Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-12-17
THR PEOPLE or PLUTO.
Experience OF AN EnEitshman Among
the Grccks

and pleasant, In y small yOom. hung
with pictorial tapestry aud lighted by
y single lamp placed ona tripod near
the door, WAS lew broad couch Of
dark wood inla id with ivory. On this
the white folds of his dress in striking
contrast With the rich cpvcrlcts and tho
bright-handed colois Of the pillow he
was resting on, lay y DARK, handsome
man otclear hut sun.tamed complex.
ion, and III front of him was standing
\ boy With long black hair, whose 1.-THE
figure was we'll set off hy simple tlan.
mel tunN, hclted round the waist with
n red scarf Close by him was a
small low table, on which were Il silver
goblet and jug, and near them small
flute This WAS the picture that met
my eye rs | entered, AMI from sounds
which had met my ear rs | ncared the
door il was plain that had surprised
a rather dchghting himself after dinner
i'll his sons essays IN music and rccia-
item.
My hosts ready SMILE told me, before
he spoke, that was expected and wei
come. With kiss and friendly pat
ON the head he dismissed the lad, who,
though nom shyncsa he hardly VEN
tured 10 look ny, bowed low "a me as
he took up his flute and ran of. After
the interchange Of u few civilties was
conducted IL my quarters The guest
rooms We're assigned to me, both open
ing OH Il covered cloistcr which border.
cd rs did the dining room had lcl
. ,A,.l >f
which stood rude, wcathor-worn
statute Of the tutclar deity Of the fam
lily, facing mn altar from which rose n
tiny fountain Of smoke. These rooms
were very small. and Ind no other en-
trance for light than the doorway,
which was closed only hy curtain.
In one was hcdstcad supporting n
wooden mattress laid on grths on
which were living loosely blankets vi
eolorcd wool, In the other WAS u
chair Il stool cushion, and lamp.
This simple furniture WAS Of singularly
rich workmanship and most graceful
design felt III luxury though there
were two or three articles absent which
! was accustomed to require, ono OF
which was certainly table. II had
been explained tn me, by my friend to
whom | owed this introduction, that
being Hospitality entertained ut Athens
would mean having separate rooms
given me i'll the house, together with
light, firing, aud salt; thnt might OK
poet to he 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 for myself and should on
Joy entire liberty Of action This was
exactly the position in VIII ich found
myself for somc time went on asked
permission 10 treat me more M u
brother than M n guest, That evening
wns summoned back to the dining
room, whore supper had in the mean
time hocn served ON n light portable
table An hour wnsspent in conHcrsa-
ten, and wont to my couch,
At dayhreak was aroused by tho
entrance of n slave bringing bread and
wine, which he placed ON small table
by the side of my bed This took ms
Il hint 10 rise. wns fortunately IN
one Of the few wealthy houses That
could boast Of n private bath, so that
the desire toward the tub was pretty
literally met. found my host up and
carefully dressed lie Ind already
been ont To make u call on friend,
and was now ready for the usual morn
ing walk Before leaving England |
had been told by Mr.. Mahally, who
had been III ancient Greece some
time before, that should find many
ways of thought nj Athens strikingly
modern, was reminded of this when
my host, without u hint from me- or
any knowledge whatever Of my tastes,
supposed ms n matter Of course that
should like Ia see the sights of Athens,
the pantheon and the other temples
and public buildings and asked mo II
| cared for statues and paintings, and
architecture. Under his guidance
had my first acquaintance with the
masterpieces of Phidas and Polygnotus.
He was not learned IN mt, but ho was
proud Of the glories Of hs city, and
had genuine delight in beauty
breakfast was awaiting eur return,
and ] was not sorry 10 find il sub
stantinl meal. Fresh fish, soup, vcgc.
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 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 Propylwa,
aud forgot the glare and dust outside.
The absence Of women fiom all 40
eial meetings did not, on my arrival NJ
Athens, ut once strike me rs strange.
suppose this was because was fresh
from university life was 40 much
used to meeting men only down the
river and NJ the raekct-courts Mt the
union, and ~ wine and supper parties,
that ! did not miss female society,
especially ~ the society in which did
find myself was, in its freedom, in III
true liberty. equality, and fraternity, 50
wonderfully like that which had just
left. But noticed the blank moro
and more M the days went on, and
then began to estimate the effect on
social life Of excluding the women.
II was plainly visible in il certain