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

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who have achieved endur-
ing fame as lawgivers are re-
markably few in number; not
ably, Moses, Lycurgus, Confu-
cius, Solon, Buddha, Mohammed and
Christ. Among this brilliant assemblage
Lycurgus occupies rather peculiar po-
sition on account Of the eccentricity of
his laws. History is somewhat skepti-
cal as to the authenticity of Lycurgus'
existence, and attributes his origin to
1t is reputed that he lived
about the ninth century B. G., and the
laws which it is alleged he formulated
were as unique and brutal code as
was ever drafted by the hand Of man.
They were unique because the world
before or since had never seen their
like; and for harshness and unrelenting
bigotry, they have no parallel in an
cient or modern history.
When Lycurgus appeared on the po-
litical horizon, Sparta had degenerated
into feverish state that required he
rolc measures to deterge the social and
political atmosphere. To understand
that the ex1gencies of the occasion de-
manded such drastic procedure, one
need only study the history of ancient
Rome, Carthage, Athens and Sparta.
Even today with our much-heralded
civilization we find it sometimes neces-
sary to place hitherto hw-abiding
community under martial law in order
to protect it from the mob. These vio-
lent outbreaks which in this country
have from time to time disturbed the
peace of the community, state and ma
tion, have occurred since the dawn of
history, and no nation has been exempt
from their vicissitudes. 1t is not
strange, then, that when Lycurgus was
called upon to save the state and settle
the strife between the aristocracy and
the laboring classes, he went to the
root of the evil by removing the prim-
ary causes which, as he, imagined, per-
lied the existence Of Sparta.
Lycurgus had no personal ambition;
the exploitation of the state was his
Dream. The laws which he inaugur-
ated fully accomplished all that he de-
sired; and Sparta, under the ultra DEM
ocratic institutions fostered by the far
seeing and wise Lycurgus, can attribute
to him that transcendant glory and SUI
premacy which she so ably achieved
among her Grecian rivals and SO gal
lantiy maintained against such over
whelming opposition.
In reforming the currency Of Sparta
and correcting one of the principal
causes of oppression and deep-seated
hatred, we either get glimpse of Ly.
cnrgus' wonderful genius, or else view
of the humorous side of his strange
personality. He prohibited the use Of
the regular coin and substituted ar
iron coin in its place of such bulk thai
it could be handled only with difficulty
AS treasure or for ornamental purposes
it was Of no value; and, on account o.
its size and weight in comparison t,
the value Of each coin, it was poten
tial factor in destroying the commerce
between Sparta and other nations
This reform was one of many promul
gated for the purpose of establishing
absolute equality among the people
but viewed in the light of moderl
banking and commercial transaction
its absurdity only provokes smile o
disbelief. After reforming the govern
ment according to his views. Lycurgu
began at the social institutions. First
he equally divided the land among ricl
and poor alike. Each piece of land wa
barely sufficient to supply the neces
saries of life for single family, as j
was abhorrent to his sense of justic
that any man should live in luxury an
idleness. Ye Gods! just think of wha
would happen to poor Lycurgus if h
was to appear on earth today and not
the barbaric splendor INDUCED in occs
sionally by multi-millionaires.
Second, he now struck his most vita
blow against luxury by establishin
public eating tables. Everybody wa