als in the temples; and the beautiful amphora, a vase given as
a prize at the great Greek festivals, and the progenitor of the silver
cups we now give the winners in athletic games. This latter type of
vase had two handles and frequently its base was tapered to a point in
order that it might rest in a tripod, or be thrust into the earth. At
the Louvre in Paris there is a very famous Greek amphora which I hope
you will see some day."

"I should like to see it," declared Theo eagerly.

"I intend you shall, son," put in Dr. Swift. "I mean to give you the
chance to see all the finest things in the world, if I have my way."

Theo smiled gratefully into his father's face.

"When we marvel at the grace and perfection of Greek decoration we
must bear in mind that as a spur to their artistic sense the people
had beauty constantly before them. Theirs was a country of smiling
skies, of blue heaven and golden sunshine; their buildings breathed
the very essence of all that is highest in art; even the throngs that
filled the streets were picturesque and classic in appearance. For in
those days fashions of dress did not change as capriciously as they do
now. A beautiful style of costume was adopted and retained, and in
consequence artists had ever before them men and women who were
excellent models for chaste decoration. In our time such a procedure
would be impossible, as the national dress of both our men and women
has become utilitarian rather than beautiful, and now has little
artistic to recommend it. If we wish classic draperies and faultless
styles of hair-dressing we must revert to the past for our models."

There was a silence broken only by the snapping of the fire.

"To give you some idea how much of this pottery the Greeks turned out
I must tell you that at Naples there is a collection of two thousand
Greek cups and vases. The Vatican at Rome has one thousand more;
Florence has seven hundred; Turin five hundred; Vienna three hundred;
Berlin about seventeen hundred; the Louvre at Paris fifteen hundred;
and the British Museum nearly twenty-six hundred. Besides these there
are some twenty thousand more scattered all over the world in private
collections."

A whistle of surprise escaped Theo.

"Not all of these are equally good, however," went on
Mr. Croyden. "The Etruscan work done by wandering Greek potters and by
some persons rated as identical with the Roman Samian ware, is one of
the finest varieties remaining to