Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-07-16
MoND, VA, FRIDAY MORNING, JULY 16 1917.
THE ANABAsIs OF XENopHoi

THE ANABASiS VI AENOPflON,
With English Notes. &C. &c, by cHsmrs AsTHoS
L. l.. D., New York, Harper & GIoiiiers, Publisher,
for sale in Richmond by Harold & Murray, ant
| others.
The expedition Of the Greeks under Yenophnn, III,
great achievement &c antiquity, has been, in our owr
lime and history, greatly surpassed in romance, perl
and selEsaciiiice by the glorious exploits Of the Mis-
souri, volunteers under Colonel Donirhan, who ha
just been received, with open arms, BY The people
Missouri Senophon5 expedition has become classic
because il was told in charming manner, and 20
lionel Benions speech las Colonel Dnnipian intimates
is good history OF the Mssoll expedition, as VII
make il read with admiration two thousand year
hence. The Greeks were led from Babylon through
Armenia to the Black Sea, and thence 10 Chrysnpois
three thousand four hundred and slily-hve Englisl
miles. II was accomplished in fifteen months and {
large part OF il through unknown, mountainous ant
hostile country. and in an Indictment season, ushl
every thing except their lives and arms. Doniphar
and the Mssour!ans travelled over six thousand miles
in twelve months neither receiving supplies nor mo-
| ney, but living exclusively on The country throuei
| which they passed, and supplying themselves witt
powder and halls by capturing Them from the enemy
They fought, and weic victorious in three battles, owe
greatly superior numbers, ARA have returned Oman,
| poor fellows helm. left behind, a melancholy sacrifice
J
of grateful country. The young s,udenI therefore
will have a new stimulus 10 turn oyer The pages Of tlc
Creek General, and compare his adventures with those
/ of our p"n counlrymcn.
Ia regard to Tie merits of this work, inlrl
ed for the following interesting criticism 10 the pen III
| i scholar
Ev lie cIassica st.lar, and by teachers especially
! this new work al DR.. Anthem Will he welcomed with
cordial greetings. We believe will I'LL desiderali
a. all fla -
cation and of Greek Literature. Certainly \ com
| menlary Of Xenophon, from ilr examination have
given H. we are satisfied IL has eminent merit. The
notes are rich in illustration and critical analysis They
really cast light upon passages Of doubtful import aud
serve some other purpose than merely 10 swell The size
| Of the book.
All who have had experience in the matter, know
that in many school editions of the classics, the annU
tators seem TO he Influenced by higher motive than
| the little ambition of having their names tackled 10
that Of the author which they profess {" edit, while III
ruth they serve only hell-mcn 10 the publishers.
We have often been amused nj the la!Ored yerb0sly
with which they obscure The simplest passacrs-unrI
pfained plain Ia almost any capacy-wlie, wiil land
able prudence they carefully avoid perillng rlr Trpu
tatons upon those really calling lur light. Afraid 10
trust their miserable lirtt skis III onsh water, they
content themselves with the cowaTdy security of the
unrppled stream. One would often ihInk, iiom the
pompous array Of learned names with which they in
ierard their punlless and llimsy sentences they
indeed, going To fulfil rhr promise sri fnrl in title
page and preface; but, after all,
We need not say not with Professor Anihon. In
deed II were superuos IL add anything III praise al
this eminent and accomplished scholar. Hts name -
sufficient guarantee for any work e"ilin. nom HIM
The signal success which has attended his 6ommen2-
res OF the classics, not ony III thu country n IN n
rope tesies To the wide and profound enlilinn winch
he brings to every thing al The kiud he undertakes
Ipon the work hrore ~, hr seems 10 have hesioM
ed even more than his usual care and research The
notes cOpiGus, bnt not difuse tho illustrations
numerous hut not used for pedan,c show. We have
sometimes found ms TRANSACTIONS loo bold. when lite
rail- aud TOO loose when more liberal; bni, a. iI - W.
have examined his ArnrPon, We aIe led I" believe tina
blemshes Of this sort viii not hr often found IN H.
