Page:Travels & discoveries in the Levant (1865) Vol. 1.djvu/100

72 devoted a sum of money at the same time to the purchase of a set of instruments and machines for the teaching of natural philosophy, and for the formation of a library of scientific and classical works. The classical library I frequently have occasion to refer to, and am surprised to find how large a number of modern works on archæology, philology, and history it contains. Besides the Gymnasium, there are also in the town of Mytilene three primary schools,—one for boys and two for girls.

The natives of this island are thought to show a special aptitude for learning, and a large proportion of the bishops in the Greek church are Mytileniotes. They are lively and quick, and have much curiosity on first coming in contact with new phenomena; when they see me copying an inscription, they are curious to know the meaning and the date; but I do not find them disposed to follow up an inquiry when real labour is required. Yesterday I went out attended by a bare-legged urchin, who ran by the side of my mule. I asked him whether he could read or write. "No," he said with a sigh; "I am
 * " and then, after a little deliberation, came out an aphorism worthy of Pittacus himself:—

So, too, thought the ancient Mytilenæans; for it is recorded of them that they punished their revolted allies by forbidding them to teach their children reading or music, esteeming this prohibition as the greatest of penalties.$35$