Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-04-19

The lesson OF embryoiogy Is lesson OF
hope. There Is no pessimism IN ia tesculng'
Th1t which has been shall indeed again DE,
but II is not true that there Is no new tnlug
under the sun. The cills Of the bird ances-
tor still leave their track. though soon sup
planted By the air-breathIng lungs. ING
anarchist who can tnd no place for hirnsen
in modern society and the capitalist who
makes a selfish and oppressive use OF MS
power are but gill sits In the BODY social.
Former riees have become extinct because
better took their psce. On the whole all
change In organic nature bas been progress,
with greater powers OF enjoyment aud
greater sum Of happiness. a pessmlst bi'
ologist is mad.
THB MKT LECTURE.
The next OF Professor Martins lectures
will be delivered on Monday night SUB
jcct: "Nilal Principal or Living Matter,
WbIcHi"
The Ancient Greeks.
The third in the course OF lectures on
Greek Literature being delivered st R'cn-
mond College by Professor Harris, who hIls
the Greek chair at this institution, was gwen
IN the chapel yesterday evening at 4s O'Clock:
The lecture began with an exposition OF
philosophy as seeking TO ascertain facts'
fIisNIlh Ilfiu lniltI laws Ilu AHAr httN'h
their causes or principles. II ever has had,
must have, It's basis in religion, In the widest
sense OF the term, for God Is the highest
unity, the principle of principles. II was
among the Greeks OF slow growth, begin
ming in the disjointed aXiOms Of the Hepla'
sophoi then rising to the crude specuiations
OF the early schools, and so 10 the complete
theories OF Plato.
TIE HEFTAsOPH0I.
Introducing the Seven Wise Men, Profes.
sOr Harris told the story Of the tripod caught
by fisherman and sent 10 Tbales ss the
wisest, who passed It to Bias, be TO Pittacus,
he to Cleobulus, he to Cbllon, he 10 Perian.
der. and be to Scion, who proved himself
entitled by dedicating 10 Apollo, the only
wise one Most of these were practical
statesmen, and unfortunately for the story
were not all contemporary.
The early schools were principally three
Ionic, DOric, and Eleatic. The first was
founded about COO r. {. by Thales, OF
MietuS, astronomer and engineer, and
studied mainly physics in the four ele-
ments-earth, water, air and fire. The
school was divided into two sectiOns-the
mechanical OF eyolutiOnist, who taught that
the various forms oil matter are developed
from within, aud the dynamic section, who
taught that the changes in matter are
wrought by some external force. The former
eliminated IN lleraceitus, "the obscure"
who seems 10 have regarded Ore "a, the
primOrdial element; the latter in AuaXagO-
ra.. who spent at Athens twenty-five years
(ijG TO 431), euOunced an atomic theory and
insisted upon the existence OF Nous. g.,
intellect or spirit, "baying the most know
ledge and the greatest strength" b" as the great
first cause.
The Dorlc school, under Pythagoras,
studied mathematics. music, and morals. or
the hMmouies Of numbers. sound. aud ac-
tions. His extensive travels his oath bound
iraternitcs, and his symbolic teachings were
briefly explained. HIS great doctrines Of
happiness IN harmony and the trans nigra-
lion OF souls were rather religious than
philosophical. The downfall Of his sect came
irom their own un>eemly arrogance.
The Eleauc school, rather asnOstic in doc
trine, studied logic, especially that branch
which coniOunds an adversary bY reducing
his arguments TO absurdity. Two OF these,
along with several Plytnogoreans, came over
10 Athens about $50.
SOCRATES.
Having thus traced the several lines OF
speculation which conyerged at Athens
W IltA lfl lNt Lrultl bl ll- EitA " tUN lIlAuiil
drew a rapid sketch OF the man IN whose
sturdy grasp. hard common sense, and high
moral principles these speculatiOns were to
be turned to good account. Socrates. a
laree-eyed, flat-nOsed thick.lipped, coarsely-
dressed loaier talking day by day in mar
ket-pace, barber shops, and street-cOrners
with any who would listen, stamped his inn
press on his own times and on the world as
few Others bave done. This he did by in.
sistlng on character more than knowledge,
being more than thinking, and by turning
men 10 oscli-eGaminluOn.
PLATO.
Plato, born 420 e. c.. OF noble and
wealthy family, was carefully educated in
the best schools OF those lroublous times. At
twenty he became 4 follower OF Socrates.
stood by him in his trial, but was absent
s.hen he was executed. For ten years be
deemed II prudent TO remain away from
Athens and might have stayed longer but for
being arrested by Dionysius, OF Syracuse,
and sold into slavety-the price was about
one fourth OF what he had recently paid for
book containing the doctrines OF PythA-
goras. When rlnsOmed he went home and
Opened school IN the grove OF Academus,
north OF the city, the original academy. His
lectures are said to have been oDslruse and
dry, but his writings, mostly dialogues, are
among the finest specimens Of Greek Litera.
ture.
ARISTOTLE.
Into Pato's school came 3G5 rather
homelg but elegantly dressed youth OF
eighteen. His father, now deceased, had
been court physician to Amynias OF Mace
donia. and the Young man had already much
love for natural history. He was soon re-
cognized as ''the soul OF the school," On
PlatO's death, 81 b. c., Aristotle crossed
over to Asia Minor. and themes on the as-
sassination Of his protector fed to hltylene,
taking with him II sister or niece OF his slam
frierd. She became his wife and seems from
his will TO have been loved with tender.
ness rarely known among the anc ents. ln
3i3 he undertook the tuition Of Alexander,
and ten years after, when the young monarch
set out to conquer Asia, Aristotle opened
school in he gardens dedicated to Apollo
Lycus-the original Lyceum.
OF his early and most attractive writings,
poems, dialogues, and letters only fragments
have survived. The works we have are
methodica and scientific, more like sylla-
bus OF his lectures than finished compost
ton.
THE NEXT LECTURE.
The last lecture OF this course. which hss
proved so attractive TO the good people Of
Richmond, will be delivered next Thursday
at 1880 Z. NJ. on Greek Oratory and Orators.
Wednesday Weddings.
Mr.. Roland Leroy Haynes, well-known
and popular young man, and Miss Mary NJ.
j., Youngest daughter OF Mrs. Jane King,
were married at the First Presbyterian