The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-04-03


GrecianS, the most pre.eminent and
celebrated OF all tlationsp in the depart
ment OF letters. was it, thus they edu-
GATED the'youth OF the country? Was it
thus they stimulated happy develop.
ment of physical and mental powers; i'm
planting in tho mind heroic devotion and
loyalty to their native land, and instilled
those principles OF universal and entire
sacrifice of everything individual to the
good OF the State, which, beyond every
thing, was the predominant element in
their greatness and lasting renown?
Was it by sending them to dwell for
years under foreign sky, to breathe for
years foreign atmosphere, to hear q
foreign tongue, and become impregnated
with foreign sentiments, manners and
customs. that they preserved the national
honor, moulded the heroes who fought
at Plates, Marathon aud Salamis-made
philosophers, poets, warriors and states
men, and engraved such immortal names
on the annals of fame as Sophocles,
Xenophon, Lycurgus, Demosthenes,
Euripides, and numberless others?'.
but you forget, Mr.. Clnyburn, that
the Greeks were themselves foremost in
civilization, refinement, and intellectual
culture. Ae early as the time of Homer,
the language had already attained that
marvellous degree Of excellence. polished
beauty and perfection, which it is now
universally admitted to possess. In
Athens was the renowned academy, the
lyceum, where Aristotle taught, the
garden OF Epicurus, the museum. and
numerous other public and common
schools. The city, at the height of pros
perity and unrivaled in splendor, as the
centre of the cultivated world, the seat
of knowledge, civilization, literature and
the arts. And there, under eminent
teachers, originated that admirable eys-
tenn OF education, 80 we'll adapted to pro-
mote improvement in every branch of
human learning. There was evidently
nothing to be gained by sending the
Grecian youth abroad, except to enlarge
their attainments by travel, to acquire q
desirable acquaintance with other lands
and, by observation, to gain knowledge
Of the useful or curious, as developed in
the arts and sciences of other nations
But the Roman youth, who did not dis
dain to profit by the superior cultivation
of the Athenians and their advan cement
in civil and religious instruction, were
many of them sent to Athens to he edu-
Gated. Horace studied at the academy,
and imbibed the philosophy of the Epi.
cureans-so did Ovid, also. Even Virgil
visited Athens. and was early initiated
into Grecian philosophy; Parthenius in
structed him in the literature of the
Greeks. So, as the youth of other
nations came to Athens for instruction,
as q matter of course, the Athenians did
not go abroad for that, which they could
obtain in its highest perfection ut home.
America, young and vigorous, with
splendid elements of strength and unde-
veloped powers, may be called the
modern Rome; but Europe, superior in
the accumulated refinements, improve
ments. intellectual wealth and erudition
of centuries, holds the supremacy in the
realm of letters-the glorious Athens of
literature, matchless and involved in in
tellectual beauty and magnifcence.
"Pshaw!" exclaimed Mr.. Clayburn,
superior in artificial gloss and luxurious
refinement, I grant. and in that alone;
for If ever in modern times, the disinte-
rested patriotism, heroic courage and
chivalrio grandeur of q Roman or q
Grecian age, is to be eclipsed, it will be
on American soil, under an American
sky, in tho noble cause of iberty-and
not by the down-trodden minions OF
European tyranny and oppression. But
aOAo ooA S5ouCAu !" uSt CSdS6 1OE Lut
present. see we are at your door, and
here is my old friend Rawleigh."
''Dr. Rawleigh had already quilted his
seat on the shaded porch, and was hob
bling out to the vehicle to greet it's in
mates. He was q jolly, rotund, red
faced individual, who looked as if he
might be afflicted with the dropsy.
While the elderly gentlemen were en-
gagged in profound disputation on the
subject of the crops. the state of the
country and the political aspects of the
times. Mr.. Lyle turned to Juliet, with the
question
"And do you share, Miss Clay burn, in
your fathers invincible antipathy to
everything un-American?"
"Not at all, was the reply; son the
contrary, I am predisposed to the other
extreme. which think equally culpable.
| find myself continually prone to attach a
higher degree of excellence to everything
which comes from abroad, to the detri-
ment of everything American. For in
stance, like genuine Lancashire cali
CO better than an American print-I like
silks from Lyons; Grape from Bologna;
perfun,ery, distilled waters, essences, tot
la r