The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1869-05-20
LYCURGUs AND sOLoN AS LAW
GTyERS-go. q.


GIyERS-No. 2.
Translated from the German Of SchilIer
Who would now steal, or permi
himself to be bribed, or would strug
gle to hoard up riches, when the littl,
gain could neither be concealed MOI
enjoyed?
1t was not enough that Lycurgus
by these means, should deprive hil
fellowscitizens of the resources fol
luxury-he removed from the eyes oi
the same all those objects which might
possibly allure them to il. No foreign
merchant could use Sparta's iron mon.
ey, and Spartans had none other to
pay him. ALI artists who labored' foT
luxury, now disappeared from Laco-
mia; no foreign ship appeared any
longer in her harbors no adventurer
exhibited himself after this, to seek
his fortune in this land no merchant
came to levy contributions upon yam
ity and pleasure, since he could carry
away with himself nothing else than
iron money, which would be worth
less In all other countries. Luxury
now ceased, because there was no one
here that could support ii.
Lycurgus labored still in another
manner TO counteract luxury. He Or
dained that all the citizens should par-
take of their meals in common at one
public place; and the same should all
share with one another the same pre-
scribed articles of food. None were
allowed to use delicacies at homo, or,
by their own cooks to prepare for
themselves costly dishes at home
Every man was bound to give monthly
o certain sum of means of life at the
public meal time, and, for this, he re-
ceiyed provisions from the state. Fif-
teen scotnnonIys ate together at one
table, and each messmate was obliged
to have for himself all the other votes
in order to be received at the table,
No one dared to stay away without
valid excuse. This ordinance was OBJ
served so strictly that even Agis, one
of the succeeding kings, as he returned
to Sparta from a war gloriously wag-
ed, and requested the privilege of din
ing alone with his wife, received from
the Ephori a negative answer. Among
the dishes of the Spartans was the
celebrated black soup; mess to the
praise Of which it was said, that the
Spartans were compelled to be brave.
because it would not be SO great an
evil to die as to eat black soup. They
seasoned The meal time with pleasures
and jokes, since Lycurgus was SO
warm friend to the social joys that
he erected an altar in his own house
to the god of laughter.
Through the Introduction of the
practice of partaking their food in
common, Lycurgus gained very much
for his main design. All luxury in
costly table utensils now ceased, be-
cause no use could be made of them
Of the public tables. A stop was put
forever to banquetting; healthful and
strong bodies were the results of this
temperance and order, and healthy
fathers could become parents of strong
children for the benefit of the state.-
The practice Of. .partaking their food
in common accustomed the citizens to
live with one another and to regard
themselves as members Of. the same
political body, without rejecting that
. manner of life so similar must tend
to influence q like disposition of
mind.
Another law ordained that no house
should have any other roof than
what could be wrought with an axe,
and nos other door than that which
. saw alone could fashion. In so
rude house no one would be in
clined to procure for it costly farni-
ture. Each part must harmonic with
the whole. Lycurgus well compre-
hended that it was not sufficient mere
ly to provide laws for his fellow-citi-
zens he must provide citizens for the
laws. He must secure eternity to his
laws in the minds of bis Spartans; he
must in these efface the susceptibility
for foreign impressions.
The most important section of his
enactment of laws related to educa-
cation, and, through this, he closed, as
it were, the orbit in which the Spar
tan state must reyolve around its CEN
ter. Education was an important
work of the state; and the state
continual work of this education.
His concern for the children ex-
tended even to the sources of their
origin. The physical constitutions of
the girls were strengthened by bodily
exercise, in order that they might be
ablet to bear strong, healthy children.
They even went very poorly clothed,
so that they might easily endure the
severe yicissitudes of the weather.
The bridegroom must steal the bride,
and he ventured to visit her stealthily
only by night. BY this arrangement
both remained during the early years
Of Wedlock foreign to each other, and
love continued ever new and vivid
All jealousy even was banished from
the married state. Everything, even
to saodesty, was subordinated to the
state by the lGw-giver. Thus he sac
rinced female fidelity in order to gain
healthful children to the state.
So soon as the child was, born, it be-
longed to the state; father and mother
had lost it. It was examined by the
elders; if it was strong and WELL.
formed, it was delivered TO nurse !;
If It was weakly and deformed, it was
thrown into a chasm in Mount Tay-
gefus.