New-York tribune., 1898-10-09

ana In 1774 they even set aside the interest on
t4'WO0 to pay the expenses of two students Of
the Royal Academy for three years In Italy or
greece. We next hear of the Dilettant as in
teresting themselves deeply in the publication
OF the first volume Of THE Antiquities Of Ath-
ems" the epoch making work Of James Stuart
-"Athenian" Stuart-and Nicholas Revett; and
not long after they are on record as having pro-
jected d scheme of their own which resulted In
the valuable "Ionian Antiquities" The prac-
tical identification Of the society with these two
great undertakings is a matter OF authentic
record but the details are many publication
tended over number Of years, and we need not
follow Mr.. Gust in his admirable summary.
What is important to note is that the society
went deep into both ventures. and ultimately
stood before the world as chief sponsor for the
TWO. Certainly II Is impossible TO think Of either
BOOK without thinking Of the Dilettant1 who
iabored IN every way to facilitate the extension
OF archaeological discovery classic ground
and the preparation of such illustrated works on
the subject as would spread accurate and uscfui
IDEAS about the ancient monuments
Professor kruse. German scholar, divides
the history of antiquarian research into five
periods the fifth dating from the foundation OF
the Society OF Diiettanu, and the arrangement is
just The support given by the D'lettant 10
THE Antiquities Of Athens" masterpiece
which architects and scholars stiiI find invalu-
able, AND 60 the '1onian Antiquities, IN itself
gave an immense impetus "a ciassica. archaeo'-
OSy, and evc1 since the FIRST volumes OF these
works Appeared the influence of the society mas
counted IN ihe successful execution oi many al
important archaeological undertaking one ois-
cTedtablo chapter figures IN IFS history NV
ecrccjous Richard Payne Knight was the oo"1-
mating individual among the Dhettabu al '"'
time the EIcin marbles were drought W T''e
land early m tins century. and for some oecuii
reason be chose 10 adopt The rIdiculouS hSpo'
eis of Spon that they were Roman WORKS OF tho
time Of Hadrian He carri'o Inc soUe'9 "'''
him N ms bitter campaign. When LORD Elgm
and ms redoubtable champion, faydoh' ~ 'aS'
won n, nrb, and the Government purchased
the marbles Payne knights reputation as
conno,.seu1 and critic was foreyel engulied
Into In, ruif with Knight went, OF course io1 Il
time 8, leas, some of the prestige OF the Diet
tant and th, observer cannot but sniie WIN az
proyaI oyel Lord ElgIns frigidly polite deciina-
iou OF the election 70 then body WITH wh'b, ai'ei
q long interval the members Of the society tired
40 atono 20, then stupidity But Tho stupidity was
after all. NOR, Payne knights than it was the
societv's and memory Of the scandal has l''t
since been obsoured by wiser deeds Io-ua! '''
DiJettarti have comparatively niue 10 90 ''"
dtione have changed III the "orid OF a''h"
oloey and III, society follows where once u l""
But If LED admirably through years ol cflll,a'
inheritance 10 the study of CLASSICAL remains.
and IN. present haudsom, volume Is a "en-"e-
served tribute 10 its once shining disthclioh' IL
Is an .1cellently written book ano ,s pubiIsh'"
~ handsome style with many reproductions ="
interesting portraits Among the 1c" error
tbat baN. passed the prOoiIeadti we houce
that tn. late William Walter fheips j. hai"e"'
instead OF Nj r. !. Phelps "a Minislc 10 '''"
Rrfa,U