The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1869-07-22
LYCURGUs AND sOLON AS LAwGIy-
ERS-No. B.
Translated from the German of schiller,
for.fhe Democratic Press.

people more beautiful,
and the ugly more hateful. 1t was in
deed fine artifice of the Lawgiver to
connect something festive and ridicu-
lous with the occurrences of danger,
and thereby deprive them of the fear
full. He proceeded still farther; in
war, hesrelaxed Somewhat of the Sc
we're discipline; the manner of living
was then more free, and transgressions
were punished with less severity. IT
therefore resulted that war to the
Spartans was only kind of recrea-
tion, and thak they rejoiced in it, as in
q joyful occasion and event. When
the enemy approached, the Spartan
King ordered the singing of the Cas-
torean hymn; the soldiers, to the
tones of the flute, advanced in closely
locked ranks, and, with the cheerful
notes of music. they, unterrified and
joyful, rushed into danger. 32
The plan of Lycurgus effected that
attachment to property should give
place to the attachment to country,
and that the minds of the people not
distracted by private cares should live
only for the State. For this reason
he regarded it good and necessary to
prevent his fellow citizens from shar-
ing in the ordinary empleyments of
life, and to compel foreigners to serve
in these, so that the cares of labor, or
the pleasures in domestic affairs might
never withdraw their minds from tile
interests of their country. Husband
fy and household labors were there
fore conducted by slaves, who, in
Sparta, were held in the same esteem
as their cattle. They were named
Helots, because Sparta's first slaves
had been inhabitants of Helos, city
in Laconia, whom they had vanquished
and captured as prisoners of war
From these, all other Spartan slaves
that were afterward taken in their
wars, derived the appelIation of He
lots.
Abominable was the use which the
Spartans made of these unfortunate
men. They were regarded as chat
tells, which the owners might employ
for political objects as they saw fit,
and humanity, in them, was Knocked
in manner truly revolving. In or
der to give the Spartan youth terri
bic picture Of intemperance in drinks,
these Helots were compelled to intox-
icate themselves, and, in this condi-
ton, they were exhibited as public
spectacle. They were also forced to
sing scandalous songs, and to dance
ridiculous dances, such as were pro-
hibited the free-born classes. jsiss
These slaves were employed for an
object still more inhuman. 1t was the
business of the State to put the cour-
age of its boldest youths to severe
test, and, by bloody preludes, to pre-
pare them for war. The Senate, at
appointed times, sent a certain num-
Der of these youths into the country !;
nothing was given them for this trip
except daggers and provisions. 1t
was enjoined upon them,. to keep
themselves concealed in the day time,
but, during the night, they issued forth
into the streets and slaughtered the
hn fa1I Sn4 I,n.,
This institution was named C,yptid,
or Am6uscdde; but whether Lycurgus
was the founder of the same, is yet
doubtful. 1t was at least the natural
result of his principles. As the Re-
public of Sparta was successful in its
wars, the number of these Helots in
creased until they became dangerous
to the republic itself, and also really
goaded to desperation and frenzy by
so barbarous treatment, they some
times excited revolt. The Senate en-
braced an inhuman resolution, which,
on account of necessity, they regard
cd as justifable. Under the pretext
of bestowing freedom upon them,
once during the Peloponnesian war,
twoathousand of the bravest Helots
were assembled together and, adorned
with garlands, were accompanied in
solemn procession to q temple. But
here they suddenly disappeared, and
NO one learned what had become ot
them. As for the rest, SO much il
certain, and became a proverb in
Greece, that the Spartan slaves were
the most unhappy of all slaves; Oh
the other hand the free citizens o.
Sparta were the most truly indepen
dent Of all citizens. Haaqss
While the latter were released from
all labors by the Helots, they spen
their whole lives in idleness ); tn,
youth exercised themselves in deed
of skill and warlike plays, and the o,t
men were the spectators and judge
at these games and exercises. 1t wa
a disgrace to an aged man to keel
himself aloof from the place wher
the youth were trained. In this wa,
it resulted that every Spartan live'
with the State; all achievements
became thereby public achievements
Under the eye of the nation youtl
ripene6 and old age withered. Un
ceasingly the Spartan had Sparta- be
fore his eyes, and Sparta ever watches
him. He was witness of all, and al
bore testimony of his life. The low
of fame kept up an ever-during ex
citement, the national spirit receive
an unceasing sustenance; the idea c
.fatherlaad and of patriotic Interest
grew together with the inmost life c
all her citizens. The public festival
afforded other occasions, to infiam
these motives and impulses; and sue
festivals were very numerous in i'd
Sparta. At these, warlike nation.
II ~. L 4 r.. Il.