New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-11-15

which the heSt moment he gives TO the wind. He
enjoys Life with the keenest sest but no people Will
meet death with more serenity. He even courts
martyrdom, il ne can gain applause by tie act
Combined with ths are the elements of true cour-
age in its nOblest significance. "A Greek ofhcer''
says Mr. Tuckerman. "once laid before me
the plan of most ingenious out hazard
GUS enterprise which during tho war nc had
proposed 10 the military chiefs TO carry out
under his own leadership and at has own risk Inc
probabilities Of were great, ana inc resuiS
II srrccessful would have been disastrous to tho
enemy His proposal, howeveT, was rejected, chiehy
bocause his own life would have been exposed to the
most imminent danger, for the chances were indeed
hundred to one against him; yet he was positively
indignant that for this the loss Of one mans
life-pamely his own-slould cause the abandon
ment of an enterprise of such pith and moment
to the State. If am willing to take the risk be
argued, that is my ATARI relieve you of all 70
sponsibility-but if you deny me, then you will be
responsible for losing opportunity winch viii not
perhaps occur again in the campaign This truly
brave man has never got over the disappointment
at not being allowed to expose himself to peril in
order that some hundreds Of the enemy might be
blown to perdition.p
The Greek has passionate nature. HIS emotions
blaze out on sudden, but as suddenly cool down.
You will hear man cracking a joke with another
whom just before he was assailing with the yilest
epithets. In many parts of the country, the knife
is as quick as the tongue. Murder for the sake Of
revenge is not uncommon. Bat such crimes as
housekeeping highway robbery, or even pocket
picking are extremely On the semi-centennlal
celebration Of Greek independence when the streets
were choked for hours with dense crowd of fifty
thousand persons not the slightest disturbance oe-
CURED.
Of 80 oft he char
acter. Nowhere are the ties OF kindred more re-
| spected. Children are regarded as the jewels of
their parents The father VIII submit to the greatest
of sacrifices for the benefit of his household Broth
ers and sisters are devoted to each other, and
| together venerate and cherish their parents. The
sons do not think of marrying until the sisters are
provided for, nor does the young lady, as in our
country. engage preliminaries on her own ac-
count. The maiden fancy free until her wedding
day. She then bestows her hand on the husband
who has been selected as n suitable match by her
parents or brothers. If she has INDUCED secret
affection she does not allow it TO bloom beside her
marriage wreath.
Domestic fidelity maternal affection, family unity and
the cheerful discharge Of the duties and
welded life nowhere more beautifully Illustrated
than among the Greeks. As natural consequence Of
this condition, the people are emphacay chaste peo
pie This statement may open the eyes OF many who are
accustomed TO SeSard the Greeks with an obnquty OF
vision. but persuaded that city in the world Of
10000 inhabitants boast Of fewer invitations
sensual vice than does Athens 1t but fair 10 infer
in absence OF positive proofs 10 the contrary, that
private morals keep pace with outward obseLyanees il
is no room for question ON the subject Inc Greeks
are temperate people THIS Is evident 70 the most
be noted as q national merit since az In other warm
climates il Is the resuito the absence of strong ntox
here but the wine Of the country pure grape juice,
fermented naturally barrels and is very cheap Rum
and brandy CHIEFLY consumed by foreigners OF whom
the greater part tllors Aco Ollie drinks are very
doetTiOus in climates and this fact with the com
parative high cost OF these smuants, limit their
sumption. The light wine of the country on the con
Wholesome y %en dank Ih @odeOn On S
easts ana holidays one oIen sees CO Sge U1s 81
tOu but positive drunkenness rare While IL Is not
reeHng through streets various stages OF inOxica
| uOn But wine-drinhng leads 10 brawls aud
The statistics Of registered deaths in the City ol Athens
| from the effect OF strong drinks may not be very
reliable, 10 noteworthy that out OF population
| Of 5000 but % natives are known 10 nave died
| from this cause IN Ten years While OF f0relgners
who tOrIp scarcely per cent OF the whole pOpdon
the number recorded is sixteen. Englishmcn and Amer
leans the first prizes IA the international ex
hbhion Of drunkards; while Greeks and Mussumans
especially the la'eT are perhaps inc most iemge5Ste
CATION; with the Greek it is more the result OF cbeum
| stances.
| Among other topics treated Of by Mr.. Tuckerman.
the chapters on Modern Athens and "The Par
tbenon and other Ruins" will be read with peculiar
interest for their fine descriptive sketches which
present the most celebrated localities of the city in
| a brilliant light The political condition of the
country is ably discussed in another part of the
volume numerous and important details are
given ON the subject of education, while
the religions question is considered I'M
a. The. titles of The Greek Church" and
&C A,,or;o N Missionaries vi Athens" in a series of
.--oa.i,'o ~arks, many of which. however viii
not escape anmady> - 80, 80 -
of tho foreign missonar, cause Iresh hgnt is
also thrown on Greek Brgan, &c" ~o 1Ho sas-
sacie near Marathon which subjeo. W
the author with signal intelligence ana N"''