The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-04-13
For the Spirit Of Democracy.
Annals of Education,

caslon to review my last communication
on education. 1t was not my design to
enter at length upon the history Of the an-
clients. and only sought an acquaintance
with them so far as they were connected
with the progress of the sciences. | will
notice his objections in the order they oc-
cur.
lst. The ancient Egyptians used hier
oglyphics for the purpose mentioned in
my last.-Vide Tytler's Elements Gen.
History p. l9.
Cd. With regard to the first impress
sions of Grecian civilization. they were in
debted to the Egytians and Phenicians.--
Tytler's Elements OF Gen. His D. 22.
Sd. The Ph9nicians were among the
most early civilized nations OF the east. B.
c. l440. and 500 years before the union
Of the cities of Attica.
4ilar Sicyon was the most ancient king
dom of Greece-began B. C. 2O89. The
kingdom Of Argos. in Peloponnesus, in the
time ofAbraham. The kingdom OF Athens
was founded by Cecrops. an Egyptian
He divided the whole country OF Atiica in
to twelve districts. These small cities, for
local purposes governed themselves. but
for the general good, they metin common
council, at Thermophyle twice year
The following States were represented at
rhermopyle: Thessaly. Thebes, Doria.
lonia, Perhaabea, Magnate, Locria. Gta.
Pthiote. Malea, Phocia. and Dolopia. The
kingdom of Sparta or Laced9mon was in
stituted by Leila. Notwithstanding Spar
ia was an independent State, yet in all mat
ters Of general defence, she was in league
with Athens, and regarded Grecian State
but among all the cities of Greece there
we're two that by their merit, their valor
and their wisdom. particularly distinguish
ed themselves from the rest, these were
Athens and LacedBmon or Sparta
smiths Greece p. 8.
| The kingdom of Thebes was founded
by Cadmus, in the country afterwards call
ed Betia. He came from Phenicia. The
kingdom Of Corinth began later than the
above cities. The kingdom of Macedonia
was first governed by Caranus, and con-
lnued Tor the space of six hundred and
twenty. six years. Such is the picture o.
Greece combn alton of little States.
governed by their respective sovereigns.
yet uniting Tor common advantage.
5lh According to Tytler. P'utarch and
Arrian wrote in the decline Of the Grecian
States.
9th. After the time of Homer and
Hesod, the Rhapsodists recited at the
games and festivals the compositions of
the older poets, and explained their doc
/ trines. ''Some oil these. founding schools
Of instruction were dignified by their pu-
pills, with the epithet Of Sophists, or teach
ers of wisdom Ty,ler's El Gen. His
p. Al The Ionic and Italic systems were
contemporary-B. C. 500. Thales found.
ed the Ionic system. Soon afterwards.
Pythagoras founded the Italic sect. In
my last an error occurred here in the date
Pythagoras should have been 500 years
before Christ, instead OF after. Socrates
exploded the futile logic of the Sophists.
400 years B. G. The Socratic school a .
rose from the Ionic. His theory was ex
planned in my last. The Platonic philos
ophv has had more extensive empire
over the minds Of mankind, than any 9TH
er ancient system OF philosophy. This
system of philosophy was opposed by the
Peripatetic. the Sceplic, the Stoice. and
the Epicure an sects.
next proceed to notice the Roman his
tory, continued from my last. The Ro-
man poets are next in order. Among the
most distinguished. We notice Lucretus,
| Virgil. Horace, Ovid and Fbullus. Vr.
gil held the same rank among the Romans
that Homer did among the Greeks. Ho
race excelled as lyric poet. Martial is
the last of the Roman poets who is entitled
to rank among the highest order.
In the early periods of Rome they had
little leisure for the cultivation OF physics
or natural philosophy. Unless agriculture
be regarded as connected with this science.
little was written upon it by them, except
Varro and the elder Pliny who devoted
much time to the observation Of nature
They were not distinguished for their
knowledge of the fine arts. until after the
conquest OF Greece, which introduced them
at once to splendor and magnifcence.-
This brought them to luxury and ease
They were fond of famusements-comba
Of gladiators-and with wild beasts The.
atrical entertainments were highly esteem.
ed. In the end of the republic pleasure
and amusement were the great objects Of
the Roman citizen. They sought no more
than "bread and games in the circus,''
In the early age of Rome their manners
were very different from those of the latter
times. A spirit of temperance and econ