The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-12-03
TIE SPARTAES.
The Most Strangely Governed Of the Ancient
Peoples.

TIE SPAhIANS.
The Most Strangely Governed Of the Ancient
Peoples.
Among the Spartaus o ne kind OF theft
was encouraged, and even authorized
by the law, and by the consent OF the
citizens; and this was their stealing
herbs or roots from the gardens and pub
lie baths; but ii they were caught in the
act, they were punished for want OF dex.
terity. The design Of the Spartan legis-
lator, in allowing this practice, was to
inspire the Spartan youths, who were
esigned for war, with O view to SELF
defence, and to extent OF dominion; wit,
ooldness, subtlety, and address; TO iu-
ure them betimes TO the life of soldier !;
to teach them to live upon little, and
to be able to shift for themselves.
COrpulency incurred pubic contempt,
and sometimes banishment. Magn f.
cent sepu.chres were forbidden; nor
was the plainest, or most modest in
scripton permitted, except for such as
were slain in battle, or for women who
had devoted themselves to religious
lite. Tears, signs, 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
hey buried close to the temples,
that all people might be
familiar with death, and not conceive it
as u thing dreadful in itself, or that dead
bodies dedled the living.
Celibacy was regarded in men as in
| famous, and punished by various tokens
| OF contempt. Ii q man did not marry
when at full age, he was liable to al
action; as those also were VINO married
above or below themselves. such as
had three children ha0 certain mmuni-
| ties, and those who had four were free
| from all taxes. Virgins were married
without PORTIONS; and husbands were
| allowed TO beat their wives. The men
| OF Sparta were distinguished for their
virtue, but the Spartan women tor their
boldness. Lycurgus would not allow
| all sorts of persons 10 travel, lest they
| should bring home foreign manner, ana
return infected with The licentious Gus
toms Of other countries.
! A soldier was the only reputable pro.
| fession in Sparta; a mechanic or nus.
| bandmau was looked upon with con-
tempt, A soldier WAS never to fly or to
turn his back upon his enemies, how
| ever superior in number; or to quit his
post: or 10 deliver up his arms; in a
word, either to conquer or die. A spar.
tan mother hearing that her son was
! killed in battle (fignting for his coun-
try !, answered coldly:
ii brought HIM into 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 Lor this was the
| period, it 10 supposed. at which they en-.
/ hn nj nfry
the Spartans were Dot held tnvalids till
they were seventy. A pretty period Of
! lie for a soldier to retire from the ar.
duous career Of warrior, and to re-
| ceiVe his haIf-pay!
| Drunkenness was considered infam-
! Gus among them, and punished; and that
| Young men might conceive the greater
abnorreuce OF this species Of debauch-
ery, the slaves were compelled to drink
| to excess, that the beasLAness of TIL g
vice might appear. When they retired
from The public meals, they were not al
| lowed any torcnes or lights. because it
WAS expected that men VINO We're per.
| iecily sober should be able TO tiud their
| way in The dark; beside, this practice
| gave them a facility OF marching without
light, a quality very useful to them IN
time OF war.
AS to dress, there was no distinc ton
! between the rich and poor. Their gar.
ments were made for use and not ior
| show; and they were taught betimes TO
istinguIsh themselves by their virtues
rather Than by their robes. Boys were
alwayo used 10 go without shoes nor were
they permitted TO cut OF trim their hair.
Bankers were not allowed. and interest
was also forbidden in the Spartan COM
| menwealth.
| A writer has observed with respect to
| Lycurgus, "That this legislator Or
| dained that the magistrates should not
be appointed by lot, but elected by SUI
trages. lie deprived riches OF the tnfiu-
ence and respect ana6xed to them, and
dIyested even love Of Jealousy" III has
likewise been observed, "Tnat the main
design Of Lycurgus, in the establish.
mept OF his laws, and especially Of that
which prohibited the use of gold and
silver, was 10 curb and restrain the am.
bition of his citizens, to disable them
from making conquests, and in u manner
| to force them 10 c0nhne themselves
within the narrow bounds of their
own couuGry.".