Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1875-08-05
ATHENS, GREECE, |
June Doth. 1871. (

visit at Constantinople. OF course l met
Mr.. Maynard and family there, and en-
joyed my stay very much, 1 also met an
old roommate and friend, enjoyed the
Missionaries much. but l an now after a
pleasant voyage Of two nights and a day
in Athens where classic antiquity GEN.
tered. l am in a very fine Hotel, and
looking out Of my window across q square
filed with various trees, shrubs, flowers
and fountains. / see the X iDgs palace
Mt much more imposing than the "White
House at Washington, though it is nice
and comfortable enough for the king Of
SO small a State as Greece. This eve>
ming there was music in the square, and
the paved open space around was filed
with promenaders ofboth sexes. AS the.
twilight came on I strolled out and soon
found myself sitting by the columns which
;surrounded the magnificent temple of
Tbeseus. This temple was erected by
Cimon 40 b. c.. who lis said to have
o y cared at the battle Of Marathon and
aided his country in gaining that great
victory. Its simplicity is beautiful, its
massivcness is impressive land its antiquity
is aweinspiring. There are 10 marble
columns stained yellow with age, on each
side, and four at each end, leaving a COW
cred passage or porch allaround the bull"
ding. 1t is in quite. good condition.
As | sat there and looked over to my
right upon Mars Hill and further up the
Acropolls crowned by the beautiful ten,
pie of Parthenon, l saw one star shining
b-ightly,-a thousand thoughts rushed
upon me. In it before me where
now are bazaars and rude houses
and dirty Greeks, the ancient philoso.
pliers walked AMI talked. There Socrates
asked his questions. There also Paul
stood-and discussed greater questions, just
over to my right he went with the few
and climbed up that rock. 4 climbed up
the very same stone Stairway where the
Athenian Court, there in view Of the
whole city lying below him, and the
Acropolis temple and affairs above him
he preached that eloquent sermon where
he said pGod does not dwell in temples
made withhands'' &C., (see Acts 49,
As l saw the headless statues aud all
sorts of figures and forms craven on the
pieces Of marble scattered about,
thought Of the 18th verse. That was the
Athenians temptation. As L sat there
amusing, I could scarcely bring myself tc
realize that this was indeed the Athens
read Of in my school-boy days. Yet il
is-Everything except the modern city
forces me to believe it. These things
carry me back more than 1000 years. JUS
over the hill of Mars, is the very place
thete Demosthenes delivered those won
Aerful orations. ! have seen the pulpit
M H. a -. L
where hestood. II is hewn inthe rocl
Of the hill. aad the platform where tht
audience sat or stood is there just as o
old, although long unused. The Aero
polls is a very high, rocky hill Kissing "
over the city, almost perpendicularly il
some places, and the top is surrounded by
walls, and above all are the ruins of TIL,
beautiful Parthenon, and some smalle
temples. Apart Of it is in good preser
walton, although much of its richness ha
been carried away or destroyed. Their
are other smaller temples there which
cannot now describe, this was the chic
and il. was given to the worship of tn
virgin goddess, Minerva. It has sine
been used as a Christian Church and
Turkish Mosque. Os
JUNE SOL could not finish my lette
yesterday, SO / dc it to>day. This mol
mag before breakfast / walked dow
Hermes street and thence across by Eolt
street through the Bazaars,and the Agor
gate, which is composed of four Dor
columns Al feet ia diameter, 2S feet big
supporting q covering. This was the o
market. and dates from the time of Hadra
I'D century A. D. Thence climbed u
the hill passing the sAreopogus to Il
Puyx, and stood where Demosthen'
and Pericles often addressed the people
But l must tell you more Of the model
city. When l arrived here, | looked f
DIR. Kalopothakes, at one time supporte
as tie Missionary 81 the United Synod,
found also, Rev. Geo. w. Leyburn al
son Of Virginia, who have recently q
rived here to help the DR.. in his dificu
work amOng,the Greeks. The Greeks a
nominal Christians. and besides have
good degree Of culture, and are fond