Lower coast gazette., 1913-07-26

cook to prepare this broth for him,
bue he found it so unpleasant that he :
spat it out; the cook remarked that
it required Spartan hunting and a ]
Spartan appetite to enjoy it. ]
But of course there was often game ]
added to the boys fare, and it was no :
ticed that they borrowed dogs, Weap :
ons. and nets from one another 1or
hunting, without any quarrels or Ill
feeling resulting. The boys were train
ed to go about barefoot, wrapped IN a
single garment, and were forbidden to
carry a light at Snight, in order to &C.
custom them to finding their way cas-
i,v in the dark. They were allowed to
steal food and other things, provided
thew were not caught; in that case
they were severely beaten, not be-
cause they had stolen, but because
they had done it stupidity. This curl
ous sanction for immortality was con-
sistent with the theory that so long
as the Spartan boy was made a per
feet soldier, not only in fighting, u
in scouting, and finding himself, the
rights of others were of little moment.
But this extreme narrowness OF
view brought with it the natural con-
sequences. The pure spartans-as
distinguished from the other free La
conians, called the jewellers
about"-were a fierce and naughty ar
istocracy, who insulted their bond-ser'
wants. the Helots, and desplsed every
other class in Greece, especially those
that lived by trade. Even in war, eacn
Spartan was attended by several he
lots. who had to light his fire, pltch
his tent, and carry his weapons, and
who were seldom more than mere or
ganized campfollowers.
Hence when Sparta grew to be more
than a local power, and obtained, by
its military greatness, control over a
large part of Greece, the Spartans
sent out as governors, ambassadors
and leaders of armies, men who were
not above violence and treachery, and
some who were as bad as that bugbear
Of Greek history, the upstart tyrant
Philosophical observers who wrote OF
ideal states were divided between
their great admiration for the strlc'
discipline of Spartan education, ane
their belief that it's narroWness wa:
SIRE to make men unfit for duties
larger and higher than those of tn
mere soldier.
Xenophon is never tired of praisin'
his friend and patron, King Agesilaus
as the perfect product Of this educa
ton: but in spite Of his studied pal
egyric. the facts of history show tina
the king, even in the business OF wa
was no match for the genius of Epan
inondas, who enjoyed a far higher an
III wider culture. The perfect drill OF IN
spartans, which had won for them
. many battles, was powerless again'
- the better tactics Of the Theban. &c
On, strict an education, and an iron a
herence to rules, is likely to crush an
INT independent genius in that class tn
rts submits to it.
'n It is somewhat remarkable that VII
; all their devotion to drill n discl
,ne line, the spartans themselves seldo
'ee' produced any military genius. ~
men who fought for them, Brasld'
a.e and Gylippus, were indeed remar
able; but only the first was a pu
~, :, Spartan, and therefore admitted to 7
sne black broth Of the young aristocra'
eis Nevertheless, in dignity of life, a
still more in dignity of death, ma
Of them showed a nobility OF mi
that has even since justly command
tho admiration of men.