Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-04-12
GREEK LErERATURE.
The second or Professor Enrris's
Lectures at Richmond College.

Tho lect1re-course on Crock literature nt
Richmond College is q pronounced success. The
large aud distinguished audience which essem-
bled in the chapel yesterday afternoon proved
conclusiyely that there are many literary end
uteraturo-loying people In our midst II seemed
that all who heard tho lecture on " dramatic
Poetry had returned and brought tneir frlends
with them, Professor Harris seemed better pre-
parod physically far tue work before him, and for
over au hour held tho rspt attention OF hls au-
dlence. while frequent bursts OF applause anu
numerous approving smiles showed now they
we're enjoying his vivid portraiiures and glow
ing illustrations.
THE DISTINCTION.
The lecturer began by drawing sharply the
distinction between poetry and prose, explain
ing why tho latter Wss not written I'LL several
centuries after the former had been familiar 70
the Greeks, and pointing out the aaSant4ge OF
this fact Poetry. he said. Is truer than prose,
Just as q portrait is truer than sny photograph
can be. Tho photograph Is panied Dy ne un-
erring laws Of light aud is exact. but only for a
certain focus. a certain point OF view, and cer-
tain Temporary and oft unnatural express
sion tho portrait represents the artists IDEAL
formed by long and careful study 0f Ills subject
In many varying moods and pastures. Greek
prose was ideslized and elevated ~ the 1ch
yeil Of poetry which had preceded
History was Of late origin because the country
wascnt up into hundredsof OF peity olatos WIN no
real unity tsil the time ef the Persian wars, oOO
b. G. There were no grand monarcns as on thS
Nile aud the Euphrstes TO have their exploits
recorded by schools OF priests or magi. The
earliest Greek prose-writers were rather gSoSra-
phers than historians Hec9ieeus. patriot ana
politician OF Ailetus, wrote description OF the
earth In two books entitled Asia ana Burope.
Hslanicus, Of Mtyieno, Sapphos city, wrote
similarly, and with souie feeble attempt q.
chronological arrangement OF The events ne hAo
occasion 70 mention.
TIE TIRE. GREAT HISTORIANS.
After this introduction the Professor pro-
ceeded % sketch the iives and critfcse the works
Of the three great historians Hsrodotus, 1hucy-
dldcs. and Xsnophon. enlivening the dry details
with eoveral interesting episodes drawn from
his personal experience.
Hcrodetus. born az Hslicarnassus about 4ei
B. c., wassf noble family and greatly indnencei
by a relative who was an Epic poet He travelled
extensively southwark up the Nile 10 Ihepes,
eastward 70 Babyion and perhaps TO tho Per
sian capitats, Suss and Ecbaiana, nerIhvard
into ScJthia. the modern Russia, and west
ward 20 Sicily-pernsps 10 the pillars of
Hercules. Those travels we're undertaken
IN search Of Information for his great
wor3--a prose Epic on the contest oe-
tween Persia and Greece, between the wealth
and power Of monarch and the vim and ysior
Of frconsn, all conceived As the working cut OF
proordainsd Nemesis. which, ss he says, IKE
lightning. strikes tho fallest trees and Skaters
the oftieet houses.D His styia Is vivid as that OF
an eyewitness, tho genial talk OF one vino has
collected vast a3d varied Information and lets t
| How spontaneously for the delight Of his siidi-
torA In reference 10 his reliability tho Iccluror
cisimsf tbat he was careful observer. sublco-
| tysly tufhiul and confirmed bJ the icsuits OF