laced under the care of public guardians. "Men
should have a fear of the loneliness of orphans ... and of the souls of
the departed, who by nature take a special care of their own
children.... A man should love the unfortunate orphan (boy or girl) of
whom he is guardian as if he were his own child; he should be as careful
and diligent in the management of the orphan's property as of his
own--or even more careful still."

To relieve the poverty of citizens and to preserve the citizen-hood were
objects of public policy and of charity. In Crete and Sparta the
citizens were wholly supported out of the public resources. In Attica
the system was different. The citizens were aided in various ways, in
which, as often happens, legal or official and voluntary or private
methods worked on parallel lines. The means were (1) legal enactment for
release of debts; (2) emigration; (3) the supply of corn; (4) poor
relief for the infirm, and relief for the children of those fallen in
war; (5) emoluments; (6) voluntary public service, separate gifts and
liberality; (7) loan societies.

(1) In 594 B.C. the labouring class in Attica were overwhelmed with
debts and mortgages, and their persons pledged as security. Only by a
sharp reform was it possible to preserve them from slavery. This Solon
effected. He annulled their obligations, abolished the pledge of the
person, and gave the labourers the franchise (but see under SOLON).
Besides the laws above mentioned, he gave power to the Areopagus to
inquire from what sources each man obtained the necessaries of life,
and to punish those who did not work. His action and that of his
successor, Peisistratus (560 B.C.), suggest that the class of poor
([Greek: aporoi]) was increasing, and that by the efforts of these two
men the social decline of the people was avoided or at least
postponed. Peisistratus lent the poor money that they might maintain
themselves in husbandry. He wished, it is said (Arist. _Ath. Pol._
xvi.), to enable them to earn a moderate living, that they might be
occupied with their own affairs, instead of spending their time in the
city or neglecting their work in order to visit it. As rent for their
land they paid a tenth of the produce.

(2) Akin to this policy was that of emigration. Athenians, selected in
some instances from the two lowest political classes, emigrated,
though still retaining their rights of citizenship. In 570-565 B.C.