The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-01-24

their moral elevation or depression.
But the old Greeks were wonderful pco-
pie, the most wonderful we have ever had on
this earth. Their thoughts and ideas still
mould the intelects of the world They
were skilful politicians, marvellous archi-
tccts, the greatest sculptOrs OF all times,
rare logcans, astuto diplomatists, subtle
dialecticians, poets of cloudlcss vision, brave
in war and powerful in peace restless agi-
tators, and enterprising merchants. They
had the most perfect Of languages,
and Athens, their chief city, was the intel
lectual centre Of the world. Even Brooklyn
with its Plymouth Church bears no sort of
comparison with that active Grccian cap
ital. Even BEEcHER and Brother SHEAR
MAN are not more eloquent or better vcrscd
in law than those old Crooks, DEMOS
THEMES and PERIcLEs; and in all Brooklyn
there is no finer architecture than there was
in Athens. We should have to hunt long to
match such Greeks ~ PLATO, EsCHYLUs,
EURIPIDEs, HOMER, and SOCRATES.
As TO SOCRATES being kicked out Of our
churches, II might be DONE but the churches
would make mistake II they did 1t, for
SOCRATES was very good, a very conscicn-
tious, u very able and a very wise man.
He was one Of those men whom nobodys
kicking, not oven BEEcHER's or Brother
SHEARMAN's, could hurt. Sometimes the
thing against which you kick may be so
strong and hard that you bruse your foot,
but make no sort Of impression on the thing
kicked. We very much doubt, II BEEcHER
had met SOCRATES, whether he would have
kicked him. He wasn't the kind of man n
fellow like BEECHEE would presume to kick
We don't believe that If SOCRATES was
among us he would join Plymouth Church.
OF course he was not n Christian. He lived
before CHlusr's day-ncarly five hundred
years before. But he had many ideas not
very different from those taught by CHRIST,
aud he was a man who tried hard to do his
duty, and one who does that Is not very far
on from being Christian, though he may
not be so called. SOCRATES had some no.
tions about religion and politics which dis
pleased his fellow Greeks. They attributed
bad motives to him, as people often do to
those who find fault with the humbugs Of
the day, or who are east in a larger mould
than they. SOCRATES was "a very proud
man, and he disdaincd to parry words with
the reptiles Of society. When i'm his old age,
after hlamclc-s life. he was brought M for
trial as hereto and a corruptcr of cligion.
SOCRATES carried himself haughtily, and
doubtless felt great contempt for his cnyiou-
or jealous accu-ers. This old man must
have curlcd his lip when petty fellows
charged him with impioty. when Lyon and
MELETUs, and the miserable dcmagoguc.
ANYTUs, said he wor-hippcd a demon I'M
known TO the Greek mythology. lie did
worship something unknown to these YER
min, as all men do who honor truth and
hate iniquity. The operations Of a great
and free mind are not comprehensive by
small men.
Well, SOCRATES was condemned TO death.
1t IS crcditable TO the Greeks that in a tribu-
nal of five hundred and sixty-seven NOM
bcrs only a majority Of five or six could be
got against him. lie was cast into prison.
and chains We're put on his legs, but he pre-
served his cQuauiintv. and talked with his
friends upon themes suitable for the thought
of a man on the verge ~ death who is de-
voted to truth and fertile in idcl-. The pie
! turo ct that old imam = lIic IN the Crock
| prison Is one Of the most impressive in his
tory; and though BEEcHER might kick him
out of Plymouth Church, he cant kick Soc
RATES out OF the small number of the world =
great men, who have been faithful to
their convictions even unto death. SOCRATES
took the ground that the law was SUI
| prone. aud that no man should rchcl against
/ it even if IL WAS unjust in its admini-tra-
| tion; that a co.'s picuou- sacrifice in it, bc-
half was the bet way Of drawing attention
to its defects. lie was a very logical and
! proud old man, SOCRATES.
if eyer there Wa. IL man who would have
been cXcusablc for getting into u TlLroN
scrapc it was SOCRATES. His wife, named
AANrHPPE, was u very di,agre'able woman.
She hully-mggrd him continually. We shall
not abuse XANrHuIE, however for doubt
less she had virtues. man like SOCRATES
Is not sure to make satisfactory husband.
He may bo poor prOvider, and when
he should be thinking Of practical things
his wits may bo wool-gathcrng. Many
great men Of the typo OF SOCRATES have
failed to make their wives happy. SHAKES
| lrARE and MlLrON We're never 80 highly re-
girdcd ia the domestic circle as in the world
Of mind. Doubtless SOCRATES was n most
agGrayating husband 10 such woman as
NANTHIppE. lie wouldn't do the things
which other men did. and he dressed in Il
careless way, fol only on coarse fare and
went about barefoot. Women like to see the
convcntionalites of life respected, for they
have even moro TO do in the making Of them
than men, We do not blame them. They
are right A man should give his
first care to providing suitably ful
his wife aud children, else h. should stay
unmarried. SOCRATES was wise man, hut