The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-02-18
VI.

Even IN the most succnct notice OF the home
life OF the ancient Greeks It Is impossible to
overlook the institution OF slavery. on which
all the social and economic conditions OF am
tiquity were based. Among the ancient
Greeks slaves took the place Of machinery. for
they were tolerably CHEAP to buy and main
tain. and thus factory OF any kind worked By
slaves was good investment for capital, II the
owner had sufficient comprehension OF bust
ness to undertake the direction himself or II
he had a good overseer. To own slaves who
made money By the work Of their hands Was
not REGARDED as " m echnnical" so long as their
owner kept his own hands from the work.
THUS the father OF Demosthenes possessed .
knife factory: the father OF lsocrates futs
factory. while Lysias and his brother owned a
shield factory OF over 120 workers. Very often
q slave proprietor who did not understand tho
business himself would let out his slaves as
we'll as his house to others II sometimes hap
pened. too. that slaves who had learned soms
profession. would make m agreement with
their masters to pay them a certain proportion
OF their earnings. and keep the rost for them.
selves. Thus II might turn out. as II did
with the Russian serfs before their emahclps-
tion. that q slave would becone richer than
his master. and. under such circumstances. It
would be easy for him to secure manumission.
The right OF citizenship was seldom conferred
on slaves when they were set free; they re-
tanned certain obligations to their former mas
ter. who became their patron. and who usually
inherited their property n they died without
heirs Of their body. In households they rem.
dered indispensable assistance. For example.
they discharged the functions not only OF cook
and OF baker. but OF weaver. fuller. and en-
broiderer. In the country they worked In field
and meadow. cared for the vineyards and olive
gardens guarded and attended the CATTLE and
almost always filled tho Office OF steward
Slaves. moreover. who possessed some intel
lectual culture served their masters a. secre-
taries or readers. or helped them In scientific
labors. but such services were more seldom
rendered by the barbarian slaves Of the Greeks
than by the Greek slaves OF the Romans. The
protection given to slaves by tho State was
small. but there were differences In different
cities. At Athens the master might not kill .
slave. even II he found him committing capi-
tai crime. cases OF necessary defence being.
OF course. excepted. The violator OF this
law. however. was not punished as IL he had
murdered q freeman. but only as II II were q
case OF manslaughter. Further shelter gaipst
excessive Ill treatment on the part OF
masters Was given By tho right OF sanctuary.
which permitted q slave to take refuge at the
altar OF some god. In other respects. the State
took little notice OF slaves. except to forbid
love-makin9 with free citizens. and participa-
tion In certain festivals and sacrihceA Char
aeteristic oithe view held OF slaves were the
arrangements for tho reception Of their testi-
mony in court OF law. IL was taken for
granted that they could only be induced to
speak the truth 10y direct physical compuls.on,
and consequently they were always quss-
toned under torture. Somewhat inconsistsnt
with the general treatment OF slaves Mt Athens
H. the fact that those who belonged to tho
state We're Entrusted with police duties which
permit ed them TO exercise certain powers
over citizens.
No attempt Is made nv Prof Rmmner to
guess at the number OF slaves IN Greece lie
has no doubt. however. that the hunter was
very greet: IL was u sign Of the greatest pOV-
erty to own no slaves at all. and hschinss
mentions as a mark Of a very modest house
hold that there were only seven slaves to six
persons. IL 10 such domestic slaves be added
The many thousands in the country. in the fac
tories and the mines, and those who were tho
property OF the state and the temples 1t seems
indisputahle that their numher must have
considerably eNceeded that OF the free inhab.
iiants. The injurious influence Of this part Of
the population. who were chiefly bArbarianS.
was !slt In many ways. and though II was not
As DISASTROUS In Greece as in Rome. yet IL Is
probable that tho speedy fall OF Greece from
her POLITICAL and social height and the sad
picture which she presented under Roman
domination wefA due in very great part 70 the
institution OF slavery. IL w. Il