Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-06-15

ATHENS AS 1T IS.-The New York Indepen
dent publishes letter from Athens by DR.
Newman Hall, in which We fnd few running
comments on the classic capital Of Greece as il
strikes tourist OF to-day; ..-
"We landed in tho harbor OF Pireus, or
Monday, the llth Of May. The scene wa:
dreadfutly like what we seq at any third ra tt
European or American port. There wasnoth
log whatever to remind us of its ancient fame.
After prosaic fuss over baggage and dreary
waiting at the railway depot, the train started
for Athens, about four miles distant. In few
minutes all disappointment ceased. Close on
our right, where we stopped, was the Temple
OF 1he5eus, IN all It's exquisite proportions,
tinted with tae penciliof more than twenty Gen.
turies, its noble peristyle complete, not one of
the columns which at first surrounded it mis-
sing, and many of scu ptured metopes still in
their places. This IS one Of the most ancient
and most perfect specimens of the Doric temple
existing and, though it is small, yet its pre-
portions are so perfect that the only impression
is one OF quiet majesty. There are six columns
in the portico at eacls end, and thirteen along
the side, reckoning the corner column twice.
But we could only glance at this temple; for
just above rose the Acropolis 10 msjestic beau
ty crowned with the ruins of the Parthenon.
"A few minutes suficed at the hotel for
personal arrangements, and then We hasteDed
to inspect this rock Of wonderful memories
and wonderful relics. Our route was past the
beyond which We suddenly came upon the re-
mains OF the majestic temple of Olym plan
Jove. Sixteen of its Corinthian columns
stand together in an imposing cluster, They
are OF the purest white marble, though now
eoquentIy stained by age. They are six feet
10 diameter and 6tty-seVen feet high. One
has recently fallen. [ measured the capital,
which is eight feet square at the top, yet, as
they stand, each is so light and elegant that
you might suppose only one man instead OF
twelve could stand on the top. just below 1t
vas narrow stream, running unders very
modern bridge 1t was the 1Iyssus. Beyond
il rose lofty mountain range, apparently
about six miles distant. 1t was Hymettus.
Now we turned toward the AcropoIls. %
the side of the rock we saw the theatre OF
Dionvsius, it's seats cut in the rock. We went
on TO the vast ruins of the theatre OF Herod,
also partially cut in the side of the AcrOpoIlS.
We mounted at the back of it, and by a
wooden gate, Kept by a soldier, who guards
the spot from injury, We entered the sacred
precincts. was overwhelmed with the glory
OF the Propyle its lofty and broad flight OF
marble steps its grand pillars and the remains
of its beautiful sculpture On our right was
the elegant little Temple of Victory. Vast
blocks of marble lay about in wild contuslon'
obstructing yet making most picturesque TINS
sublime entrance to the most sublime shrlne
of the heather world Some OF the blocks OF
marble in the architrave OF the entrance are
twenty feet in length.
ION passing the portal the Parthenon ap-
nears, little to the right, so that it shows not
onlv its mighty front, b ut its sde in glorious
perspectiye of columns L need not detail its
features--tbe eight columns of its portico, sc
grand 10 their Doric simplicity the noble frae
ments of sculpture and skill remaining In It's
frieze: the perfection Of combined beauty anC
simplicity which all the ravages OF war and al
the cannon. balls lying about among the ruins
have failed to obliterate. 10 the centre OF tht
rocky platform and at the side OF the templ
rose the gigantic bronze image of Minerva
whose gittering helmet scared above every
other object and was seen from PlIHus ant
Salamis, aud far off at sea. On our lett Wer
the remains of an lonictemple, the Erectheun
with its Carytides supporting one OF It's portl
cos. We looked down over the parapet upol
modern Athens-a clean, pleasant, town
about forty thousand iahcbitants. Every mo
ment of our time has been we'll occupied ii
gazing upon and sketchlng these ana otnes OF
;ects Of interest.
I'VE have been in the cavern prison OF Sot
rates. We have stood on the rock Bema {
rostrum, where Demoslhenes used to addres
the great assembly of the citizens. We haV
been fascinated while contemplating the rem
pants of the great wall which surrourded, tn
place of meeting, built in CSslopean style, !,
blocks OF stone eight and ten feet square qua w
have sat and meditated on Mars hill, @nel
PauI nreached to the men of Athens, look'f
IN direct on the Acrcpois, from which it
distant only about two hundred yards. It's
rock about sixty feet high, its surface 10
natural state, With ancient steps cut IN It,
can only add that my anticpations OF Athe
are far surpassed.
THE FAMILY OF DICKENS. .-Mrs CharI
Dickens survives her husband. She has Nv
apart from him ever since their untortuna
1oSe nIcl-,Ds had hllrl