The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1912-10-10
-AE1E JEFFEREONHAN

The child was nursed and bathed and
swaddled, much as our mothers tend their
own babes. There was the cradle, and the
rattle and the toy house, and the dolls-such
as our little ones have There were lullaby
songs such as our wives have sung as
our mothers sang to us when we were infants
IN arms.
AS early as was judicous, one of the slaves
became tutor to- the child; and then, later, it
went to school, to be taught reading, writing
and arithmetic Vocal and instrumental
attention was paid to physical culture, to
swimming, riding> and other athletic exer-
cises
When school-days were over, the young
Greek joined the class of some noted philoso-
pher, and listened daily to lectures on the
great topics of eternal interest and import
ance.
But let me refresh Mr. Windle's memory,
by quoting from the great historian, Lord
Macaulay, whose works find such favor with
the Roman church that they have never been
listed as forbidden books.
The quotation which follows, is from the
Essay on "Athenian Orators"
There seems to be every reason to believe that
in general intelligence the Athenian poDulace far
surpassed the lower orders OF any community
that has ever existed 1t must be considered
that to be a citizen was to be legisIator-a sol
dler-a judge-one upon whose voice might
depend the fate of the wea1ttiest tributary state
OF the most eminent public man. The lowest
Offices, both of agriculture and Of trade, were in
common performed by slaves. The common
wealth supplied it's meanest members with the
support Of life, the opportunity Of leisure, and
the means of amusement Books were indeed,
few, but they were excellent, and they were
accurately known It is not by turning over
libraries hy nd int
contemplating q few great models, that the mind
is best disciplined. of letters must now
read much that he soon forgets and much from
which he learns nothing worthy to be remem-
bered. The best works employ, in general, but
a small portion Of his time. Demosthenes is said
to have Transcribed, six times, the History of
Thucydides. If he had been young politician
of the present age he might in the same space Of
time have skinned innumerable newspapers and
pamphlets. do not condemn that desultory
mode of study which the state OF things in our
day renders matter Of necessity But l may be
allowed to doubt whether the changes on which
the admirers Of modern institutions delight to
dwell have improved our condition much in
reality" as in appearance. Rumford it is said,
proposed to the Elector of Bavaria a scheme for
feeding his soldiers at a much cheaper rate than
formerly. His plan was simply to compel them
to masticate their food thoroughly. small
quantity thus eaten would according to that
famous protector, afford more sustenance than
large meal hastily devoured. I do not know
how Rumford's proposition received; but to
the mind believe it will be found more nutri-
tious to digest page than to deyour volume.
Books, however, were the least part of the
education of an Athenian citizen. Let u.s. for a
moment transport ourselves, in thought, to that
glorious city. Let imagine that we are enter
ing it's gates, in the time of it's power and glory
crowd is assembled round a portico All are
gazing with delight at the entabIature for Phi
dias is putting up the frieze. We turn into
another street, rhapsodist is reciting there;
men, women, children, are throngng round him;
the tears running down their cheeks; their
eyes are fixed their very breath is still; for he
is telling how Priam fell at the feet of Achilles
and kissed those hands,-the~ terrible,-the MUIR