The Sun.
London, England, 1864-08-24 00:00:00

A CURIOUS CUSTOM.

O a evary Easter Eve, a gun is fired as a signal at 11 a.m. ;
and, at the same instant, from the windows and tops of all
the houses in Corfu, great quantities of crockery aro dis-
charged into the streets. For this memorable occasion, all
broken or cracked earthenware jugs and dishes are carefully
preserved throughout the year. The supposition is, that
good Christians are stoning, in imagination, the traitor Jew.
The Greeks will not readily confess this fact to strangers,
yet it is generally believed. On Saturday, the 1 lth of
April, MO, I (to use a sporting phrase) very nearly came
to grief, from a misunderstanding in regard to this custom.
I had been led to believe that operations were to commence
at noon. But about two minutes to 11, I was riding quietly
along the Line Wall, on my way home, when I observed
that the streets were unusually empty. My suspicions being
excited, I asked of a matt in a doorway if it were not at 12
that the gun would be discharged. He replied that it would
be fired in a minute or two. I instantly set spurs to my
horse, and galloped to my house at racing speed. Just as
I had dismounted, bang went the gun, and down came the
crash of crockery from the houses. From the moment the
crockery falls, guns and pistols are fired in all directions.
This part of the ceremony lasts for three or four days, and
is by no means agreeable to ladies, or quiet strangers.

The decadence of Grecian art is latnentable and
ridiculous if the following anecdote may be regarded
as a specimen :

A CEPHALONIAN PICTURE GALLERY.

In the month of April, we were invited one day to see the
largest and best gallery of pictures in the island. A more
comical proof of the decadence of modern Greek art, could
hardly be conceived than was furnished by this collection,
It was as if some speculator had taken advantage in Eng-
land of the ruin of the country inns (by the immense influx
of railways), to buy up all the signs, usually the works of
village artists, for the benefit of the Cephalonian market.
When called upon to express our opinions, we did not knew
which way to look or what to say. As my companion could
not be induced to open her mouth in praise, I at length,
pointing to a portrait, broke out with, "'There is rather a
nice-looking picture !" Immediately the master of the
house eagerly exclaimed, " Well, it is something to posse'ss
one good picture." I could not say less in return for the
excellent ices with which we were 'regaled, and which we
greatly enjoyed after a sultry walk through the town in the
heat of the day. A gallant field-aficer, who, a day or two
after visited the same gallery, was compelled, in order to
avoid impolite convulsions, to cram his handkerchief into
his mouth. Yet the gallery was one of which the Cepha-
ionians generally were very proud, regarding it as an honour
to the country.

Aletny anecdotes are scattered throughout .these
pages, and on closing the second volume the reader
will have a tolerable notion of the beauties and
drawbacks of a residence at Corfu, having been
already in the previous volume initiated into all
the intricacies of lonian history and diplomacy
during the last fifty years.

JUDGMENT,— 63y L new act di-parliament future
j;;:-IgnAlts rae not to affect laud until ihe land is
iu execution.