New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-25

traditions religious cults. possible or prooaoic
civil institutions, etc, of peoples virtually WIN
out monuments or records Of any kind. has to DE
gone through, which is apt 20 prove discouraging'
Later on long chapter on the topography of Sicily
is apt 10 be found somewhat trying to any but the
steadiest and most constant readers. On the other
hand. several interesting dissertations on side
points will be found, both in the text and In
some of the numerous appendices which constitute
no inconsiderable portion of both these volumes.
Mr. Freeman has much TO say on the brazen bull
of Phalaris, for example. He begins by inquiring
how it has happened that Greek tyrant whose
deeds and career differed probably in few particu-
lars from those of hundred other tyrants Of the
period should have been given so prominent a
place in history. The obvious answer TO this, Is
that Phaaris is the only tyrant of whom 1t is re-
corded that he used to roast his enemies in brazen
bull. Precisely. says Mr.. Freeman; and is not
the general acceptance of the bull story soon
after the death Of Phaaris to be regarded as evil
dence in support of the truth Of the tradition
1t is true that the brazen bull, so far as we are
concerned, is mentioned eighty years after his
death, and great many myths may spring up
in the course of eighty years. But Mr.. Freeman
holds that the actual existence of the bull, and
the real roasting of people in it, are, on the whole,
more probable than improbable.
Perhaps the strongest objection to the story
consists in the fact-duly noted by the historian
that the Greeks were not in the habit of employing
torture. That was barbarian practice. The
Phoenicans, Assyrians, Babylonians, Egyptians
and other Oriental peoples at an early period
invented and practSed the most cruel tortures.
The peoples who worshippcd BaalMoloch were
accustomed to- and no doubt relished. the APP
plcation of torment and this not only to foes but
killing enemies taken in battle. All readers Of
Carthaginian history must remember the terrible
part played by crucifxion in the Punic Wars. Now
the Phoenicians were neighbOrs to the Greeks in
Sicily, and though dangerous and hostile neigh
bors, the Greeks may very well have learned some
things from them, and if Phalaris was the in
herently cruel man he has been represented, he
may have obtained the idea Of his brazen bull from
some PhOenician artfcer. Those who regret the
tendency of modern historical science sweep away
so many venerable and picturesque legends may per-
haps feel little grateful to Mr.. Freeman for spar
ing them the brazen bull of Phalaris. Gently made
short work of the alleged epistles of the Tyrant of
Akragas but so far the bull remains; in fact,
Mr.. Freeman goes so far as to suggest that there
may have been two bulls, and each with door in
the shoulder for the introduction of victims to the
interior
The Introductory chapter Of the first volume is
DEVOTED to a flor Mr.. Freeman) succinct sketch Of
the general course of Siciiian history down TO the
death of the Wonder of the World" with whose
disappearance from the scene the present work is
to be brought to an end Here, and perhaps here
only the reader not previously informed in the
premises will find the outlines necessary TO the
awakening of proper degree of interest in the
long narrative. Indeed, it might be advisable for
the uninstructed reader to preface his study Of this
monumental book by looking through such COM
pact handbook as Watkm Lloyd's History of
Sicily" which covers the material points within
the space of a single modeTate-sized volume. For
those who without preparation read Mr. Free
man for the narrative will be disappointed, n
least in these volumes, Nevertheless, the second
volume brings the stage deeply interesting char
acters and moving scenes, The wars which for
ages were to redden Sician soil are already under
way The Phoenician and the Greek colonist were
locked in the death grapple. The Greek colonis,S,
now dependent upon and now defying their mother
country, Were alternately cOntending with neigh
bOrs in the island and with kinsmen from across
the sea- while at intervals other expeditions
Etruscan Roman, what not. struck in upon the
general hurly-burly. fighting for their own hand,
and making the most paradQYical alliances for the
purpose of the moment. Then comes that momen-
tous battle of Himera, III the description of which
Mr. Freeman really becomes almost warm.
Heas," nc says had vanQushed Canaan"
AT IIimera as at Salamis, Iiellas had won. And
in one way, Himera was more than Salamis no
Plataia was needed to finish the work. For
seventy years from the day of that great deliver
ance the Phoenican settlements in Sicily re-
manned, with the slightest exceptions, harmless
neghbors Of the Greeks"
The day was to come when Greeks and Phoenc-
ians alike were to disappear from Sicily and be
scarcely remembered in the land again. save by
a few scholars. But the defeat of Carthage at
Himera produced effects which time could not
dissapate 1t was turning point in history, and
the fact that Carthage again became dangerous
to Greek Sicily does not impair the significance of
the event. 1t was the beating back of a Semitic
civilization characterized by traits and tendencies
inimical to human progress upon any lines worth
the following a civilization materialistc, gross,
selfish and ruthless almost beyond parallel. base
and bloody in its religion, low of morals ferocious
in its treatment of weaker peoples. 1t marked
a forward movement for that Hellenic civiliza-
ton which was then the hope Of the world, which
disseminated not only the highest political teach
ings, but the loftiest most gracious and refining
influences through it's art life. And Sicily was
to be the battlefield more than once of the same
contendiDg influences the same hostile religions,
warning under other names, but involving in their
conflict identical results. The East and West
were to meet this battle-place Of nations. and
decide issues with which. at the first glance Sicily
might seem tn have very little to do. In the
volumes yet 10 appear all these events will re-
ceive full consideration, and doubtless the hsto-
ran will present the larger and broader views
of his long and varied chronicle in the happiest
way. To Americans, next to Englishmen the
study of later Siciian history should prove in
teresting Mr.. Freeman points out. since the
analogy between the Norman conquest of England
and the Norman conquest of Sicily is deserving
Of close study and fertile in striking suggestions
MIDNIGHT OIL OR MIDNIGHT SLEEP
From The Hospital.