The Portland daily press., 1866-12-13


The third of the course of lectures under the
auspices of the Young Mems Christian Associ-
alton, was delivered last evening at the Gem
lral Church, by Rev. DIR. Stockbridge The
lecturer gave pleasant and familiar account
OF weeks sightseeing in Athens l.a,
The lecture commences with an allusion to
the early wishes of the scholar that he NAV
have an opportunity to visit lands, and walk
AMID scenes made memorable in the pages of
classic story. This is followed by brief sketch
OF the ocean voyage and the sail up the Medi-
terranean-the landing in Messina Sicily, and
the incidents connected with the embark kation
on board the French steamer, and on the voy-
age from Sicily to Greece. The day of LANDING
at the harbor- of Athens eorresponded with
our Fourth of July in the national life of
Greece a description is given of what fell un-
der the observation of the lecturer on this fss-
tive day. The day after the arrival in Athens
was devoted to making geyeral observations,
and getting cursory views of the city. The
second day was spent in visiting the Acropolis
and several hours were given to that most in
terestlng spot in the examination of the ruins
of the Parthenon, and the other sacred edifices
which adorned the celebrated hin of Athens
Then 'Areopagus,' or the Ii i'll of Mars" was
visited, and the imagination was left to conjure
up the scene which met the eye of st Paul to
which allusion is made in the 18th chapter of
Acts. The "PnyX," the "Bema" or rostrrm
WHICH, SIOOu Wlen ne address,
ed his fellow citizens, the Prison of Socrates
each was examined. This was succeeded by a
ramble to the famous temple of Theseus and a
survey OF the curious and interesting relics of
antiquity which have been gathered within its
walls. The whole day was an exciting, toll
some, but most instructive one. The third
day, which was the Sabbath was spent in at
tendance on the services of the Greek Church,
and at the English Chapel, where our own
| countryman, Rev. DIR. Hill, is Chaplain The
fourth day was spent in quiet walks about the
city, ram6le through the beautiful grounds
OF the Royal Palace, and a visit to the photo-
graphic studio of one of the best artists in Ath-
ems, from whose large collection of views were
selected quite a number of pictures of ruins,
etc, in the city. The fifth day was devoted to
an excursion to Eleusis, not far from twenty
miles from Athens. An amusing extract was
gwen by the lecturer from one of the late Pres
Felton's letters, in which he speaks of his own
experience in returning from Eleusis to Ath-
ems. The sixth day was passed in Athens
The school of DIR. and Mrs. Hill was visited,
the river Ilyssns was crossed, and a solitary
walk taken over the site of the old Stadium, or
race ground of ancient Greece, the hill back of
the Stadium climbed, and fine views obtained
OF the city and its surroundings. The last day
was busy one. 1t was the day before Good
Friday" and the whole population was astir
making preparations for the celebration of the
holiday An excellent opportunity was afford
ed to see the people as they crowded the streets,
and hurried from shop tosshop to procure such
articles as they needed for the celebration of
one OF their most sacred days. . r.i 81
The audience was rather larger than on pre-
vious occasions, and listened with undivided
attention. .s ar1-I.5 '..s- f,,, ui
The next lecture will be delivered next
Wednesday evening, at the Chestnut Street
church, by Prof Agassiz uc