The book Is one early pul into the hands Of Youth and
though, 10 uGe Dr. AnlhGn's own words, clear aud
easy in its STYLE yell al the same lime there II 10 nr
which requires more copinis and continued ilsrl
| lion - II is sometimes, indeed objected 10 Dr. An
lhon's editions Of The classics, that ha notes IL"
rnpo,s and his trans. atlons ton frequent for BEGINNERS
But We do moi think ii The teacher Is competent and
faithful Ia hs trust that this objection ongh 10 have
wtirh H. how ever on the other hand, he merely ir-
| eure. from his pupil II much English for - much
Latin aud Greek. an! satisfies himself with pi"Iouni
lnc few questions in The Grammar and Syniay, then
We ray, do mol Dr. Anhon'- hooks. In such case
they would only r1ifr u The nioenrc n The pupils, anu
htJ 10 foster in him disra, III his own capacity or
anGlyuc research. THIS however, - consequence 81
The abuse Isir, than al the ne. anl We do not zee
| WHY much II the time taken ~ rs tho rarner ~
ssaIci.n., with vacant and waadrfinr mind, through
III. drrnry plgcr ii icSl,nn, iehi n'i b. letter IN
ployed III exercising ,a liis;nsrI an .iofina if nr
mory with pathological ritIcams hH 'l'nsIrai,"hs NJ
posiie IL the ancient author which he may he reading
We do pi mean that The ii The rSIcan can hr d.
pensri with. lar irain H. Inbred w wish u woi- hst.
| more than IL snlicicusly. Hut " il .ay. that lahn
Is 100 costly IL lie wasted aud Tint should h,
inl lest honGriEg the means more Than t;la cii ",
.pend RESOURCES IN useless show. l.ilt man, VI
| know, is an initiative animal, and loves 10 az n li
fathers did before him. THROUGH Fiavish trnacy IL OLD
forms, and blinded by antlqnAtrd prejudice lie WI
often wilfnlly spurn the benefits OF progressive I'm
provements and new discoveries "Crabbr," SAYS
| learned and witty writer Of The present age, 'nilgh
| .,aI .frt anfnn rL2 navn az nan
slowly retiring from this snblunary scene, aud lament
ing that the coming of men wsnd he less bumped
The roads better ehtrdin The streets aud less tor
mented with grammars and ie,icnns Than in the prece
ding age. a gieat deal of compliment 10 The wisdom
Of ancestors and great deal Of alarm Al the drr,d(n
sprt o innovation, soluble into mere j-a!ousy ant
| envy"
| Ills urged, that ii we make the acquisition ri tht
Ancient Languages vefg easy 10 the pupil. one 81 ~
main Objects eserci-r 81 ia faculties of the mind
will he defeated. But not 50. True, The acquisition q
knowledge Is the gymn is,irn Of The mind; but Ian
guage is no, knowledge. II IL only the medium through
which, in certain cases we get az II. Even brntlsf
alupidy NAV be logged and drilled into many ways
uirrancr; but II shall remain, all the while no ess
unshaped and unshanenbe block. The mere linguis
ia mere nothing. Time was. indeed when II wa
otherwise. To be chile simply TO read Latin NM
Creek argued little bravery Of perseverance, and n,
little strength Of mind; hut Though there s still, u
some sense, no "rOyal road 10 leaning even N thu
day. yet where there were roads formerly There ar
beaten highways now--nav, railroads. And the ones
lion with is, shall We follow in these, or mr.
aside, in harainers, TO wander IN the deyIn
and ,lecliyots paths through which the pioneers o
learning worked and fought their way, toiling or
through darkness and trial, and suffering, and At las
dying upon the mount, with only glimpse Of pro
missed land. IL we do, we wore than thr mad al
venturer, who breaks his compass, and burns hi
charts, evince his hardooi, aud show that lr ala
il willing with the poverty Of means, 10 encou
ter The obstacles and dangers with which the dis
coverers in navigation had 10 contend, forgetting thu
their discoveries would have heen nothing, had thel
been fruiiless Our folly would bs more guilty thar
cownrdice. To vary the analogy, letns remember am
observe the distinction between the casket, aud Tn
Jewels, locked up in il Such are the Ancient Ian
euaees TO the ana priceless jewels they contain
These would be cheap At almost any expenditure %
time and labor: but ;n', and worse, II we re
fuse key 10 the caShrt That We may Halter our inse
nuy by attempting 10 pick The lock Much that wa
formerly spent upon the means, may now he employed
with thousand ini more advantage III enhancing III
end. But the limits which cifci.nscTibe ms, warn u
that We can 90 no further. We must satisfy oIrselye
with again Offering the humble tribute of our graft
iude and thanks Doctor hntlon for what he has ~
ready DONE sincerely hoping tina, HE cause OF Classca
Literature may long enjoy the benefit Of his ardnois an
honorable services:
Scrus IN crlam rtde5,. iiufuc
| ,.,,uo la Lu,