The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1867-01-23
Eitr LIZ n nIa 1asreaca

tfaa / tile choice OF tnIe and place REeFei
TO spend the term OF existence, consideration
OF reilYlon apart, | would without hesitation
elect to be an Athenian in the age of Pericles
for such a man led life the plan of wlcI
was exquisitely tempered with good sense, re
hnement and simplicity He knew nothing G
the passions that agitate the modern yotary 0
fashion, who is forever jostling amidst an end
less throng Of competitors towards common
center. He resided among the frienus Of hi
childhood; among people who had watched
him, his virtues, and his fobles, from hi
youth up. He had none of our temptation
towards assumption, insolence, and extrava
gance. 1t was idle to attempt to impose upoi
folks who knew his income to a drachm. |
he asplred to cut dash by setting up a seconc
chariot, or treating his friends TO China wine
grown in the year Of the earthquake, he wa
aware that all his fathers cronies were shak
ing their heads, and wondering how long Ar
istippus, the son of Pasas, would take abou
going to the crows; (for these ll-omened bird:
answered to what are called 'the dogs" il,
English metaphorical history) If he hap.
pcned to be short lighted when an old school
fellow passed him in the streets, he was aware
that at all the dinner-tables of the evening,
men would be wondering how the grand ne
phew OF Cteslppus, the process server, could
venture to give himself such high and mighty
airs. If he felt any aspirations towards a po-
litical career, he would think twice when he
saw on the front bench of his audience those
very contemporaries on whose backs, a few
years before. he had been hoisted three times
a week for bis mistakes in grammar and arith-
metic. And so ii was that society then had a
less constrained and artificial aspect than it
has ever worn in times past. Men talked for
amusement and instruction, rather than for
display. They lived with those whom they
liked, not with those whom they feared Their
festivities and social gatherings were not spe-
claI and extraordinary occasions, but formed
an integral part of their every day existence
They did not dine an hour and half later
than was pleasant, and sit up five hours later
than was wholesome. They did not suffer
themselves to be hustled up stairs by the la
dies of their family a little before midnight to
dress for ball where they would have no
space to dance. They did not get together to
settle the affairs of the nation in badly ven
tllated Senate house at an hour when all hon
est men should be in brd--at an hour when,
if we are to believe certain fictions, all honest
men are in bed. The Athenian rose early;
and, after performing very primitive toilette,
repaired forthwith to the market place, to lear
the news, TO transact his business, and to make
his purchases for the day. If he proposed to
his friends in the evening" there was
no time to be lost BY seven o'clock in the
morning the plumpest Of the blackbirLs, the
whtest Of the celery and the frmest of the
great eels from the Thcban stevponds would
nave been bought up; and he would have been
orced to content himself with a string lean
and a cuttIc-fSh whose freshness
night be called in question. Perhaps, while
ne was engaged IN beating down the purveyor
re might hear behind him a certain rush of
people; and looking around would see two
5cythan policemen epng the square with
| rope besmeared with red chalk. Then he
would know that general assembly was to be !
leId for the despatch of business, and would !
lurry off to secure good place. And there .
re would sit, as an old Athenian describes
himself, grooming, stretching, yawning, scratch .
ne his head, jottng down notes, and waiting
or the appearance of the President and the
TO open the meeting. And pres
nty, after sufficiently long interval, the
ommittee would come bustliny in; ueading
n each others toes, and jostIing for a good
lace: trying to look as if it was they who had
cen kept waiting by the audience for human
allure is materially the same, whether on the
latorm Of Exeter Hall, OF round the tribune
the Athenian assembly. And thcreupon
re crier would proclaim: "Who wishes to
peak about the Spartan treaty?" and the call
ouId be for ''PcrIcIes," and the Prime MIN
ter would rise, with his right hand thrust in
} his bosom, and something would be said
hlch is still worth the reading. And, when
1bIlc business was concluded, after light
reakfast, our citizen would return to his shop
his counting house, until the first afte,noon;
i'd then he would saunter down 10 his favor
: gymnasium, and thence to his bath; for
e old Greek did indeed regard his body as
cred vessel. which he was bound to keep !
can, fair, and fit for use, and would as soon
I'VE neglected his daily meal as his daily cx-
else. Macmiilan's MapaziDe.
ARTEMUs Wards TuRAsn1Ne MACHINE