Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1858-10-08

sbiea o'rE i bss<h hne aa ~ Gi,ss
> aisi tis5s sfd ~ 1saf sUlsAssgs Il
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mos, exalted and accomplished powers OF
eioqaence which have been possessed by
an5 human being! ~ sea ilel ts's'
= Neither ancient. nor modern history
presents a more remstksble history, In
which the consumse powers OF master
Spirit were called 'forth into complete and
successful operation on memorable oc-
casion. the Importance Of which was wor.
thy OF the exercise OF the highest Of hu-
man faculties. than the case OF Demosthe-
nes pleading with his countrymsn at this
critical crisis of their late, and urging
them TO union. to forritude and TO patriots
ism. al the risk OF endsngering is own
personal safety. his popularity, aud his
future interests through life. Let Us
brief. consider the details Of one Of
those extraordinary occasions. aud view
Demosthenes rs he appears 10 the scene
of his greatest glory. The crafty and am
birIous Phillip, having become the bitter
enemy OF Athens and having resolved 10
accomplish her ruin. has sent embassy
dors TO the city. commissioned by him TO
propose certisn insidious measures Of al
lance and amity. The citize MS are as
sem bIed for pulic deliberation in the large
and cspacious area known by the cpl het
OF the Pynx. capable OF holding ten thous
and persons. AT the extremity of this
space the lofty Bema. or rostrum. arose.
from which the orators of the republic
we're accustomed TO address the multitude
on questions OF national interest, This
rostrum was an eminsnce shaped like an
altar, hewn out Of the solid rock. beneath
the open heavens. On the right
OF this position. at no great distance. to
ward the far famed Acropolis. whose spa.
zinus summit was covered by the match.
less form OF the Parthenon. or temple Of
Minerva. the most magnificent edi6ce ev
er devoted to the mythology of Greece.
Near TO this &c iuence also appeared the
less aspiring Hill OF Mars, the same from
] which the sainted Paul. at later date.
proclaimed with nobler enthusiasm the
Curious mysteries OF a sublmer creed
In the distance the white cliffs which girt
the famous sea of SsIamis might be seen,
gliItering in the sun, at the base OF which
the persian hset OF a thousand sail had
once been vanquiShed by Alhenian valor.
In the tore ground. and close al band.
the beautiful proportions Of the temple oI
Theseus charmed the eye: while scat.
sered around. in apprrpriste and picturN
esque positions. might be observed other
architectural master pieces Of Pnydas
and Polycletus. adorned within by the
immortal works oi Praxiteles. Apelles amp
Z.uxis. To the left OF the fostrum were
seen the Gymnasium. where Socrates
taught: the groves Of the Academy
where Plato expuunded the doctrines Of
a philosophy which. for many centuries.
has enlightent the intellectual wurld;th
Por icoeS the Odeum Of Pericles; and
the stately temple OF the ol mpiau Joye
The palaces and private residences Of the
ci'Izens filled The tar extending streets on
every hand around making tue whole
circumference of the city of Cecrops
amount to many miles.
Before that rostrum, on the occasion
tn q ies'ion, were assembled an audience
sucn rs no other country on the globe
coud have produced. In the front, and
standing ut The very foot Of the stage,
we're prob"bIy the ambassadors Of the
bold aud trescherous Philip. who had
been sent u bribe. csjoIs and terri'y the
Athenlhns into submission to the will Of
their master Their fierce and defiant
looks are vsinly intended to intimidatr
the hostile orator. Moving 10 and fro
among The intelligent and witty crowd
might have beer observed the digni6ed
torn OF E Zines. an orator inferior in
ability Ani celebrity TO Dsmosthpnes
al"ne. But he has been secre,ly bribed
By the gold Of illip; and he now goes
abuut telling the criz.ns that D .mOsihe
nes urges them on TO war with the King
OF Macedou. only that he may rise TO su.
preme power ON the ruins Of the liberties
OF the republic. There, too, might bt
seen Ihe published aus the preceptOr ot
the orator OF the day timid and retiring
in his nature. unfit for the stormy cOntests
of The forum. but yielding e most ele-
giant and m+llrAu"us pen in Greece. He
gaz-s inIrntly upon the rostrum. and Is
eager TO see his f.yorite pupil ari Q. and
display his ~onderful powers on an occa
sIon 90 worthy their highest exercise =
There. too. doubtless. Was X.uxis. the
illustrious painter, attracted from his stu
dio bv The brilliant fame OF the orator ;
and Praxirelles. the most accomplished OF
seulptors, Who has deserted the unfinished
statute Of the Venus tnidus-a work
whose divine perfections. under the mod:
ern name OF the Venus de Medici. sIill
continue. after Ihs lapse Of many ages. %
charm and enchant the cultivated World ;
even it Praxi'eies has left behind him. TO
listen to the cousummate displays Of the
g,eat Ihetorician. Soldiers. generals.
statesmen. philosophers. and crowd oi
citizens. constitute the remainder Of The