The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1912-06-03

on ttS Jau. A - NeSS . ~ ~ & =
friend asked him why he had done &c
foolish a thing. and said that the peo
pie Of Athens were reviling him for It
81 know they are." answered Alcibia
des. "That Is why did 1t. 1t keeps
them from saying worse things about
me for while"
The anecdote is typical OF Alcib-
iades' life story. He was born 450 B. c.,
OF ancient and noble family. had good
looks, wealth and genius. He might
have risen to almost any height But
there was about him a queer streak.
q demon Of perversity that was ever
leading him to throw away his golden
chances and to commit needless
crimes and follies.
Greece In those days was In Its
glory. It was split up into several
dependent and seml-independent
states, of which Athens and Sparta
were the chief. Athens was noted
for its art, education and culture;
Sparta for its courage and stern SIM
plicity. The two were deadly rivals.
Persia, the great nation 10 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. (rhis did not pre-
vent shrewd politicians ruling the peo-
pie any more than 1t does nawadays.)
Alcibiades started life as a pupil Of
the wise old philosopher Socrates. The
two were dear friends, each having
saved the others life In battle. Yet
Socrates could not turn his pupil from
vice and gayety, nor induce him to
So the young millionaire's extrava-
gance soon became the scandal Of
Greece. He paraded the streets in
rich perfumed robes OF purp.e, laden
down with jewels; carried a shield OF
ivory and gold when he went to war.
and set the fashion in dress and dis
to all the idle youth OF the
city.
Yet Alclbiades was a gallant and
crafty soldier, a brilliant statesman
and lin spite of the fact that he stam-
mered and that he could not pro-
nounce the letter RI fiery orator.
His brains and his liberality raised
him high in the peoples favor. Then
1t was that his perversity made him
For example, he wanted an
alliance between Sparta and Athens.
Yet when Nicias, his rival, secured tnat
alliance instead of himself, Alcibiades
persuaded the Athenians to break with
Sparta.
He planned to make Athens ruler
Of all Greece. AS all early step in
his in Ais B. c. he planned an
expedition against Sicily, and had him
self chosen commander of it. 1t was
he chance of lifetime. But he spoil
ed that chance. On the eve of the cam
)aign AlcibiaGes went on an all-night
spree with some wild companions.
Next morning all the sacred busts Of
dermes (guardian god Of the states
iemocracy, erected here and there
through the city, were found hideously |
nutilated. AS Alcibiades had already |
won name for sacrilege, the blame |
vas (rghtly or noD laid to him. He |
vas allowed to start on the expedition.
,ut was almost instantly recalled to |
tand trial for the outrage.
Instead of coming back to Athens
o clear himself, he ran away, declar-
ng he wouldn't trust him own mother
n a matter Of such importance as a
ife-and-death trial. In his absence he
vas copvicted and condemned to die.
his did not greatly trouble him, for
10 fled to Sparta. There he betrayed
ii OF Athens secret plans and tried
0 stir the Spartans to war against the
Ithenians. He also curried favor by
to lead the simple, severe
fe of Sparta. But the chiefs of the
partans plotted to kill him, so he fled
He was now hand and glove with
he enemies Of Greece. and became
amous In Persia's service. But after
time Tissaphernes took offense at
Is behavior and tried to murder him.
lcibiades escaped. Through sheer
leverness he persuaded the Athenians
} pardon him and TO take him back
Ito favor. Again he found himself
'ader of the armies OF Athens. And
gain through mischance or perversity
e threw away his luck. He was de-
rived of command and after yarioua
ventures started. in 404, to Persia
, try his fortune at the court OF that
,untry. On the way he stopped at
he OF his country estates In the night
lie house was set afire by his enemies.
8 he rushed out. sword In hand, he
as pierced by dozen arrows and
IL dead in the courtyard OF the blaz-