New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-22
GREECE IN EGYPT.
PROFESSOR MAHAFFY ON THE ALEXAN-
DRIAN PERIOD.


seem to have psychological value. For example.
to mention but one of these mishaps how couio
the author, while thinking of the fiery Bishop
John Chrysostom. Of Constantinople. turn to
write Of the sermons OF the graceful. languid
pagan rhetorician Dion Chrysostom. Greekfng
In Rome? But such things are hardly so much
as blemishes on book which. take 1t altogether.
Is one Of the best IL not the best. that PROFESSOR
Mahafy has written. 1t lacks. perhaps, the en-
thusasm in mere literary style OF some Garner
writings from the same pen; but then, IL Is Tree
also from an indiscriminate emphasis on all Sorts
OF statements whether they were of import or not.
In literary criticism. for instance there is hardy
any Of that merely general discussion which can
be made to At almost everywhere. For once the
author has really been held down by his wealth.
Of material. In almost every sentence ne mas
said what 1t was necessary to say. Even those
who happen to disagree with him mere or there
will not deny that he has avoided speculation and
mere fine writing with commendable care HIS
present subject is one that provokes conjecture
at every turn. But then II Is also the one neio
IN ancient history where speculation is not tempt
ing in comparison with the interest awakened by
a heap Of newly discovered facts. In smaller
NAV the case Is the same II was with Momfn-
sen when the latter started in to write the history
OF the Roman Republic. The new material es-
pec,ally the vast body Of inscriptions whlch
Mommsen himself edited, made it possible TO tell
the story Of Rome In way wholly new NOW,
in turn the unceasing discovery OF papyrl ana
the deciphering Of inscriptions on stones in Egypt
favor books on that country because a we'll
eouipped scholar is sure to have something new
to say; something new, which by pleasant para
dox NAV be said to have stood the test of ages.
While Professor Mahaffy follows the lead OF the
~, to-
photography of the Helenistic period That he
comes after the Germans gives him an advant-
age 50 far as his English readers are concerned
It IL that fact that has kept him so close to his
text 1t has induced him, too, In the midst OF con-
ficting opinions to restore, as far as he could,
the reputation Of the Ptolemies- Morally. he con-
fesses tactly II not in so many words their case
Is hopeless but intellectually. politically admin
tstratively great deal can be said in their favor
Cleopatra the last Of them who had any name IN
the world mentally as alert as she was per-
eonally attractive and yet her ancestors for CEN
turtles violated the most primary laws OF consan-
eunity. The members of this Ptoemaic dynasty
were almost invariably murderers But their enc
mics and victims were usually of their own house
hold. They kept the peace OF the realm py DONG
away with rivals 1t Is needless to say that they
as Greeks learned this of the Orientals for Greek
tyrants were always bloodthirsty This never
ending domestic tragedy was naught to the peo-
ple of Egypt. Confronted by the long catalogue
of crimes in the palace. one would naturally sup
nose that these kings and queens were oppressive
rulers But they appear to have been mild and
lust compared even with modern Oriental sover-
eigns.
Their judiciary system was very complete. ana
many records OF cases are included among the
nv inVeStiga-
tors. The worst aspect of tyranny in Egypt in
modern times has always been the ruthless treat
rnent OF the peasantry by the local officials. The
Ptolemies were aware of this in their time They
endeayored to correct the wrong. not merely by
centralzing the judiciary. but by the wise addi-
4ion of circuit Judges whose duty 1t was to hear
3D. the appeals Of the laborers to whom Journey
as far as Alexandria was impossible. These
Judges were certainly all Greeks at one time. but
even in that case they were likely to be more
equitable in judgment than natives. just as the
English are now undoubtedly fairer than Turks.
Arabs or Copts. Professor Mahaffy points out
the fact that tales Of bitter oppression are absent
from the papyri which he has examined. Even
the more violent crimes-murder, for instance
are conspicuous by their absence. He infers from
the general tenor of the documepts that they re-
fleet An orderly and we'll managed society, where
IN aawless acts 1t Is good evidence of the general
: contentment that natives while they had their
own courts, seem often to have preferred those
established for the Greek residents where AL the
! nroced,ngs were in foreign language and under
an alien law. = trs . -. 'f r
Nor does irregularity appear to have crept IN
=. the dynasty grew older The judicial RECORDS
Aust referred to belong to the early centuries
put matters were still much the same under the
r,nth king of the series. the reprobate Ptoiemy
phvacon The courts still managed with
.v.tematic care! The author paraphrases Inc
contents of q long papyrus now preserved IN
Turin. which shows that cases OF importance
were fully reported. The trial was one OIL the
kind that In any age might arouse ptter ieer
Z tnas ~ The complainant" was a Greek'' the de-
PENDANTS were not only Egyptians, put also
. ,n.mhers of a religious corporation which had
charge Of the mummies Of the dead. To heighten
the chances of -favoritism. the plaintin was an
ared soldier He claimed to be the owner by IN
her,t.nce of a house and land in Thebes. The
religious brotherhood. without appealing 70
recent law which would have confirmed them In
possession. showed that they had purchased the
place in good faith, and that the title had been
undfsputed for eighty-eght years. Naturally
they got verdict But the best OF II is that here
was a Gaze which covered nearly a century. TWO
generations. perhaps three. had passed away
And vet the means Of verifying claim were
20 complete that the report reads, considering
the differences. Of time and place. like report
from an English or American court. The Judge
(sofie modern Judges might envy him) was not
troubled with Jury. But the case did not lack
its bit Of pettifogging There was Greek tenn
pie next to the house in dispute and twas
urged on the plaintif's side that the presence OF
the mummies a pollution to the sanctuary
The brotherhood replied that they were cere-
monially as pure as any priests and so the .ef-
fort to confuse them with embalmers and.othT
ers obnoxious to Egyptians as well as Greeks.