We have now at some length, yet all too briefly, reviewed the philosophy attributed to Plato and dedu- cible from his writings. We have omitted nearly ev- erything in the way of detail, and have attempted the survey from an elevated vantage-ground, where only the broad lines are apparent, and where the asperities and discords of the landscape disappear. It may now be manifest, we think, how and why Plato has always exercised such fascination on pure natures, and has so largely and so enduringly stimulated the speculation and ennobled the thought of the world.
Literature. — See the observations made and the works specified under the article Plato. Comp. also Tulloch, Rat. Theol. in Km/land, vols, i and ii ( Lund. 1 fS72, 8vo); Lecky, Hist, of Rationalism, and his European Morals; Nourisson, Pensees Humaines, p. 45 sq. ; Stephen. Hist. of Engl. Thought in the 18th Century (Lond. 1876, 2 vols. 8vo) ; Ackerman, The Christian Element in I 'lata and the Platonic Philos. (transl. in Clark's Edinburgh Philosophical Library) : Stein, Sieben Biicher zur Ge- schichte </. Platonismus (Leips. 1867) ; Bapt. Quar. April, 1874, art. v, "Plato's Relation to Christianity;" also North Brit. Rev. Nov. 1861, art. iii ; Presbyt. Rev. April, 1864, art. i ; Brit, and For. Ev. Rer. Oct. 1862, art. viii, on " Platonism of the Fathers. (G. F. H.)
Platonics, New. See Neoplatonism.
Piatt, Adams W., a Presbyterian minister, was born in Weston, Conn., Oct. 28, 1790. After receiving an ordinary education, he commenced the study of medi- cine, when his brother, who was studying for the min- istry, died, and he immediately turned his thoughts in that direction. He graduated with the second honor of his class at Union College, Schenectady, N. Y.. in 1817, and at Princeton Theological Seminary in 1820; was licensed the same year, and entered upon his duties as a missionary in the then new states of Ohio and In- diana. In January, 1824, he accepted a call, and was ordained as pastor of the Presbvterian Church of Rut- land, N. Y. ; in July, 1829, he became pastor of the Church at West Gal way, N. Y. ; in 1833 he gave up the Church, and rested for a few months; in 1834 he be- came stated supply for the Church in West
Fayette, N. Y.. until 1836, when he became pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Hector. N. Y.. where he continued to labor till, in 1848, his health becoming quite impaired, he ceased his pastoral labors. In 1856 he removed to Clinton, Iowa, and assisted in the organ- ization of the Church there, and supplied the pulpit tor one year. He died May 2, 1859. Mr. Piatt was a humble, laborious, and self-denying minister — a man of marked prudence of character. See Wilson, Presb. Hist. A Imanac, 1860, p. 121. (J. L. S.)
Platte-Montagne, Nicolas de, a French painter and engraver, son of a celebrated Belgian portrait-paint- er, was born at Paris about 1631. He was a inq.il of Philippe dc Champagne, Charles le Brun, and of his un- cle, Jean Morin. He painted the Mary which was pre- sented in 1666 to the church of Notre Dame at Paris; a St. Benedict, a St. Seholasiiea (1676), and a ceiling for the church of the Benedictines du Saint-Sacrement of the Rue Cassette ; and The Holy Ghost alighting upon the Apostles, for the church of Saint-Sulpice (1676). He also worked for the Tuileries in 1683 and 1684. He exhibited two paintings at the salon of 1673; five his- torical paintings and three portraits at the salon of 1699 —the first that took place in the galleries of the Louvre. He engraved from 1651 to 1694, in a fashion but little differing from that of Morin, seventeen different subjects, and eleven portraits after Porbus, Janet, Philippe de Champagne, B. de Champagne, and after his own paint- ings. He was received a member of the Academy April 21, 1779; appointed supplementary professor July 1, 1679, and regular professor Dec. 20, 1681. He signed his works Montague, Montaigne, De Platte-Montaigne, N. D. P. Montaigne, N. de la Platte-Montagne, N. van Flatten Berc, vulgo De Platte-Montagne, and N. de Platte-Montagne. He died Dec. 25, 1706. — Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, xl, 453.
Platter (irapoi\/ic, properly a side-dish, consisting of dainties set on as a condiment, or sauce). Our Lord, in reproving the Pharisees, said, " Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites ! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess" (Matt, xxiii, 25). "Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the com- mandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups; and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye re- ject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition" (Mark vii, 7-9). The Talmud con- tains many directions on the use of these utensils, which Jews are strictly required to observe. See Dish,
Play (pHS, tsachdk, Exod. xxxii, 6). This word, in addition to the sense of joking or sporting (Gen. xix, 14), may also be understood of amusements, accompa- nied with music and singing, in which sense it may be understood in Judges xvi, 25. Though we have no particular mention in the Old Testament of such mat- ters, we may reasonably suppose that some of the games practiced by the ancient Egyptians were likewise known to the Hebrews; these appear, from the monuments, to have been mock combats, races, gymnastic exercises, singing, dancing, and games of chance (Wilkinson. Anc. Egyptians', i. 189 sq.). In the declining period of Jewish history the athletic games of the Greeks were intro- duced, and there were gymnasia, or schools of exercise in Jerusalem, where they practiced wrestling, racing, quoits, etc. (1 Mace. v. 16; 2 Mace, iv, 13-15). For the