Evening star., 1925-02-27

1t was not by accident that Alder
man began his recent oration on will
son with a reference to PericIes Ora
tory itself, as a distinct art, began
with that gifted HELENE.
In his Grafton on the causes of
Athenian greatness he gives in a few
sentences stronger Interpretation of
Greek civilization than can be found
in as many chapters in any modern
book on the subject.
Simple, yet luminous language: full
of meaning, yet singing itself along
What could be more charming than
his eulogy of tolerance-"not angry
with neighbor for following the
bent of his own humor," etc
I'VE are happy in a form of govern
ment which cannot envy the laws of
our neighbors-for it hath served as
model to others, but is original at
Athens And this form of govern
ment, as committed not to the few,
but to the whole body Of the people,
lis called democracy. How differ
ent, soever. in a private capacity.
we all enjoy the same general quail
ity our laws are fitted to preserve;
and superior honors just as we excel
The public administration is not con-
fined to particular family, but is
attainable only by merit Poverty
is not a hindrance, since whoever is
able to serve his country meets with
no obstacle to preferment from his
first obscurity.
The offices of the state we go
through without obstructions from
one another; and live together in
the mutual endearments of private
life without suspicious; not angry
with a neighbor for following the
bent of his own humor, not putting
on over his pleasure that counte-
nance of discomfort which pains.
though it cannot punish. Thus in
private life we converse without diff
fidence or damage. while we dare not
on any account offend against the
public, through the reverence we
bear to the magistrates and the
laws, chiefly to those enacted for re-
dress of the injured, and to those
unwritten, breach of which is
thought a disgrace.
Our laws have further provided
for the mind most frequent intermis-
sions of care by the appointment of
public recreations and sacrifices
throughout the year, elegantly per-
formed with a peculiar pomp. the
daily delight of which is a charm
that puts melancholy to flight The
grandeur of this our Athens causeth
the produce of the whole earth to be
imported here. by which we reap a
familiar enjoyment, not more of the
delicacies of our own growth than
those of other nations"
The following from Demosthenes
pictures the end of the golden
age" of Pericles 1t is a marvellous
example of building up a climax along
dual lines-Garrying the sting in each
sentence over into the last word, and
at the same time making all the SEN
tences lead up to the central thought
(not personal but universaD that
freedom and independence have been
annihilated."
But why do I censure him for this
when, with calumny far more shock
ing, has he assailed me? He that
charges me with Philippizing-O
Heaven and Earth!-what would he
not say? BY Hercules and the gods.
If one had honestly to inquire, dis
carding all expressions of spite and
falsity, who the persons really are,
to whom the blame of what has hap
pened may by common consent fairly
be thrown, it would be found that
they are persons in the various states
like Aeschines, not like me-persons
who, while Philips power was feeble
speedily warning and exhorting and
giving salutary counsel, sacrificed
general interests for the sake of self
ish lucre, deceivtng and corrupting
their respective countrymen, until
they made them slaves.
But the day will not last me to re-
count the names of all the traitors.
All of these, o Athenians, are men
of the same politics in their own
countries as this party among you
profiigates and parasites and mis-
creants, who have each of them Grip
pied their fatherlands; toasted away
their liberty, first to Philip and last
to Alexander; who measure happiness
by their belly and all that is base,
while freedom and independence.
which the Greeks of olden time re-
garded as the test and standard of
well being, have been annihilated."