478 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



Persia, founds the so-called Athenian Empire. Revolution and inter- 

 state wars were rife, but were all for the one object — the leadership of 

 Greece against Asia. In every war up to the time of Philip of Macedon, 

 Persian gold and Asiatic sympathy had to be reckoned with. Greek 

 unity was never attained and apparently hardly desired, but Greek 

 supremacy was both desired and won. Greece was victor in the seven- 

 century contest, and the gloomy conservatism of Asia yielded to the 

 vitalizing progressiveness of Greece in the policy of Europe; the home 

 triumphed over the harem; hierarchal dictation and monarch's whims 

 gave way to national law on this side of the ^gean; and individual 

 freedom was still possible. 



Throughout military history, tlie volunteer has always fought the 

 most momentous battles, and when the old Greek citizen-soldier drove 

 back Asia he not only saved his people, but fixed the civilization of a 

 continent. Great as was the warrior's service to his race, correspond- 

 ingly liberal were the honors and awards bestowed by a grateful na- 

 tion. By special decree of the Athenian Assembly — that national 

 " town-meeting " — the soldier of conspicuous prowess was voted ex- 

 emption from the financial exactions of state, which not only antici- 

 pated the exemption from taxes of estates up to $1,000 of our union 

 soldiers — so patriotically granted by many of our states to-day — but 

 extended further and covered all fiscal contributions imposed by gov- 

 ernment in either peace or war. Seats of honor at the national 

 theater and great games were awarded ; memorial statues were erected ; 

 and crowns for bravery, much like the Victoria Cross and Congressional 

 medal of to-da}', decorated the heroes of the Grand Army of the Re- 

 public of Athens. 



And too, that martial state which bore the brave little band of 

 Leonidas and the Spartan mother could hardly fail to do honor to her 

 noble sons who fell fighting for their hearths and shrines. Lycurgus, 

 the Spartan lawgiver, Plutarch tells us, ordered that none but soldiers 

 who lost their lives in battle should have their names, origin and deeds 

 inscribed on their tombs. With green boughs they were laid away and 

 honored with an oration by their fellow-countrymen; but the cham- 

 pions of the host and those Spartan braves who were considered com- 

 plete warriors were buried in their red coats, with their arms affixed 

 upon their tombs. 



How deeply the stern martial virtues of the old Spartan life were 

 engraved on the hearts of her people the mother's treatment of her 

 soldier-boy clearly reveals. It was customary for the Spartan matrons, 

 after an engagement near home, to examine the dead bodies of their 

 sons. Those who received more wounds behind than in front were 

 carried away secretly or left in the common heap; but those who had 

 the greatest number of wounds in their breasts were carried off with 



