I wo n't change my opinion for all the Hectors and Agamemnons in Greece , ' said XXXXX , still unconquered .
Atalantas Goddesses Jo Johnson Josephine Josie Laurie Pallas Venus war