Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-10-16
Special Correspondence of the Nashville Union and
American.


American.
ATHENS, -, lS70.-A pleasant ex-
cursi n was made to the English cemetery
where sleep many brave men, heroes of the
Ink rman, Balaklava, and other fields of
the Crimea The graves are not as well
cared for as is characteristico of the English.
A VcIy singular kind of monument stands
IN the cemetery to tell whose remains re-
pose near it. The monument has been
described as being more like a chimney
than anything else. The English of the
party expressed great disgust at seeing it.
Not far off is the hospital where Miss
Nightingale made herself famous in per-
forming a mission which women's hands
best know how TO perform. The hospital
is a large square building and strikes the
z attention of visitors as one of the first
objects seen in the harbor The Turks
still hold on TO the old method of reckon
ing time. Each day begins with sunset
and midday comes twelve hours from
that time This makes il quite
awkward to a person accustomed to our
mode | was told that q Catholic priest
has recently been making efforts with the
Grand Vizier to have time reckoned ac-
cording to mean time only. While in
countries using true time, as at sea, l let
my watch take care of itself. Many
amusing incidents are told of men while
on a voyage, wondering what is the trouble
with their watches.
The manner of bringing about the sue
cessiCn to the Sultan's throne is in keeping
with other Turkish stupidities. When a
Sultan is called upon to leave in mourning
his many wives, his next brother succeeds
him, and then the next, TIL all the brothers
who are entitled to the succession have
been on the throne. Then the eldest son
of the eldest brother takes possession, and
so on. 1t is wonder that there is not
greater demand for poison or midnight
dirks in COnstantinople than there is.
When the Sultan's capital was reached,
the weather was gloomy and unpleasant,
causing en- unpleasant stay to be expected;
but change came over the mind of the
rain god, and fair days were given us, so
that a most delightful visit was expert
enced. Daring the visit, the Rev. Mr..
Long, a Methodist missionary from the
United States, was met He is a very
kind and pleasant gentleman and well pos
ted in the Turkish language. HIS talking
apparatus has stood the test of learning
the Arabic and other Eastern languages.
A pleasant visit to his home was made,
when in tue company of his wife and
daughter, nsation of returning civiliZa-
ton came over me- These American
ladies are worthy of their country. "a
Sociability between different families
is entirely unknown among the Turks, for
one msn never crosses the threshold of
another. The sweets and sorrows of
courtship are never experienced and the
time hOnOTed amusement of flirting is out
of the question. dare say some of the
young gentlemen who read your paper
would not care if portion of the Turkish
custom was in force in Tennessee. When
q youngster is through sowing his wild
grass ne tells his mamma SO, and init
mates that he is willing TO take wife to
his bosom. In few days the mate for
better or worse is presented to him. Men
rarely ever speak to a woman, not even
their own wives on the streets, for fear a
mistake be made and somebody else's bet
ter half is spoken to, which is sure TO
bring on a black eye. England aud
other countries will do well to let the
inUdIjd play out the next time a bad
spell comes on.
A fine vessel of the Austrian Lloyd
Company had been in harbOr waiting sew
eral days, on which | again found myself,
ready for new sights and new interests.
WI II the ship was off some distance, an
attractive breakfast did not prevent my
going on deck to get last glimpse of a
city famous SO long and possessing one of
81 finest situations in the world. The
view paid double compound interest. No
one of any soul can look upon the fading
view and not wonder at its beauty. Break
fast was eaten with zest, while the blue
sky was CurtainiDg the fair scene we were
= leaving. Once more at sea, where the
English AGAIN had fine chance to express
their disgust and horror at everything not
English. John Bull is q wonderful ami
NAL II is quite natural that the subjects
of her majesty are SO jealous of their
rights. They seem jealous of everybody,
and are always afraid Of their toes being
trod on. During the Palestine trip they
were always grumbling and complaining.
A few haTdships seem to use them-the
men-up entirely. l can't understand
how they make good soldiers The
ladies were different from the men, and
stood all the trials with far more courage.
A fine opportunity for studying the fe-
male character of an age considerable be-
yond midday turning point was afforded.
The result was another proof of human
nature being the same in all ages. Old
maids long ago thought old maids the
best of Mother Earth's children. Old
maids do the same thing yet, hut like
them. They are useful, and it is well for
X few always to be on hand. They set
the young off TO an advantage
After rough sail we anchored on
Sunday near syria, from which a branch
line of steamers runs TO Pireus, the port
for Athens. The town, a handsome, new
and well built place, and possessing
considerable commerce, was Illuminated
At night in honor of the visit of King
George of Greece and his Queen, Olga
The sight was quite beautiful. As dark
ness came ON new lights in different parts
of the town appeared In conspicuous
place the initials of the king and queen
were made by numerous lights. The let
tiers were Greek characters and called
forth the efforts of the learned to explain
them. zach man had his explanation,
but none the correct one. Near our YES
sci was anchored the neat little craft of
the king. He could be seen quite well
from cur deck. His face indicated more
fitness for d school boy than for king.
Unless he is possessed of more force of
character than he appears TO have, the
wise heads here made a poor selection of
ruler for heroic Greece. 1t is all in the
name. The Greeks are not allowed to
have a republic, SO king is king, and
the more plant the more acceptable to
them who have taken the turbulent Greeks
undertheir wings. The Queen is as pretty as
pink. If there are many more such in
Russia would not mind being king.
The crown of Greece was offered TO the
young scion of English royalty, who has
paid his respects TO Gen. Grant, but he
was too smart and too much OF an Eris-
copalian to get himself into trouble
some business at the sacrifice of his rell-
gion and comfort. A son of Victoria stands
a better chance to wear fine clothes, drive
fine horses, and have good time gener-
ally in ease aud comfort, with nothing
about which TO bother than a King OF
what once aUdS Greece When The vessel
we had takeR after leaving the main line,
} passed thesKing's, the John Bull people
chseUed him with strong lungs. They