The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-12-17

OF the generations or men one springeth
and another passeth away" And what
more cherries than the picture Of the
state of the "strengthless heads Of the
dead" fitting I'm an aimless. jOyless ex-
istence through the mists and darkness
OF a world of gloom Yet. I'm the face %
this. the impression left by Homer IS not
melanchoIic. IS as far removed from NOR
bidness as may be imagined. To him life
IS full OF possibilities. the world fun az
10Y: and though the span OF life be brief
n man may do a mans work. enjoying %
the full all the good gifts OF the gods. and
when the end comes he may die a mans
death. An Illuminating fact surely. one
bearing ample testimony 20 the Greet
capacity for enjoyment and 10 the sanity
OF the Greek temper.
Then follows the long period OF cease
less activity I'm the arts. I'm commerce i7
colonization. in political transformatior-
the lyric age. Men no longer live Go Tho
past. in the world OF legend. but en- tho
present. which offers such free scope t1
the individual And what Is the lesson
OF Greek lyric? Not that taught iu The
walls OF Mimnermus or the plants no
Theognis. Greek lyric eliminates in S.
monides and Pindar: and though one f4-
ten 10 TheOgnis ne must also porf.-
deeply the second Olympian ode % p-.
dar Here we move In the high places
earth who passes judgment for all r4
sinned i'm this realm OF Zeus. But
ever in sunlight night and day ar
labOrfOus life the good receive. %.
with violent hand veN they the earth
the waters OF the sea in that new wr-
but with the hOnOred OF the gods. " .r.
sOever had pleasure I'm keeping OF oafrr
they possess a fearless life. but the Other
part suffer pain too dire 20 look upon
rrF NrtnA
from all iniquty travel the road OF Zeur
unto the tower OF KronOs; there AROUND
the islands OF the blest the ocean breeze8
blow and golden flowers are glowing
some from the land on trees Of spiend0r
and some the water feedeth with wrcaths
whereof they entwine their hands"
True. back OF this lies that mysterious.
potent phenomenon We call Orphism
with its cult OF purity, the leavening IN
fiuence OF DiOnysus, which the book be-
fore US brings out so clearly. Yet thus
much is clear 10 him who reads: that
10 the Greek poet OF the first half Of the
fifth century. Il. G., the conception % bliss
I'm the world beyond stands In close con-
nection with, nay. Is wholly dependent
on. the conduct OF life here.
Greek tragedy teaches the same lesson
though II is but natural that the punish
ment OF the wicked is emphasized willis
lows
Aeschylus and SOphOcles are great moral
teachers. and the divine nemesis Is The
keynote Of Greek tragedy. And IN tho
oft quoted passage from the Frogs OF
Aristophanes" We are lifted up % tho
same high level. I'VE alone" sings the
chorus OF the mystae. have the sun and
its joyous light; we who have been IN
itiated. and have lived n cody life TO-
ward strangers and toward friends"
Here the "Orphic" touch Is unmistakabls.
but no less 50 is the stress laid upon con-
duct
1t would be easy 10 20 far beyond tbs
proper limits OF such a notice as the pres
ent; but with mention Of Plato I have
done. Without Dionysus and Orphlsm."
says President Wheeler. there could have
been no Plato" This we may willingly
admit. for 20 know PlatO's age and the
century and a half preceding IL. is 20 see
clearly the subtle potency Of Orphlc In
huences. And what says Plato OF the con-
duct OF life with reference 10 the hope Of
Plato. that sunshiny spirit.
from whose shoulders 1.-The burden a the
seems 20 roll away. so CHEEKY.
80 serene is he In the face Of ultimate
problems. Follow me- he makes Socrates
say, follow me. and ] will lead you where
you will he happy I'm life and after death.
hs the argument shows. and never mind
Il some one despises you as n fool ard
Insults you. n he has a mind. let him
strike you. by Zeus and do you be 81 good
cheer. and do not mind the insulting blow.
Tor you will never come 20 any harm I'm
he practice OF virtue ~ you are a really
good and true man" And again: Evils.
rheodorus. can never pass away; FOR there
must always remain something which is
10 good. Having no place
among the gods in heaven. Of necessity
hey hover around the mortal nature ard
his earthly sphere. Wherefore We ought
10 fly away from earth 20 heaven "a
quickly as we can: and 20 ny away Is 20
become like God: and 10 become like him
Is TO become holy just and wise. God Is
never in any way unrighteous: he is per
feet righteousness: and he Of us who is
most righteous Is most like him"
Verify. Fair is the prize. and the hope
great" \. T. MURRAY.
Professor OF Greek. Stanford University.
CDionysus and Immortality. by r. I
Houghton. Mihiin & Co. Bos-
IOnO