ject of his entire philosophy
was the attainment of correct ideas concerning moral and religious
obligations.

Although Socrates was the son of a sculptor of limited means, he was
educated according to the manner of the times. Music and poetry and
gymnastic exercises formed the principal part of the education of an
Athenian youth, and in these Socrates was instructed.

Through the influence of Crito, a wealthy Athenian who subsequently
became an intimate friend and disciple of our philosopher, he was
induced to rise into a higher sphere. He then began the study of
physics, mathematics, astronomy, natural philosophy, etc.

Socrates, however, was unable to obtain any satisfactory knowledge
from the philosophers and teachers of his time. Dissatisfied with the
pretended wisdom of the Cosmologists and Sophists he entirely
abandoned all speculative subjects and devoted his entire attention to
human affairs, and his earnestness as a social reformer brought upon
him increasing odium from the "Conservatives" of the day, as well as
from that still larger class whose feelings of malice and revenge
towards those who expose their follies and their vices, their wicked
private customs and public institutions, can never be appeased but
with the death of their victim. Accordingly, prejudice, unpopularity
and hate finally prevailed, and two charges were brought against him,
one of not believing in the national deities and the other of
corrupting the youth. That he did not believe in the idols that most
of his contemporaries worshiped, is true; but that he corrupted the
youth was as absurd as false, for all his teachings tended ever to
purify them, and lead them in the paths of virtue and truth. He
defended himself, and his defense is a perfect whole, neither more nor
less than what it ought to have been. Proudly conscious of his
innocence, he sought not to move the pity of his judges, for he cared
not for acquittal, and "exhibited that union of humility and
high-mindedness which is observable in none, perhaps, with the
exception of St. Paul." His speech availed not, and he was condemned
to drink the hemlock. He continued in prison thirty days before the
sentence was executed, and to this interval we are indebted for that
sublime conversation on the immortality of the soul which Plato has
embodied in his Phaedo.

[Illustration: SOCRATES DRINKING THE POISON (_From ancient Wall
Painting._)]

At length the fatal day arrived, w