New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-26

Howard Crosby Butler A. II. With Many
Illustrations from Drawings by The Author and
from Photographs svo. pp. xvi. SSs. The Cen
fury Company.
Beginning with the earliest NEUROLOGICAL tradi-
tions. this account OF Athens proceeds to the
period OF Pisistratus's tyranny. when historic
record FIRST becomes authentic with charming
mixture OF probable facts and naive legends.
With several great rulers, such as Codrus. and
lawgivers who have become byword. such as
Draco, Athens had not up to this time kept
pace with other States OF Greece in the develop
ment Of her art. Pisistratus when once he had,
after several abortive attempts upon supreme
power and resulting banishments firmly estab-
lished himself IN the seat Of ruler. and by the
necessary organization Of an effective military
force had advanced the States position as ma
tional factor. set Immediately about importing
works Of art and artists from the hest centres Of
his time. Drawing on the superior craftsman
ship OF Sanos and Chios nearer the old art cen
tres OF Asia, and on the superior development
which distinguishing Paros and -41gina.
F1sistratus laid the foundations Of school OF
art which was destined to surpass them all. The
changes wrought IN the Acropolis and the city
pointed IN this account. which traces the
record OF achievement mainly in the sculptural
and architectural remains by a careful COMPARE
son OF the condition found by Pisistratus and
the results Of his efforts 10 ennoble It. The i'm
petus given TO letters is recounted with the
1oniEn influence and the development OF drama,
amplined under the succeeding change TO
democratic form of government Literature
nour1shed more successfully under the cemoc-
racy than the public works instituted under the
ryranny.
The stirring annals OF the salvation OF Greece
From the designs Of the Persian conQuerors are
reriewed. to usher in the story OF the Towering
n art and letters that followed IN the golden
age Leonidas and The1nistocles had paved the
way Cor Pericles and the authors and artists
who grRced his day. It was an industrious time,
when an unhanpered Unborn ability. disciplined
by long and careful training. found IN the ma
1ional enthusiasm consequent upon the escape
from destruction and again from despotisrn fun
scope for expression in free and natural art.
Establishment OF the city IN such works as the
Psrthenon was not the only business. The city
had become empire; its enforced allies were
SrsOtious and Sparta was more than trouble
some With the death Of Pericles and the long
struggle OF the Peloponessian war, the contests
OF parties within the State and the III advised
exploits OF a Eighty democracy, easily moved by
ambitious plans Of foreign aggression. the intel
7ectual history Of Athens had perhaps reached
Its heyday. Much quiet achievement IN the
things which survive marks, however, period
when the State IA its outside relations was IN
constant turmoil After this time the military
history. not without its honOTs. was one Of de-
fence, no longer aggression The city continued
TO hold its primacy as mother Of arts and elo-
Quence" After the pressure OF Philip and Alex
snder and the subservfency 10 foreign pOten-
tates. Rome finding an easy prey, was stin mas
tered "a the mind Athens then sinks into decay
and dismantlement with the conquest Of the
new Church. the inroa6 OF the Franks. the Vene-
1sans. the Turks, to emerge finally as a world
power once more. and the hostess OF scholar
ship
This account OF Athenian history, read IN the
progress OF its culture. has the merit Of convey
ing its substance clearly and It is Informed with
the charm which the subject exacts.