TO QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER STUDY IN THE DECEMBER NUMBER OF “THE
CHAUTAUQUAN.”
By ALBERT M. MARTIN, GENERAL SECRETARY C. L. S. C.
1. The County of Westchester, in the State of New York, which is about
half the size of Attica, contains about five hundred square miles.
2. The Romans gave the name “Greeks” to the Hellenes probably for the
reason that they gained their first knowledge of the country from a
tribe in the northwest of Greece called Græci, and they accordingly
gave the name of that tribe to the whole country, calling it Græcia.
3. The following are two examples of Spartan laconisms: “Either this,
or on this.” [Either bring this, or be brought on this. Attributed to
Gorgo on presenting a shield to her son.] “Let Xerxes come and take
them.” The reply of Leonidas when summoned by Xerxes to surrender his
arms.
4. Among the literary tidings from modern Greece that seem to
foretoken close at hand a signal renaissance of Greek literature, are
the following: With the establishment of the kingdom in the present
century, education is spread over every corner of free Greece. In
education the Greek child does not learn the grammar of the modern
language, but of the ancient. Perhaps no nation now produces so much
literature in proportion to its numbers. The Greeks seem restless in
their desire to give expression to their thoughts. Many rich Greeks
have published books at their own expense. Very frequently scholars
produce their best works for periodicals, or even newspapers. Almost
every literary man of eminence makes efforts in every literary
direction. An American classical school has recently been opened in
Athens by Prof. Goodwin, of Cambridge, Mass., on the site of an old
school of philosophy. The University of Athens is assuming special
prominence as a literary institution.
5. Homer was Blind Melesigenes. He was so called because he was
supposed to have been born on the borders of the river Meles.