Year: 1876

More than two thousand years ago
in a village of Greece, that peninsu.
la which dips from the south Of Eu.
rope into the Mediterranean Sea, was
born a man whose name is down tc
this year 1876, spoken with reverence
on both sides of the world.


That name is Socrates. All who
read history and biography are fami.
lar with the story of his life and DEATH
but boys and girls who are not old
enough to have read much may like
to hear something about this great
name. lie was a wise and good phil
osophcr, andspent much of his time
in publicly teaching wisdom and vir-
tue to his countrymen. He also fear
lessly reproved the folly, corruption,
and oppression which abounded in
the city of Athens where he lived
Socrates had many disciples whohad
for him vcneration and love. He
had also enemies, because his pure
life and words ofrcproof awoke hatred
to the bad. Some of these enemies
attempted to silence him by ridi-
cule.


They caused comedy to be writ
ten and acted in the theatre in
which the noble philosopher was cx-
posed tolaughterandscorn Socrates
exhibited no anger at this insult
He even went to see the play, and
when the actor who represented him
self appeared on the stage, Socrates
arose to show to the audience the
real person whom they were desired
to ridicple.


When asked by q spectator if he
was not annoyed by this derision Of
himself, he answered, by no means.
| am only u host at public festival
where l provide large company
with entertainment


Finding that contempt availed
nothing his enemies used stronger
means, They sought to destroy him
by accusing him of crimes of which
they well knew he was not guilty
He was summoned to trial.


Plato, one of his followers, who af-
torwards became one of the eminent
philosophers and writers in the world
arose to address the court in behalfof
the accused, but was quickly silenccd.
Socrates then made his own defense,
in which he set forth powerfully and
clearly the base character andmotives
of his enemies; but the corrupt court
did not desire to know the truth, but
only to destroy Socrates. He was
condemned to die by drinking II cup
of poison hemlock,


lie received his sentence with COM
posure, but his friends heard it with
anger and grief.


When one said to him, You do not
deserve such fate he answered,
would you prefer that l deserve it?'


As the time approached when Soc
rates must die, his followers gathered
around him in the prison to receive
the sorrowful satisfaction of their last
conversation with their teacher and
friend.


When his friend Critic asked how
he wished to be buried, he said with
a smile, addressing himself to all the
friends gathered around him;


is it not strange, after all | have
said to convince you that | am going
to the society oftho happy, that Critic
still thinks this body, which will
soon bca lifolcss corpse, to be Socrates
Let him dispose of my body as he
plcascs; but let him not at its inter
mcnt mourn over it as if it were So
crates


When the time appointed for hin
to take tho poisonous drought hac
come, he babe farewell to his friends
prayed for his safe passage into Tho
unknown world, and then drank the
fatal cup. His friends burst int
tears, but he was calm and cntrcatct
thom TO show courage worthy of thc
friends of virtue