New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-11

gave themselves up largely 10 the gymnastic
training which had been begun long before
They were ranged in classes according 10 age
and proficiency and having completed the
course We're at nineteen sworn In as citizens
Of the State. Hitherto they had worn the usual
dress Of boys. the chiffon or tune, and the wide
piece Of CLOTH which when wrapped around the
body was known the hlma ton But now they
threw of the himation and put on the Thessa-
Ian military cloak called the chlamys They mad
their hair cut and became the honored guests
al a family festival. Then they received in the
theatre arms ana were presented 10 the people
formally as the coming defenders of the state. The
Youthful period ended with a term Of service az
cavalry guarding the frontier. The young mans
marriage had usually been provided for by the
foresight of his father or guardian. and in nine
cases out Of ten his wedding took place about
the last of January the beginning OF Febru-
AIRY. Then he had to make his Wlles acqualh-
lance. 1t Is emarkable that under such con-
dtions there Is any reflection Of true love In
the literature Of Greece. An indispensable pre-
limnary Of the marriage ceremony was mat
both bride and bridegroom should bathe IN water
brought from some stream deemed sacred. The
bride sacrificed her dolls and locks OF her hair in
honor OF some goddess. A notable incident.
with that OF wild races. was the requirement the
young wife was under TO be formally admitted
into her husbands clan Her life was barely
less secluded now than when she was a maiden.
For the husband life went on much as before
that IS he was as little at home as possible.
Rising almost with the sun he had scanty
breakfast of bread and wine. As an Athenian
freeman he could not be a handcraftsman ana
so he spent his mornings usually In visiting
friends taking a turn in the gymnasium, and
talking politics in places Of public resort-es-
pecialy I'm barber shops which were favorite
places for discussion in literature and theology.
About midday he went home TO n light repast
that was like the modern luncheon; ana again.
unless he were a man OF learning or OF serious
purpose returned to the public places Tor gossip
and amusement Late in the afternoon bath
Indicated his intention of going home L" dinner
which was served about sunset. Except Tor MS
duties as a citizen. which were renumerated from
the time OF Pericles onward. the Athenian free
man was usually an idler. Everything was done
for him by slaves lie could NEEDLE with nc
trade unless merely an employer and master
The useful arts were thus left To the servile
class and to immigrants like the great orator
I.ysias. who could not hope for the privileges OF
citizens Not only was the Athenan gentleman
thoroughly man about town: he was also a per-
sstent dner-out. Hospitality went far In the
Attic capital. as one may see by passages mere
and there: for example In Platos dialogues. Not
only did private banqucts serve 10 XIII great
deal of time. but there were also the public
feasts Besides these there were varied public
performances Of a religious character. The Greek
religion was one almost without priesthood.
An Athenian had no conception Of anything like
Oft RELIGIONS sNsIFlEfS a
temple When he thought that he needed the
help OF a deity he went into "A temple and prayed.
or he prayed wherever he was. stretching his
hands upward II he addressed heavenly
deity or seward or toward the earth. according
10 the gods attributes and supposed scat Bui
the daily rites = religion belonged 10 the home.
Public religious services were represented only by
the great festivals the Tanathcnai1. the Thes-
uophorae the mysteries Of Eleusis. the fcasis
Of DiOnysus and above all the PLAYS In tn"
theatre. which. II not religious in their literary
purport were presented as n religious duty. II
was this pious aspect of the drama which war
rantcd Periccs In setting apart the Thooric
Fund. the show none. for paying the entrance
fees Of the people. GU, ~ the allotment Of this
fund grew the first occasion for theatre tickets:
and these. because they were permanently use
ful were metal pieces In the form - what would
now be called counters or trade tokens.
There was an excuse for the ideness ~ the
Athenian citizen In the times when his city was
a power in the world He was In effect a soldier
Of the State. always awaltin orders 10 60 to
war Neither slaves nor foreigners could tax"
his place in the army navy. Soldiers from
time iinmenorini have been oilers when p"nc"
rcigncd But the physical reason for his want
OF occupation doubtless his comparative
nearness to the primiiiv" state I'm which man
does nothing but hunt or fish or Tight leaving
all other duties to woman. In the midst OF this
paradise Of the unlabOriDus there were those
who burned the midnight -Euripidcs In his
cavern. Dcnosihcnes In his lonely study ana
others almost lnnunnrabe Perices IL renowned
not less for his taciturn industry than for his
control over n tickle people or for his final mis-
fortunes But the average Athenian citizen was
moro Industrious as talk"r ana listener than
az "A thinker. He had 40 good time for a few
generations az ever fell To- the lot Of u mortal
While he lived he bad Socrates ana Plato and
Aristotle 70 teach him; he had Demosthcnes
and Aeschines to preach To- him. he had Sopho-
cles and Aristophanes to write his plays When
he fell III he was treated by physicians who |
were almost scientific In their methods and when
he died ne was often honorcd with artistic |
offerings In his tomb and over II that for mere !
beauty were worthy of eternal preservation. |
The story Of ha life and death Is we'll told |
in this volume which IL to some extent Miss |
Zmmerns own rather than mere trnnSla- |
tion Of Professor Bliimncr's work In German.