Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1859-04-09

A VIsrr TO AruExs-A fairer day never saw,
not in America while after hurried breakfast
and with excited imaginations We FASTENED to the
ruins of Athens. On that bold rock before US Was
once seated the grandeur Of the City Of Mncrva-
the Acropolis- within whose bounds stood the mag.
nificent Parthenon and the Pandroseum, besides
many Of those buildings with which Pericles 70
beautifcd his city. Il was for this point We were
hurrying; but stay, how can We pass these beauti.
full columns: How grand! On inquiring Of our
guide, he informs Is in long singsong narrative,
(which makes me so angry) that they arc supposed
ter Olympus-ft emblems Of its fallen grandeur;
and was here that the gold and ivory statue Of the
god was, where these novels, was once the temple
Of Jupiter. 1t is 70, for all along our route
the huts of the squatters built OF stone from the
ruins and am told that when farmer wants to
wall his land he has but to 90 the ruins where he
finds the blocks already hewn Aflcr little scram-
bling over broken pedcstals and scattered capitals
we found ourselves in the presence Of the Psrthc.
non; and it was not till now that its grandeur and
extent became visible. All around us lay its sculp-
tured stones while above lowered its splendid col.
umns Tearing ourselves from this absorbing scene
for = moment, We gazcd around us-we were in the
centre Of lovely, fertile plain encircled by range
Of blue mountains. On the ono side lay the strag-
Cling remains Of ancient grandeur; while on the
other modern Athens See the iatc Of cities! Like
that Of man, they made Of dust; they flourish
to dust they return. A few whitening lines alone
now mark the site Of the pride Of Pericles
But to the Parthenon again; this temple Was
dedicated to Minerva but was destroyed in the ruins
Of the city by the Persans. Pcricles, Ito whom We
owe that encouragement Of art before unknown) in
~ b C., rebuilt it in most noble manner, a. its
remains now declare. It Was in this temple that
Phidias's renowned ivory statue Of the goidess
stood; it was forty-six feet high, and cost about
$576OO This rock of the Acropolis il one perfect
mass Of ruins-ruins, too, that will cope with any
in the word, Egypt not excepted There are grow.
ing on this field Of stone few scattered olive trees
which were one of the emblems Of Minerva. Atts
spending many hours among these interesting 70.
mains, we descended to the Capapolis which il now
occupied by the site Of modern Athens. There
were many wonderful buildings in this part Of The
ancient city, but they are now almost entirely oblt
Grated 1t was in this part Of the city that the
most magnificent ediice Of the Grecians was situat
ed refer to the temple Of Jupiter Olympus whoss
remains have before referred to. Here, too, wcrS
those schools in which the philosophers used Il
teach their scholars not dismal prisons but beauti
full gardens, where were expounded the most mag
ni6cent theories Of the world Athens fulfls Il
my expectations with the exception that did no
find Is many scuptured stones and frescocs a. hat
before imagined; these suppose have been takes
by greedy collectors, and il would be hard to say
they are not now at better purposes than 70 b Dc
filed are made stone walls Of The sun Is alread1
tinting the Partenon with its varied hucs, and
must close this very unintsressing letter On yer,
interesting subject