, 1874-03-15

have the works Of those WHO have studied the
original authorities, and, among these, DR.. Ernst
Curtius, the latest is also generally conceded to
be one Of the most learned, and laborious, and
impartial, and reliable Of the historians Of
Greece. For the sake Of brevity, will refer
only to him edition, Charles 6c1ibner L. Co.,
New York, 1871). s.
D:. Curtius, describing tho relations Of tbs
different Greek States before pericles, snys:
| Each Commonwealth formed pcrfectly-sepcrate
body as against the sestso to speak, domestic e.
tablish7uent by ITSELF The citizens OF = ncighhoring
State were foreigners and strangers Matrimonial
connections between members Of different States were
legally Invalid, untesa special treaties had been cou-
Guided establishing relation Of tho kind. {His Biz.
8, Chap. l, VOL 2, p. coo).
But, though the laws did not recognize civil
marriage with a foreigner, the laws and customs
did not prohibit their living together aa husband
and wife. An acquaintance with these little-un-
derstood laws; and the customs growing cut Of
them, will mako it evident that Aspasia ras not
OF the class Of courtesans, as we use that term.
Periclcs' first marriage was with the divorced
| wife OF Hpponicus. The marriage WIS unfor-
tunate, and was dissolved; and, aftcr her SOC
ond divorce, tho xprnan married a third has-
band, and disappears from history. Aspasia was
q citizen Of Ionia o Greek State in Asia Minor.
But let us hear what Dr.. Curtius savB of her.
quote but few scntcnces:
Thus she cAne to Athens 1t ttme when every
| appeared to" be IN enlargement Of the limits Of
ancient usages n Atep forward, and
QUESTION, Was joyonsly welcomed. Nor 1t long
before It recognized that shs enchanted the souIs
lofty and rchly-cndowed nature with perfect sense
Of al that is tantfnl, md hes Harmonious and To-
citous deselo7rncnt For The first time, the treasures
OF Hellenic culture were foEud in the possession Of
wonan surrounded BY tae graces Of her woman
nr1aN Efrf 1rn4.aA
With eyes ot wonder. sho was nhls to courer"e
w:th M frscais:iD1e graes on politics. philosophy,
ans-eyen such men so-rstes-ouRht her out
In order 10 listen to her conversation. But
her real Importance for Athens began tho day when
she made tho aequantance Of Pericles and formed
with him connection OF mutual love for tho Asso-
c'aton into which rerIcles entered with her tor
life proves that 1t nns sensual love, passing
excitement upon which this connection was based It
WAS rel marriage, which only lacked the civil
tion because she WAS foreigner it Aisnce of
d;ssolved,-the endless Of donestic felicity
which no man needed more thnn the statesman Who
unecsEing,y engaged in the labor OF his life
Thus tbs fo.cuaof* woman Of her age lived in the
cety Of th: man whose superiority Of mind Ind placed
hl1n at the head Of tho first city of the Hellsnes in
loyal devotion to her friend and husband !; and, *
though the ock1ne SPIRITS at Athens eagerly tough.
out every b!aniEh which could ba discovered in th4
life Of Pcricles got calu1nny abba to vilfg
this rare union and to b1actan ita uhnory. {Htst.
Bk. 3, Ch. 3, Vol. 2, p. 50s.)
Any one wishing to pursue the subject will find
the original authprities amply referred to in DR..
Curtius work.
Peric1es was for fifteen years the sole head,
and for forty years the virtual head OF the lead
ing State OF antiquity, in its most brilliant, and
active, and eventful era Dr.. CllTtins' 200 pages
on this era are in the best style OF historical dis
QUESTION It would be Interesting, did space
permit, to repeat his personal porhaiture of
PeEiclcs how .t Tho features Of his count euance
announced thst he WIS hahituallv occupied with
lofty houshts: an involuntary feeling Of nwe
was inspired by the seriousness pervadins his
whole manner, and By the iuumovablo hrmness
and decisiveuess OF his personality" {VoI. 2, p.
