But, because the world was so great, so wide, they began with one of their cities, the one of which a poet sang,
‘O rich and renowned and with violets crowned,
O Athens the envied of nations.’
Here they built temples which became the wonder of the world, and in them they placed statues of the old gods of Hellas, beautiful statues wrought by master hands out of ivory and gold.
Poets and philosophers lived in Athens, too, and so literature and art spread the glory of Greece far and wide, moulding the thoughts and quickening the deeds of many peoples.
Before the glory of Greece faded, Europe had learned from her to follow truth, to love beauty.
This story tells but a small part of the wonder of this land, yet I hope that it will make you love her and wish to learn more about her.—Your friend,
MARY MACGREGOR.