The weekly Panola star. [volume] (Panola, Miss.) 1857-1881, 1871-03-18

theft was encouraged, and even au.
thorifcd by law, and by The consent
" the clfiyeps. and ilia woA ihcr
stealing herbs ~ roots i,rm ihe glr
dens and public baths but if they
were caught in the act, they were
punished for want Of dextenty.--
The design Of the Spartan legislator,
in allowing this practice, was to in
spire the Spartan youths, who were
designed for war, with a view to
self defence, and to extent Of domin-
ion; wit, boldness, subtlety, and adj
dress; to inure them betimc to the
life OF q soldier; TO teach them TO live
upon a little, an1 to be able to shift
for themselves. Corpulcncy incur
red public contempt, and sometimes
banishment. Magnificent scpulchres
were forbidden; nor was the plain.
est, or most modest inscription per-
mitted, except for such as were slain
in battle, or for women who had de-
voted themselves to a religious life.
Tears, sighs and outcries were not
permitted in public, because they
dishonored Spartans, who ought to
bear all things with equanimity.-
Graves were allowed in the city, and
they buried close to the temples,
that all people might be familiar with
death, and not conceive it a thing
dreadful in itself, nor that dead bodies
defiled the living. Colibacy was re-
garded in men as Infamous, and pun
ished by various tokens of contempt.
If a man did not marry when at full
age, he was liable to an action; as
also were those who married above
or below themselves. Snch as had
three children had certain immune
ties, and those who had four were
free from all taxes. Virgins were
married without portions; and hus-
bands were allowed to beat theiI
wives. The men of Sparta were dis.
tinguished for their virtue, but the
Spartan women for their b ldness.--
Lycurgus would not let al sorts o.
persons travel, lest they should bring
home foreign manners, and return
infected with the licentlous customt
of other countries.
A soldier was the only reputable
profession in Sparta a mechanic Of
husbandman was looked upon with
contempt. A soldier was never to
fly, or to turn his back upon his enc
mics, however superior in numbers
or to quit his post; or to deliver up
his arms,-in a word, either to con.
qucr or die. A Spartan mother
hearing that her son was killed in
battle, lighting for his country, as.
swered, coldly, 81 brought him to
the world for no other purpose
After forty years service, man was
by law no longer required to 60 into
the field; and consequently, If the
military age was thirty years for
this was the period, It is supposed,
at which they entered into the SER
vice Of their country, the Spartans
were not held inyalids till they were
seventy. Apretty period of life for
soldier to retire from the arduous
career Of a warrior, and to receive
his halfpay! Drunkenness was reck-
oncd Infamous among them, and
punished; and that young men
might conceive the greater abhor-
renee Of this species of debauchery,
the slaves were compelled to drink
to excess, that the beastliness of the
vice might appear When they
retired from the public meals, they
were not allowed any torches Of
lights, because it was expected that
men who were perfectly sober
should be able to find their way in
the dark; besides, this practice gave
them facility in marching without
light,a quality very useful TO them in
time ofwar. As,to dress, there was no
distinction between tho rich and
poor. The garments were made for
use and not for show; and they were
taught betimes to distinguish them
selves by their virtues, rather than
by robes. Boys were always used to
60 without shoes, nor were they
permitted to cut or trim their hair.
Bankers were not allowed, and In
terest was also forbidden in the
Commonwealth. "A writer has OBJ
served, with respect to Lycurgus,
"That thE Legislator ordained that
the magistrates should not be ap-
pointed by lot, but elected by sufra-
ges. lie deprived riches Of the in
fiuences and respect annexed to them
and divested even love Of jealousy
It has likewise been observed, "That'