New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-11-18
SKETCHES OF LECTURES
THE TABERNACLE COURSE.
Modern Life Anticipated by the Athenian
Stage.
BY PROFESSOR FELTON,.

| The Tabernacle was well filled last evening
With attentive and respectable audience to listen to
lecture the Athenan Stage by G. &. FELTON,, Esq,
| Harvard University Professor FELTON, commenced
Nth graceful alsion 10 the City Of New York, the
metropolis Of the Western world, whose thronged
| streets, urbanity OF manners, variety Of life, and
resourees for refined and intellectual conversation had
always been to him peculiar attraction. He should
ask the attention OF his audience to a fuhjec; 10 which
| he had devoted his studies college teacher and
which he trusted though belonging to a remote an.
hquy would prove altogether destitute of popular
interest Proceeding with rapid sketch Of the poiiti
cal history OF Greece anterior to the age of Perclcs
be drew vivid picture OF the social condition OF
Athens which claimed TO be the leader only in the
there OF politics. but OF art science, literature, and
elegant culture in general The great rival Of Athens
vas sparts, which in all respects presented a striking
contrast u her boastul compeer. The Athenian was
'eaned versatile brilliant-ihe Spartan was plain,
blunt and downright; the Athenian loqusciOus-
'heS Spartan acturn; the Athenian delighng in all the
Pleasures OF sense, and enthusiastic for beauty and
DVNg good cheer-the Spartan austere, lricid and
Nr the pleasures of the table content with the
tAek bread Of bis country This was so detcstable
adiei that the Athenians accounted by for the Spar
an bravery believing that tie Sp0rians preferred die
Ag on the battle field to returning home to eat that
sue horrid black bread Prof F then quoted largely
hom the Funeral Oraticn of Pciccs those who fell
u the Peloponnessn war, which gives such graphic
lorTaiiure of the Ahenian character Completing his
historical outline with extracts from Tnucyddes,
PIOf p came to the subject of the Athenian drama,
whose influence ON the manners aud opinions OF the
PEOPLE might be compared that of the British pulpit
Ia q ha celebrated
writer Of comedy was Ans,ophanes who hourished
about 400 years before the Christian The Greek
Comedy was peculiar. 1t combined the quaint hunor
Of RabeOis, with the keen sarcasm of Swift and the
lively persiHsgc of the London Punch. One Of the
leading objects of its satire the great tragic drama
has Of the day 1t took msicOus pleasure in turning
heir subimest flights into r.dicule The same charac
'ers who In the representations OF the ira ,ic poets one
esy melted the audience to tears, would he next day
he reproduced in luicrous caricature convusing with
laughter the tickle Aiheniens. Wen know personages
we're introduced the stage by nlma--thcir accus.
toned dress ni,aiedther manners and tones Of voice
travested On one occasion when Socrates was thus
shown up he happened to be in the theaer and good
nGiuredy rose and stood up during the performance
TIA, his townsmen might perceive the resemblance he
tween the scenic exhibition and the awkward and
eccentric original The comic drama also found food
Tor sport in the political events OF the day the move
neuts OF party. and any public transaction of piguan
Interest The sophists were class Of men who saort
ed TO the comic poets and Arisiophancs 10 particular
perpetual object OF derision. These gentry, though
now and then an honest man might be found anons
item, were in general well deserving OF the scours'
which was so merciessly inflicted on thcm by III,
comic ss,irsts They sold their talents for drachmas
making the worse appear the better reason, Tor mod
es,e brokerage. Dealing in transparent parsdoxes
hey trafcked in empty words and phrases lining thei
pSrses by the operation. They were n'ady to argu'
On one side, or another on none NJ al, maxim;
rhapsody take the place OF reason. With such mde
rAs Tor sarcasm the comic drama could not mi to b
brilliant and racy. Prof. T. then read several trans
Aons from the AehGraiGNs the KEigks, the LysS,raie
sno other plays Of Arstophanes specimens OF bis wit
s"As brief analysis OF their objects and character
zoe lecturer wound up with humorous description
grand convention of women, restei by AristSph
mes who getting possession Of their husbands gar