484); but epace does not permit, and will by
your leave, quote few OF his concluding sen-
tence3:
the most faithful successor Of Ar!stidcs and the
great historian Of bin times fThucydides], who is st
of morality hns found himself able TO acquit Perices
he sought the real greatness Of Athens not in her ra'
&nd DOCKS but In the eminent intellectual culture At
his felow-ctizcns. Therefore, in making Athens tho
home Of all the higher tendencies Of generous enl
tu1e and securing ~ undisputed prc-euinence in tia
ideas Of solon. which the Psistrattdp had
s.abse4sently ru@rEqed @ x.ta So, 50 Pr Erst:ssorthy
deserved ination In short tho greatness of psrices
consists in his uniting in himself all the great and pro
aeTs r. asas @ Of I Fss m 5ehnsa ana tega
and fe greatness Of Athens for which be worked to
the last without allowing either good evil fortune
ined ~ him,-no idaa1 formed on. OF philosophic !
theIes,-but tho goal demanded BY the pasta goal
which Athena must reach os prove untrue tn to hesse
to assert that he pursued his task in lte |
wholly without thoughts Of sef hut no low craving.
pabse life nnd, In tho midst OF community dis |
traeted BY par:ies he never allowed himself to 10
tempted to an abuse OF powsr-
He aware that the true greatness Of epoch Is
not dependent tho time OF its endurance he knew
that ths realization OF the loftfest fdsai Of Hellenic
community in Athens would be possession forever to
his ctr and people. His eudeaFor effort Of
lofty darin but wsa at the Eme supported By
ss
life was crowned with immortal success Hist Bk.
ca. Il, Vol =, p. 8o3
To SAY that the days Of Pericles wero "tke
most corrupt days Of Greece" is easily aaid, but
existed is certainly true but :ho render cannot
fail to see that the corruption is found in the |
ranks OF the eueuies Of Paricles- Tbeso enc
mics of Pericles are thoroughly portrayed by
servahve party Of the old arietocrats, ~ho made
common cause against him with the new demo-
cratic party which had formed itself during the
years Of. peace lthe rabble Of Attica,
corresponding to what are in onr day
'anaticiE1n endeavored ceaseiessly to heighton
he i1l-feeling against him" Vol. s, D. 50). The
tpriest1y fanaficsm" :" hero spoken of, aud
Fhch, In ill ages and in nlf stAges OF clViiiza-
ion, has wonderful n,ly-likeness, publicly
Iccused Pe1iclea Of impiety in that he did not
g thev aiicEed, sufficiently reverence the old
,ods Of the Greek mythology.
And hera let me bring slngle sentence from
mother witness, whom no one will accuse Of
ignorance Ut the original authorities, or Of un-
Judgment, especially as to any
hing relating to English history: In his recent
rork on "Comparatire Politics. 20 work OF
,reat interest, and opening up q new mine fhis~
orical research,-a1r. E. 4. Freeman says;
onr (Engi.a1 national Hss has becn epread over !
400 years aud trust that 1t il still far from being
IN out. The real te Of Ashens Lasted at the Eoasl
or 100 years and yek thrro arc moments IN when
i that We ha7e By ths tolls Of 50 many genera.
ions seems Is II It would be felt to BE- but aEoau
ring bealde singh hour Of Psstclea- :
Your report contains also the following:
Mr. Bartlett said that tbs status Of Aspas;1 conid
ct be Represented by snppostng that Cnsres samntf
as President ct tho United St2tes md 1as stcsoe1a
should coma from England 70 be lis nta-
rass seductr4 him from his vile and children t
There is ~ much difference in the two caees i
s there is between 1874 L. D. and $50 3. G. II |
II. Bartlett should eonspfre and seek the de- j
truction Of sot1c Of his brother -ciergymen in |
Licago, or. say, rather, Of somo poor, innocent 4
eronfr;cs. and should endeavor to eTec. their u
recution BY the public hansman, 90 charge +
49,