President of the Athenian Archæological Society. It is written in the meters of the eighth of Pindar's Olympic Odes, whose Æolo-Doric dialect is closely imitated throughout five strophes, and as many antistrophes and epodes. To gratify the curiosity of any who may be desirous of comparing this modern imitation with the original of the Theban bard, we reprint the introductory lines: Αγρόταν Δίρκας ποτὶ νάμασι καὶ Κάδμου πύλαις Στυφλὰν ὀρύσσοντα χθόνα πρίν ποτε φαντί Εγκασιν γᾶς δηθάκι κευθομέναν φόρμιγγ' εύπακτον ἀνευρεῖν, Χειρί περ ἀθιγέα Βροτέᾳ, θαῦμ' ἐννέπειν, The thoroughness of the instruction imparted in the University of Athens is guaranteed by the fine natural abilities and accurate scholarship of the principal professors of the four faculties. Until recently the department of theology boasted of two eminent scholars widely divergent in their views: Misael Apostolides, a vigorous writer, whose devotion to the party which may be styled the "High Church," or Russian, has been rewarded by his successive elevation to the bishopric of Patras, and within the present year to the metropolitan throne of Athens; and Theocletus Pharmakides, a far more exact and impartial explorer in the wide domain of ecclesiastical history, of whose activity in promoting the independence of the Church of Greece an account was given in a previous volume of this Review. Of the professors in the law department Mr. Pellikas is perhaps the most eminent both for extensive acquirements and skill in the exposition of principles. As a lawyer, he is inferior to none of his many rivals, and he has distinguished him self more than once by his pleas in behalf of the principle of religious freedom consecrated by the constitution of his country. His acknowledged pre-eminence has been evinced by his selection as prytanis, or president of the University, an office of honor which is filled by members taken from the different faculties in turn. His predecessor was Misael Apostolides, and his successor Philippos Ioannou, of the school of philosophy. *In the number for October, 1857. The last named occupies the chair of ethics. One of his most prominent colleagues is Professor Asopios, whose lectures on the Greek classics are the most frequented of all those in the department of philology. He has twice occupied the post of prytanis, and his discourses pronounced on the occasion of his assuming the office, as well as his more labored writings on syntax, and on the history and true character of Alexander the Great, display an extraordinary familiarity not only with the languages, but with the literature of other nations. The late Professor Manouses, the historian, and Professor Paparegopoulos, lecturing on the same theme, may be mentioned as among the more distinguished and popular instructors. Professor Rangabes combines the qualities, rarely found associated, necessary for the dramatic poet and the successful archæologist. In the medical school Professor Olympios, honored many years since with a complimentary degree by the university of this city, has the reputation of remarkable ability in the pursuit of his favorite branch. Even a very limited acquaintance with the body of the students will convince a stranger that there is to be found in their midst the ordinary diversity of character and application. Their average age is very considerably in advance of that of the majority of the students in our American colleges, while their studies correspond very nearly to those which occupy the attention of our professional students in the schools of theology, medicine, and law, or in the course of their private reading. There is consequently more manliness than is to be expected from a younger age, and there is but little call for the exercise of discipline on the part of the government of the institution. The young men are even permitted to express their approbation by clapping of hands; and not infrequently the utterance of obnoxious political sentiments is the signal for a slight manifestation of disapproval in the way of stamping or scraping of the feet. In general, however, the utmost decorum prevails, and the interest of the pupils is evinced by the full and minute notes which they take. This laborious system, which is prosecuted by some during as many as six or seven different lectures on the same day, is unavoidable from the great lack of suitable textbooks in the Greek language. Almost all the important manuals in use are the productions of persons connected with the university, and it is a pleasing fact that the number is rapidly increasing from year to year. The students, finding no apartments in the public edifice of the institution, and being furnished with no colleges where they can live together, are scattered over the city. Few are possessed of any large pecuniary means, and it is only by exercising great frugality that the majority succeed in defraying their necessary expenses. A small room, illfurnished, and by no means orderly in the arrangement of its scanty contents, is their home during the sessions of study, which generally extend from the month of October until that of June. Their meals the students procure in the restaurants and coffee houses, whose appearance is, even at the present time, not unlike that of similar establishments in Turkey. The patriotism of private Greeks, at home and abroad, has striven to connect with the university all those accessories which are ordinarily combined with similar institutions im Europe. The library has already attained a size which places it in the first rank; the number of volumes, we believe, is at the present time between 100,000 and 125,000. It is aug mented every year by the addition of several thousand new books. The nucleus of a museum of natural history, and a small cabinet of antiquities, some of them belonging to the medieval period, are also to be found in the university edifice. A numismatical collection, now embracing about 8,000 coins, it is intended to make