New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-27
PHASES OF HELLENIC GENIUS.
STUDIES OF us THOUGHT, IT'S DRAMA AND
ITS MYTHS.

SOME ASPECTS OF THE GREEK GENIUS. BY s. II.
Butcher NJ A. Professor OF Greek IN te ony C
GUIDE TO GREEK TRAGEDY foi English Readers;
BY Lewis Campbell, VI. A., LII. d., Professor OF
Greek in the University of St. Andrews. PIP. VIII,
$50. G.. p. Putnam's Sons.
OLYMPUS. Tales Of the Gods of Greece and Rome.
BY Tafourd Ely, NJ. A.. +. = A., Professor OF Greek
Mt Bedford College With Illustrations. PIP. XVIII.
q. y. Putnam's Sons.
Professor Butchers book is collection Of papers
and addresses somewhat uneven In Interest. The
discussion OF Arstote's conception OF fine art and
poetry an admirable little treatise, marked by acute
ness and thorough sympathy with the theme. As
much can hardly be said for the study on the Greek
idea OF the state. The fact Is that what the Greeks
said about politics has always been OF far more value
than what they did. As people they almost always
showed their ncapaciiy for remembering even the most
severe lessons longer than single generation. IL
was well enough for Thucyd!des to claim for the
Ahsnlans that they had the powers both OF thought
and action but in view OF the needless actions they
were really guilty OF, II will hardly d. for modern
to say, without very marked restrictions, that think
Ing and dong-cear thought and noble aeton-dId not
stand opposed TO the Greek mind The treatment TO
which Pcricles himself subject, when he lost the
power mastering his townsmen by persuasion above
all the irrational cruelty to PhIdns and ali that long
line OF popular crimes done In haste ard frequently
atoned for by crimes will stand always proof
OF the failure OF the Greeks in action II has been
the main business OF sefgovcnng peoples ever since
to follow Greek precepts and TO AVON Greek examples.
The paper on "Ths Melancholy OF the Creeks Is
enriched with felcitous quotations. and the one
What We TO Greece is significant for its com
parsons between Greece and the Orient. Tho author
reours TO these also In his study Of Aristotle. Think
how much sbsurdity We have put behind Us when we
can say with him: Explorations and excavations arc
restoring the traditional points OF contact between
Greece and Asia Minor. Famous dynastles which not
long since had been resolved into sun-myths. again
stand out as historical realities
DIR. Campbeli's book Will prove all the more useful
TO English readers because Its parallels and illustrations
are drawn from wide field which includes the modern
drama well as that OF Greece and Rome and does
neglect even that OF Japan and India. For example,
In abiding 10 tho fine imposed on Phrynlcus for
posing political tragedy that narrowed up the feelings
OF his AUDITORS attention Is called 10 the suppre In
France OF plays by VI. sardou ard NJ. Coppoe. The
cases arc not exactly similar but the suggestion helps
to make the reader feel wildly that Phrynlcus is
merely a and nothing else. There is also
thought worthy Of expansion In the remark that q
distant bu, real analogy exists between the humorous
nterludes In shakcspeare's tragedies, for example
King Lenr, and certain remnants OF rustcityvestciA
ruris--n ancient tragedy Noteworthy features q