Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1827-05-24
Till GAB1Nlr.
- Conducted by Historic truth
You tread Tire long extent Of backward Time
THE an CIE.VT CREEKS.
As every thing relating to the Greeks

accounts, as a real specimen of the
Greek character in the earlies: periods
Of their history; and as disclosing also
the origin of Messina Sicily.
The Spartans waged inteTminable
war with their near neighbors the Mes
sinians, who occupied small district
Of territory few miles from their city.
It was the intention of the Spartans to
reduce them TO the condition of the He
lots; but they fought desperately and
defended themselves with a bravery
and perseverance in repeated wars,
and for a long series OF years, which
secured the respect of even their cruel
enemies. Their cities were RACED, their
people massacred, and they were pur-
sued by their professional butchers, the
Spartans, with pertinacity unknown
to the sGoage warfare of the last century.
They were driven from their valleys
and hamiets to their defenced cities
thence to their mountains, and at last
so diminished were their numbers that
they all retired, men, women, and chill.
dren, to strong hold IN Mount ithome,
which they fortified, and resisted with
most heroic coarage. This citadel
they defended ten years against the ut
most force of the disciplined and ruth
less SpaYtans.
The incidents which are related Of
Aristomenes, their chief and military
leader, Tor he refused to be their king
during thelr protracted struggle for IL
berry, and the almost miraculous es.
capes which both himself and followers
experienced, awakened our sympathy,
and startle our credulity; while they
show the adherence in which slavery
was held, even in the remotest ages, by
those high minded nations In one in"
stance, after the whole nation was be-
sieged in Tthome, Aristomenes, at the
head Of three hundred msn, sailed forth,
and ds6ed the spartans After the
most incredible exploits and eehiev.
meats, they fell captive into tho hands
oftheir enemies. According to the spi-
rit OF the age. and the character OF bis
anniversaries, himself and his followers
were thrown hesdloug iato a cavern,
which was tie mode prsctised BY the
Spartans for executing ielons.
Arissomenes craved the boon OF be-
ing iacarcerated With his shield, and il is
supposed the edges efthe huckleF hitting
the sides Of the cavern, broke the vio-
lence of bis fall, so THAI it did not take
bis life. His companions all persisted,
but he lived two days IN the sofiocsting
abyss among the ananeied remains On
the third day he perceived tex deyouF-
ing his companions, and suffering it to
approach him, he laid hold of it With
enc hand while with the other he defen-
ded himselifrsm its bite. The terrified
fox Immediately ran towards the crevice
" hich he had ensssed, and Aristomenes,
keeping his hold wf thc animal, with
immense difficulty reached the aperture,
and effected his own escape.
The return of Arfstonenes was in
deed like one risen frora the dead; his
friends rallied around him, and the Spar
tans soon found their unconquerabie
enemy ready for fertilizer contests.
The feats of valous achieved by this
prince have bat few parallels in ancient
history Three times be offered the
sacrifice of the Heca.sheopompeia,
which none could make but those who
had slain hundred OF their enemies.
At the close of ten yea's he was DO.
Itrayed-himself and his brave and wor-
thy Messinians most treacherously be
trayed. The strong hold which had
been maintained against The arts and the
arms of practissd and eonfaderated and
savage warriors, for ten years, was now
rested from its primitive possessors, who
had inherited those lands, according to
Deucalion and Pyrrah Noah Finding
all was lost. he placed tho women and
children in the centre Of battalion, and
himself in the van, marched forward,
with his spear erect, to the camp OF the
enemy.
Struck with kind of superstitious
establishment at his vslour, the spartans
gave place to his adventurous band, aud
unlike themselves. permitted them to
depart unhurt They abandoned their
country and sought refuge with the Ar
cadians, who gave them a hospitable
reception, and assisted them in seeking
an abiding place. This they found IN the
island Of Sicily, where they found city
and called it .Mcssina, in remembrance
oftheir beloved country.
This city was established six hun
dred and fifty years before Christ. Ar
istomenes, appointed their leader, at
tended the fitting of their ships with pat