The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1903-08-13

to eat at these tables, regard
less of previous rank or age, and all
were forbidden to eat at home or in
private. Regular attendance at these
meals was stringently enforced. These
tables were furnished with the plainest
and least dainty food. The food was
contributed by the people, each person
certain portion each month.
Boisterous conversation was forbidden
at meal time. It is recorded that the
Spartans vigorously protested against
this leveling measure. should think
they would protest! 1t almost degrad-
ed them to the level of beasts as far as
their appetites were concerned.
Third, we now arrive at the crux of
Lycurgus' dream-a dream to make
Sparta the foremost military nation.
And to successfully accomplish his
purpose he hesitated at no obstacle, no
matter how much suffering it entailed
or number of lives sacrificed. All were
subjected to strict system of training
"a system outlined by the resourceful
Lycurgus. At the birth of an infant the
father was compelled to bring it to GER
tain public officials whose business it
was to examine into its state of health.
If sickly or deformed its life was de-
stroyed. Those infants preserved by
the judges were placed in charge of
nurses provided by the state, whose du-
ty it was to rear the children so they
would be hardy in body and courage
GUS in spirit. AS they advanced in
years they were put through thor
ough course of discipline which brought
them face to face with hardship and
self-denial. They were also taught
fortitude and endurance. In winter
these youths were compelled to 60
without shoes and wore but single
garment. To stimulate keen love for
war they engaged in personal combats
and fought like young tigers. ALI these
severe exercises were prescribed by Ly-
curgus in order to make them robust,
patient in suffering from possible
wounds, bold in spirit and irresistible
| in action.
This systematic course Of training
became manifest when the Spartans
met their foes on the field of battle.
Spartan mothers used to tell their sons
as they departed for the battle field:
"Return with your shield or upon it"
The Pass Of Thermopyle eloquently
testifies what prodigious feats they
were capable of performing and how
fearlessly they fought against four mil
lion Persians.
| Leonidas and his Spartan band of three
hundred illustrious heroes knew how
to fight and die. At one time when
they were assailed from the rear and
. front and when the arrows were almost
as numerous as snowflakes, one of the
Spartans remarked: SHOW favorable 8
circumstance! The Greeks now fight in
the shader' That is the kind of fight
ing spirit that Lycurgus imbued and
, cultivated among the Spartans. That
is why the warlike Spartans were fearet
, in combat, and that is how Sparta es
. tablished her supremacy.
4 In this enlightened age when heroi,
, deeds and great achievements are com
monplace affairs, one naturally is prone
i to underestimate the military glory o1
J ancient Sparta. Today it is not neces
sary to subject race of people to
: thorough system of continuous train
) ing in order to teach them to perform
!, gallant deeds and die heroically. Th'
! stand made by Napoleon's Old Guart
) at Waterloo, the battle Of the Alan.
: and the charge Of the Light Brigade
ETC., prove that Lycurgus' drastic sys
Q tenn is quite unnecessary in this age.
Considering Lycurgus' comprehensiv
t knowledge Of the laws governing tn
Q various countries of his time, it is sui
9 prising that he didn't profit by his ez
: perience when drafting Sparta's codt
Compared with other lawgivers, Lycnl
i gus does not occupy very lofty pima
9 Gle. His ideals were somewhat pervert
8 ed, and his whole code shows how mai