These Degenerate Days. 



trains accompanying these expeditions we may 

 conclude that they carried their provisions with 

 them, or that they had to forage for them on the 

 way. It is not likely that the commissariat was 

 a very extensive department with the Spartans 

 at any time, for they were very frugal. 



" The youths only were allowed to eat flesh, 

 older men ate black broth and pulse." This 

 does not sound very inviting ; we are told that 

 black broth was made of salt, vinegar, and 

 blood, etc.," whatever the etcetra might be. " If 

 they were moderate in their eating, they were in 

 their drinking also, thirst was the sole measure 

 thereof, and no Lacedaemonian ever thought of 

 drinking for pleasure." 



What a contrast to our twentieth century 

 customs ! It is hardly too much to say that we 

 do nothing except for pleasure, and moderation 

 is a virtue seldom taught. 



" It was the care of Lycurgus that from their 

 very birth the Lacedaemonians should be inured 

 to conquer their appetites." 



Surely, we shall have to learn from the ancients 

 how to solve our problem. Moderation seems to 

 have been the text of the wisest of their philo- 

 sophers. Socrates taught that, " the victory over 

 human habits and passion, which shall bring 

 them into such subjection as to be subservient to 

 the real advantage of the possessor, is that 

 necessary virtue which philosophers denominate 

 temperance." And thus Democritus : " To 

 conquer one's self is the noblest victory ; he is 

 the valiant man who conquers not enemies 

 merely, but desire." And thus Antisthenes : 



.11 



