Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-01-20
The THEATRE or DIoNYsUs.
The First of the Series of Public Lectures
for the Year at Richmond College.

Many will be disappointed to learn that
the inclement weather of last evening dld
not cause the postponement OF Professor
Uarris's lecture on 1.-THE Early Greek
Drama" An unusually large number OF
students and goodly company of visitors
assembled in the College chapel and were
highly repaid for Drawing the tempestuous
elements. The Professor, by recent re-
search and study. had made important ad-
ditlons TO his previous work on this SUBJ
iect, and the presentation was fresh and
striking.
THE LECTURE.
In his Introductory remarks the lecturer
said
Poetry Is pre-eminent among the nne arts. and
drama with all It's accessories surpasses all
others in power OF expression. Hence II Is that
SO few have attained excellence az dramatists.
In Greece there were only four masters ana
they compatrOts and contemporary, all at
Athens and In the NTH century Il. G. For the
splendid outburst OF literary genius that charac-
terized the age OF Percles there were reasons.
The versatile people, long held down by aris-
tOcratic rule, were now enjoying personal liberty
under democratic institutions. Their spirit Oh
Independence had borne splendid fruit at Mara
thon and Salamis, and by putting them At the
head Of a cOnfederacy, formed 70 withstand PER
siA, was pouring treasure into private pockets
and public Golfers. Now for the first time they
had literary leisure.
The origin OF the drama was traced from the
old worship OF DiOnysus and Demeter-Heayen
aud earth--through the original Comus or band OF
jewellers; then the DithyraInblc chorus, or band
Of trained dancers, who combined the effects oil
poetry, music, and pant0mimo-for such, as the
lecturer showed, was the ancient dance-motions
with body aad arms rather than with the feet ;
then an episode or recitation was introduced 10
rest the voices Of tho chorus; then en- actor,
called responder, In Greek hypocrite, TO carry
on dialogue with the leader; and, finally, two
Greek tragedy did not advance. The chorus
meantime, though comparatively curtailed, re-
tanned the central place IN the theatre, and re-
NAMED the chief attraction In the presentation
OF play.
THE THgATRs ARRANGEMENTS
The theatre, with Its arrangements, was then
described ny aid OF a ground-Illn drawn on
black boai d, and Its Situation on the southern
slope OF the Acropols pointed out on plan Of
Athens
The lecturer then proceeded to explain the
TONS all under the control and at the cost Of the
State, except the furnishing OF choruses, which
was laid In succession upon the wealthier cit-
gems.
All the presentations implied contests. The
plot was Il o working out Of conflict the poets.
the actors the chorus leaders all were pitted
against each other as contestants for frst ana
second prizes The lecture closed with graphic
portraiiure OF q week In Athens In the spring OF
44O b. Can assembly OF the people addressed
by Pericles, q general holiday, q thronging OF
citizens and visitors to tho theatre, the many
ceremonies and contests there. tbs presentation
OF Sophocles Antigone, and the general wind-up
OF the week OF worship at the shrine OF Diony-
sus and the Muses..