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 DEMOS DEMOSTHENES 797 which the full almanac for any year down to A. D. 2000, either according to the old or new style, may be turned to at once. He wrote also on calculation of insurances and on decimal coinage. "A Budget of Paradoxes," written by him for the " Athenaeum," has been pub- lished since his death (London, 1872). DEMOS, or Deme (Gr. (%of, people), the name applied to the 100, in later times 174, smaller districts into which Attica, including Athens, was divided, and 10 of which formed aphyle. Each demos had its own municipal officers, its assemblies, and even separate religious usages. The demarch was the representative of its interests. The chief of the executive sum- moned the assemblies, and had the manage- ment of the public estates and police. DEMOSTHENES, an Athenian general, promi- nent in the Peloponnesian war. He was sent in 426 B. C., with Procles, in command of 30 ships, on the annual cruise around the Pelo- ponnesus. Through the representations of the Messenians he was induced to attempt the re- duction of the ^Etolians, but his Locrian allies failing him, he met with a disastrous defeat. In the same year he was successful against the Ambraciotes and their Spartan allies at Olpse, and again at the battle of Idomene, where much spoil was taken. In 425 he captured a Spartan force which had besieged him in a fort he had built at Pylos in Messenia ; but the glory of this success was claimed by Cleon, who had been sent to supersede him. In 424 he possessed himself by a stratagem of the walls connecting Megara and Nlsssa, and shortly after took the latter place. In the same year he failed in an attempt on Boeotia, and was repulsed in a descent on the territory of Sicy- on. In 413 he was sent with Eurymedon in command of reinforcements for the Athenians under Mcias who were besieging Syracuse. On the disastrous defeat of the Athenians in a night attack, he counselled immediate with- drawal ; but other advice prevailed ; a fatal delay took place ; Gylippus returned with re- enforcements for the besieged, and the Athe- nians were obliged to retreat by land. While defending the rear against the enemy he was surrounded and captured. His death was de- creed by the Syracusan assembly, and he and Nicias suffered at the same time. DEMOSTHENES, an Athenian statesman and orator, born in Paeania, a deme of Attica, on the east side of Mt. Hymettus, and not far from Athens, probably in 385 B. 0., died in 322. His father was an Athenian citizen of the same name; his mother a daughter of Gylon, an Athenian exiled on a charge of betraying Nymph geum to the enemy. The elder Demos- thenes died when his son was seven years old, and left to him and his sister, two years young- er, an estate valued at more than 14 talents (about $14,000), then regarded as a consider- able property, probably equivalent to about twenty times as much, or $280,000, in our day. It was placed by will under the charge of three guardians, Aphobus, Demophon, and Therip- pides. These, however, proved unfaithful to their trust, and not only disregarded certain complicated directions of the will, in accord- ance with which Aphobus was to marry the widow and Demophon the daughter of the testator, with certain dowries, while Therip- pides received a certain annual income ; but they so squandered the property that when Demosthenes attained the legal age he found it reduced to 70 minae ($1,166, equal to about $23,000 at present). His early education, how- ever, was not neglected. According to his own assertion, in the oration on the crown, he received literary training suitable to his rank and fortune. Several of the most eminent men of his age are mentioned as his teachers, and among them Plato, Isocrates, and Isseus, though concerning these there is some doubt. On coming of age, in 366, Demosthenes com- menced legal proceedings for the recovery of his property. The case was not finally decided until two years later, although the board of arbi- trators, by whom it was twice examined, had rendered a decision in favor of Demosthenes. In 364 Demosthenes brought an action against Aphobus alone, before the archon. Aphobus was condemned to pay 10 talents. The pleas of the young orator in these trials are pre- served, but, though models of logical argument, they show scarcely any traces of that vehement and overpowering oratory for which Demos- thenes was afterward so distinguished. The prosecution of the guardians brought upon Demosthenes the hostility of Midias, a rich and powerful citizen, who manifested his hatred by a series of outrages, public and private. He forced his way into the house of Demos- thenes and insulted his family, for which the lat- ter prosecuted him and obtained a verdict (361). In 354 Demosthenes came forward, and, with great public spirit, offered to assume the cost of the cJioregia of his tribe, which for the two preceding years had neglected to make the usual provision for the entertainments at the Dionysian festival. Midias hindered the execution of this design by every species of annoyance, and finally entered the goldsmith's shop and endeavored to destroy the golden crowns which Demosthenes had provided for his chorus. He also assaulted Demosthenes in the orchestra, while he was performing his duties in the sacred character of choragus. Demosthenes brought an action against him, but whether it ever came to trial is doubted. Midias endeavored to intimidate Demosthenes, but without success ; it is asserted by Plutarch, however, that he finally consented to accept 30 mina3, and to withdraw the accusation. The date of these transactions is 353 B. C. Demosthenes had delivered the oration against the law of Leptines in 355. In it the orator discusses with consummate ability the whole doctrine of the sacredness of the public faith and the inviolability of contracts. In the same year he delivered the oration against Andro-