64 ORIGIN OF GREEK GENIUS. 



blacks, and there can be no reasonable doubt that the 

 Celts who first migrated into Europe took the wives as 

 well as the lands of the natives. The aborigines were 

 therefore largely absorbed by the Celts, to the detri- 

 ment of that race, before the arrival of the Germans, 

 whose blood remained comparatively pure. 



We may freely use the doctrine of intermarriage to 

 explain the difference in colour between the sepoy 

 and his officer. We may apply it — though with 

 less confidence — to explain the difference in character 

 and aspect between the Irish and the English ; 

 but we do not think that the doctrine will help us 

 much towards expounding the genius of Greece. And 

 if the superiority of that people was not dependent in 

 any way on race distinctions, inherent or acquired, it 

 must have been in some way connected with locality 

 and other incidents of life. 



A glance at the map is sufficient to explain how it 

 was that Greece became civilised before the other 

 European lands. It is nearest to those countries in 

 which civilisation first arose. It is the border land of 

 the east and west. The western coast of Asia and the 

 eastern coast of Greece lie side by side ; the sea be- 

 tween them is narrow, the islands like stepping stones 

 across a brook. On the other hand, a mountain wall 

 extends in the form of an arc from the Adriatic to the 

 Black Sea, and shuts off Europe from Greece, which is 

 thus compelled to grow towards Asia as a tree grows 

 towards the light. Its coasts are indented in a pecu- 

 liar manner by the sea. Deep bays and snug coves, 

 forming hospitable ports, abound. The character of 

 the iEgean is mild and humane ; its atmosphere is 

 clear and favourable for those who navigate by the eve 

 from island to island, and from point to point. The 