the basis of a special museum which shall illustrate, by well-preserved specimens, the entire history of Greece, as also that of the principal other states of the ancient world. A circular, requesting contributions of valuable coins from all parts of Europe and America, has been recently sent to a number of literary men in both hemispheres. Another and more important foundation, auxiliary to the university, is that of the astronomical observatory, built and fully equipped with instruments by the liberality of a single wealthy merchant residing in Austria. It crowns the summit of the former "Hill of the Nymphs," and commands an extensive view of the plain of Athens. We have devoted our attention hitherto exclusively to the university, or "Panepistemion" as it is termed. Our view of that institution will not be complete without a glance at the inferior grades of schools which constitute a preparation for it. FOURTH SERIES, VOL. XIV.—25 The gymnasia, corresponding in their character partly to our high schools and partly to our colleges, stand next in order. Here instruction is given not by lectures, but by recitations, and the attention of some of the most able and thorough teachers in Greece is devoted to their management. It is the intention of the government that there shall be at least one gymnasium in the capital of each of the ten nomes, or provinces, into which the kingdom is divided; but as yet it has succeeded in establishing only seven gymnasia, of which two are in the city of Athens, and the remainder at Nauplia, Patræ, and Tripolis, in Peloponnesus, at Lamia, on the borders of Turkey, and Hermopolis, on the island of Syra. There were recently 1,124 scholars in the gymnasia, taught by 50 professors. Their instructions do not comprehend philosophy and the sciences in general; but the study of the ancient classics, and of the Greek language in particular, is prosecuted as it is in most of our colleges. Next come the Hellenic schools, 79 in number, with 155 teachers and assistants, and 5,342 scholars. And to those schools which are supported by government are to be added 12 private schools of the same rank for boys, with 718 pupils, and 10 girls' schools, with 900 pupils. Below these again are the demotic, or common schools, in which the rudiments of all science are imparted; of these there should be one in each demus, or canton. They number 458, with 533 teachers, and 42,353 scholars of both sexes. The 32 private institutions of the same grade comprehend 42 teachers and 2,880 scholars. In some places there are primary, or reading schools, distinct from the demotic; they amount to 300 for the entire kingdom, and contain about 10,000 children. From the Report of the Minister of Public Instruction and Religion, made in the year 1859, from which the foregoing statement is drawn, it is seen that there were at the commencement of that year 64,061 pupils attending 901 institutions of learning, and taught by over 1,200 teachers. The numbers are creditable and encouraging for a kingdom which boasts little over a million inhabitants, and which has so recently entered upon a course of systematic improvement. And it should not be forgotten that besides the series of educational establishments of which mention has been made, there are several which, from their peculiar character, cannot be enumerated among them. For instance, there is provision made for the theological training of candidates for orders, in four schools entirely distinct from the theological department of the university, and one hundred and four pupils were in attendance upon these. There are likewise agricultural, military, and polytechnic colleges, some of which have met with signal success. ADDITIONAL NOTE.-Since the foregoing article went to press the Greek journals have brought us the intelligence of recent commotions, both in the university and the gymnasium of Athens, in consequence of which the government has ordered both institutions to be temporarily closed. Intelligent Athenians deplore the necessity of such a step, entailing upon many a student the loss of an entire year. The disturbances seem to be connected with the formidable rebellion which has broken out in Nauplia among the soldiers quartered in that important town. Unhappily, we have little reason to anticipate any advantage either to the cause of civilization or religion from the success of a movement headed by ambitious and bigoted demagogues. The Bishop of Mantinea, who stands convicted by common report of having taken an active part in it, of having sprinkled the conspirators with consecrated water, and administered the oath to them, is a prelate most decided in his hostility to evangelical religion and its advocates. When, by the exertions of the agent of the British and Foreign Bible Society, the sacred Scriptures had been distributed in the cells of the common prison of Tripolis, (Tripolitza,) in Arcadia, a year since, it was this false pastor who tore from the hands of the degraded convicts the pages of the Word of life which solaced their solitude and comforted their troubled hearts. To such impiety he added hypocritical measures, in order to secure all the copies of the Bible which might have been bought by the peasantry of his diocese. From such a source can come no remedy for the evils of a bad administration of government and a worse system of religious training. ART. III-THE SONG OF SOLOMON. TRANSLATED, ARRANGED, AND ANNOTATED. ACT (day) I. (Part) Scene I. (Chapter i, 2-4.) TIME. Fifth day before marriage. Morning. PERSONS. Shulammith, (the bride elect,) her attendants, and charioteer; in the distance Solomon, attendants, and companions. PLACE. An eminence on the way to the Palace, overlooking the company awaiting. SHULAMMITH. 2 May he kiss me with the kisses of his mouth.' For better are thy tokens of endearment than wine. That is, may our greetings be of the most affectionate and sincere character. Query. More exhilarating, intoxicating. |