The Daytona daily news. [volume] (Daytona, Fla.) 1903-1926, 1912-12-21

looks Dy cutting -
or Its tail. A AIcI61ZkI9
friend asked him why he had don> e
foolish thing. and said that thssurS|
pie Of Athens were reviling him Is Z
81 know they are" answered AlcIAlA
des. THAT is why did It.. It ke1ne
them from saying worse things abcrE
me for a while"
The anecdote Is typical Of AlcIh
ladies' life story. He was born asa re
OF ancient and noble family, had sood
looks, wealth and genius. He misht
have risen to almost any height. Bui
there was about him queer streaha
demon Of perversity that was eyu
leading him to throw away his golden
chances and to commit needles
crimes and follies.
Greece in those days was In l,s
glory. 1t was split up into seyersl
dependent and semi-independenl
states, of which Athens and Sparts
were the chief. Athens was noted
for it's art. education and culture:
Sparta for it's courage and stern sin
plicity. The two were deadly risals
Persia, the great nation to the east
ward, was ever seeking to destroy
both Athens and Sparta were dem
ocracies in the strongest sense OF The
word, the voice of the people always
ruling the state. (This did not pre-
vent shrewd politicians ruling the PEG
pie any more than it does nawadayzl
Alcibiades started life as a pup!l d
the wise old philosopher Socrates. Th
two were dear friends, each having
saved the others life In battle. Ya
Socrates could not turn his pupil from
4 vice and gayety, nor induce him 10
follow wisdom rather than pleasurs
So the young millionaire's extrays
gance soon became the scandal d
Greece. He paraded the streets h
rich perfumed robes Of purple, laden
down with jewels: carried a shield d
ivory and gold when he went to war
and set the fashion in dress and de
sipation to all the idle youth Of the
city.
Yet Alcibiades was a gallant and
crafty soldier, a brilliant statesmaa
and Tin spite of the fact that he STAN
mered and that he could not pro
ncunce the letter RI a fiery orator
His brains and his lberaIity raised
him high in the peoples favor. Then
it was that his perversity made hin
unlucky. For example, he wanted an
alliance between Sparta and Athens
Yet when Nicias, his rival, secured tat
alliance instead Of himself, Alcibiadss
persuaded the Athenians to break with
Sparta.
He planned to make Athens rules
of all Greece. AS an early step ID
this in 415 B. c. he planned an
expedition against Sicily, and had him
self chosen commander of it. 1t was
the chance Of a lifetime. But he spoil
ed that chance. On the eve of the cam
paign Alci0iades went on an all-nighi
spree with some wild companions
Next morning all the sacred busts Of
Hermes guardian god OF the states
democracy, erected here and there
through the city, were found hideousI
mutilated. AS Alcibiades had ALREADY
won g name for sacrilege, the blame
was Brightly or noD laid to him. Re
was allowed to start on the expedition.
but was almost instantly recalled to
stand trial for the outrage
Instead of coming back to Athens
to clear himself, he ran away, deelar.
Ing he wouldn't trust him own mother
IN a matter OF such Importance as a
4ite-and-death trial. In his absence he
was convicted and condemned to die
Ihis did not greatly trouble him. for
ne ned to Sparta. There he betrayed
all of Athens secret plans and tried
to stir the Spartans 10 war against the
Atnenians. He also curried favor By
pretending to lead the simple, severe
lie or Sparta. But the chiefs OF the
SPartans plotted to kill him, so he fed
he was now hand and glove win
the enemies OF Greece, and became
+ famous in Persia's service. But after
time Tissaphernes took offense al
MS behavior and tried To murder him
. Alclbiades escaped Through sheer
cteYerness he persuaded The Athenians
10 pardon him and I'D rake him back
INTO favor. Again be 19aDd himself
leader Of the armies %. Arlens. And
again Through u.s-h4u-e Dr. peryeTslV
lie threw away mis- luck lie vas de-
pE1yed Of command. aa4 a--er various
. adventures started. IN 4e4 TO Persia
10 Try his fortune at the court Of thar
A