The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1880-12-23
THE PEOPLE OF PLUTO.
Experience OF an EnsIishman Among
the Greeks.


with pictorial tapestry and lighted by
a single lamp placed ona tripod near
the door, was low broad couch of
dark wood inlaid with ivory. On this
the white folds of his dress in striking
contrast with the rich coverlets and the
bright-banded colors Of the pillow he
was resting on, lay IL dark, handsome
man of clear but sun-tanned complex
ion, and in front of him was standing
a boy with long black hair whose 1.-THE
figure was we'll set off by a simple t1an-
mel tunx belted round the waist with
a red scarf. Close by him was
small low table, on which were silver
goblet and jug, and near them a small
flute. This was the picture that met
my eye as entered, and from sounds
which had met my ear as | neared the
door, it was plain that had surprised
a father delighting himself after dinner
in his sons essays in music and recita-
ton.
Ny hosts ready smile told ME, before
he spoke, that | was expected and vel
come. With kiss and friendly pat
on the head he dismissed the lad, who,
though from shyness he hardly VEN
tured to look up, bowed low to me as
he took up his flute and ran off. After
the interchange Of a few civilties | was
conducted to my quarters The guest
rooms were assigned to me, both open
ing on a covered cloister which border
ed-as did the dining room | had left
on a square court, IN the centre OF
which stood Il rude, weather-wOrn
statute of the tutelar deity Of the fam
ily, facing an altar from which rose a
tiny fountain of smoke. These rooms
were very small, and had no other en-
trance for light than the doorway,
which was closed only by a curtain.
In one was a bedstead supporting a
wooden mattress laid on girths, on
which were lying loosely blankets of
colored wool In the other was a
chair, stool Il cushion, and Il lamp.
This simple furniture was of singularly
rich workmanship ana most graceful
design. felt in luxury, though there
were two or three articles absent which
[ was accustomed to require, one Of
which was certainly a table. 1t had
been explained to me, by my friend to
whom | owed this introduction, that
being Hospitality entertained at Athens
would mean having separate rooms
given me in the house, together with
light, firing, and salt; that | might eX-
pect to be asked pretty frequently to
the family dinner, and to receive from
the family some occasional presents of
wine, or fruit. or vegetables: but that
must cater tor myself and should en-
JOY entire liberty Of action. This was
exactly the position in which found
myself for some time went on, asked
permission to treat me more as a
brother than as guest. That evening
I was summoned back to the dining
room, where supper had in the mean
time been served on light portable
table. An hour was spent in conTersa-
ton, and | went to my couch.
At daybreak | was aroused by the
entrance of slave bringing bread and
wine, which he placed on a small table
by the side of my bed. This took as
a hint to Use l was fortunately in
one Of the few wealthy houses that
could boast Of a private bath, so that
the desire toward the tub was pretty
literally met. I found my host up and
carefully dressed. He had already
been out to make call on friend,
and was now ready for the usual morn
ing walk. Before leaving England l
had been told by Mr.. Mahatfy. who
had been in ancient Greece some
time before, that l should find many
ways of thought at Athens strikingly
T of, \,
my host, without hint from me, OF
any knowledge whatever of my tastes,
supposed as q matter Of course that !
should like tosee the sights of Athens,
the pantheon and the other temples
and public buildings, and asked me il
I cared for statues and paintings, and
architecture. Under his guidance l
had my first acquaintance with the
masterpieces of Phidias and Polygnotus
He was not learned in art, but he was
proud of the glories of his city, and
had a genuine delight in beauty.
Breakfast was awaiting our return,
and / was not sorry to find it a sub
stantial meal. Fresh fish, soup, vege-
tables, bread, cheese, fruit, and honey
cakes in succession were brought in;
and there, lying beside them in the
cool, dark little dining-room, my host
and 1 discussed the rival merits OF
the statues of Athens, compared the
place of assembly with the theatre OF
Dionysius, talked over the frescoes in
the market place and in the Propylaa
and forgot the glare and dust outside
| The absence Of women from all So
cial meetings did not, on my arrival at
Athens, at once strike me as strange
| suppose this was because l was fresh
from university life. l was so much
used to meeting men only down the
river and at the racket-cOurts, at the
union, and at wine and supper parties,
that l did not miss female society
especially as the society in which did
find myself was, in its freedom, in its
true liberty. equality, and fraternity, SO
wonderfully like that which had just
left. But l noticed the blank more
and more as the days went on, and
then [ began to estimate the effect on
social life Of excluding the women
1t was plainly visible in certain
roughness of feeling, in the absence OF
that tenderness which produces pity
and sympathy with weakness, and re
strains men from selfishness and cruel
ty. There was not much respect shown
to age in Athens. Poverty provoked
rather than disarmed ridicule
Tales of cruelty might arouse
dangerous bitterness, especially if it af:
fected Athenian ,itizens, but the cruel,
ty did not incite adherence. i man
who was hard and brutal towards his
slaves was called a storm master, but
no one demonstrated. Intellectual re.
tinement was certainly priced highly
enough, and the civic virtues were
actually worshiped, bul, to my think
ing, Greek civilization was still inconl-
plete, through lack Of that sensitive,
ness to one side of mortality which !
could not help believing that the in
fluence of women in daily life would
have helped to develope: | found
many thoughtful Greeks holding the
same opinion.
After all, I could not see that the
stoutest advocate for the emancipation
| ~, =, III