The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-06-05
TODAY I'M HISTORY
Greatest Philosopher Of Antiquity
SUNDAY, JUNE 5. 1910.


Plato who was one oi the dscipIea oi
Socrates. rcyerentiy entitled nm w
pest OF all men oil TINS tllnc' 1uI Set
and most JUST oi ali men; lh,S iV'I
VIrtLouS and lllustriouS OF all ancicuI pms.
osopners was porn on june D. 11o -, ~,
ana Gled AT the age OF a. DclnS 1 uI'1""''s
condemned to death. lie was hdli,r va
Athens and under ArcnelauS anu -hhoI.
agoras laid the foundation ol the e'-
empIary virtue which succeeding "se'
have ever loved and venerated.
Socrates, like the rest OF ms county
men, In tne neld OF battle. fought WIN
holiness and intcrcpidity, ana 10 ms Coui
age two OF his friends ana ulsCiPiSS'
Aenopnon and AlclDlaocs, o"eG INC Pic
Iscrvation OF ineir lives But the chardCtei
OF Socrates appears more conspicuous ahu
dl2nlned as "a philosopher ana lhoVdIlSt
than as IA warrior. Bis principles "SlI
enforced by the unparalleled e@anIpie D'
an aifcctionatc husband, tender pNIcu''
a warlilSc soldier and IL paLriotlc citl%eh'
in his own person. IL,
The father OF Socrates was sculp-
tor and the philosopher followed the same
profession in his youth. HIS physical con-
stitution was robust 10 an eNtrdoiulhdfS
degree enabling him 10 endure tne hatu, h
est military service ana 10 hVe ms o"n
chosen lne of superiority 10 all wants
above the narest nccessaries oil HE. TIC
had the usual education oil an Athenlah
ciuzen which included not only a kno"i-
edge of the mother tongue ana leauinSs iys
in The Greek poets, but also the elements
Of arithmetic. geometry ana aslroholh3'
as then known.
Except In connection with his phiio-
sophical career, few circumstances OF ms
life are known. 1t was not until about
the middle period of his life tnat ne gave
himself UP TO the career that MADE hlh
famous. Dcserycdly styled philosopher.
he neither secluded himself for study nor
opened a school Tor the regular instruc-
ton OF. pupils. lie disclaimed the appel
lation OF teacher; his practice was 10 tax
or converse.
Early In the morning lie frequented the
public walks, the symnasia for Dodily
training, and The schools where youths
were receiving instruction; he was TO be
seen In the marketplacc at the hour when
IL WAS most crowded. among the booths
and tables where goods were exposed for
sale. He talked with any one young or
old, rich or poor, that sought to address
him, and in the hearing Of all who stood
by.
Finally his teachings became the sub
ject or much controversy among the skep-
tical; he was brought TO trial and was
condemned to death by the Athenian
Judges. When he was accused OF cor
rupting the youth by false doctrines, he
defended himself with great boldness. He
spent the interval OF thirty days between
his condemnation and death in tranquil
discourses with his disciples, and having
drank the cup Of hemlock with a firm
and cheerful cOuntenance amid his weep
ing friends, died with perfect composure.
expressing 10 the last his belief In an
immortality beyond the grave.
1t was usual at Athens for execution
10 follow condemnation on the following
morning, but 1t happened that Socretes's
condemnation took place on the eve of the
day appointed for the sacred ceremony Of
crowning the galley which carried the
ancient offerings to the gods worshiped
at Delos, and immemorlal traditions for
bade all executions till the sacred vessel s
return. Thus the death of Socrates was
delayed thirty days. His friends tried 70
assist him To escape. but no persuasion
would tempt him 10 do this. He had al
ways taught the duty OF obedience TO the
laws and he would not furnish an exam
pie Of the breach OF il. To no purpose
was IL urged that he had been unjustly
conference.-the had always held that
wrong did not Justify wrong.
On June was fought the battle of
Magenta in 1859. 1t is the date on which
the first commercial treaty was concluded
with Great Britain in 1854. 1t Is the
birthday OF Bushrod Washington. first
president OF american Colonization So
ciety Q762); William Spraguc who in
troduced calico printing into the United
States u773); Columbus Delano. secretary
OF the interior under Grant GSO9): and
JabeZ l.. NJ Curry the soldier and states