New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-11-15
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
.-,,orrn,l,N,s GREEKs OF TO-DAY.

T1rCKFRMAN'S GREEKS OF IO-DAl'
THE GREEKS OF ToD DAY. BY CEARLss N s,I nuOiNhA
~" MN f2mo. pp. sec. 6. L. Putnam " SONS
1,,i,c his residence at Athens rs Minister OF the
,1ritod states. Mr. Tuckerman devoted much atten-
tion 10 the study OF the personal character OF the
rle M well rs OF The institutions of the country.
Although he conceived natural bias in their favor,
lii eniovinp a singular degree Of kindness and
even Of friendship at their hands, he has brought an
imparta pen to the treatment of has theme nor mas
he Welded TO the influence of sentiment In the exer-
80 90 his critical Judgment. He observes without
,uusion. and describes without passion. His work
= mainly composed of the results of his expert
once with lttle assistance from the researches of
nrevious writer's. Ii is marked by great temperance
and fairness in the expression Of opinion, well
Inv originality and attractive freshness In point of
StyIe without aiming at the highest literary finish,
having been written hastily during the pauses of
long journey it is direct and explicit free from
perAuous establishment, but indicating ripe and
generous culture and the habit OF Judicous selec-
ton in the choice Of words The information con-
tanned in the volume is ample and various and 1t
cannot fail 10 hold high rank among recent author
tiles on modern Greece
Mr. Tuckennan does not undertake to decide the
question Of how far the people now called Greeks
are descended from the inhabitants of the ancient
Uellas For themselves they Indignantly reject the
conclusions Of Fallmerayer, and other writer's, who
maintain that not a single drop Of Hellenic blood
has flowed in the veins Of the mixed baTbarians now
called modern Greeks. They claim descent fromthe
race which once made Athens the light and glory of
the world and certainly exhibit many OF the dis
tuctve traits OF their Teputed ancestry The
Greek Of to-day, according to Mr. Tuckerman. shows
the spirit Of curiosity vanity, ambition, cunning IN
very marked degree, which was ascribed to tho
Athenians in the palmy days of their history. Nor
l., l,oF,v fhauN
Iectual traits The ancient type of physical beauty
is seen in many parts of tho present kingdom of
Greece. Nor has the ancient language been greatly
modified in the lapse of centuries. Mr. Tucherman
sums up the ealing points Of the question in the fol-
lowing compact passage;
conot propose 10 anayzo the Greek character, but 90
S 1eJ M ana widespread misconceptions mere
enumeration OF mental and moral traits would give an
indefinite idea OF the Hellenic mind IL is the ptcuar
assimilation OF these qualities that makes up the Greek
tba me- y viSScons mpasve shrswd inauisitive SEN
siyC rcssl1e, the child III the moment IN YEN,
tto opposite Of the AnglosaxOn He is Jealous and
ambitious. vain and egOuStcal, receptive aud sympa-
factic He viii return confidence with fidelity and susp
ming 10 ensuare" is discriminating and frank by tnrns
He is bitter enemy, aud a generous and hosIdta6lC
trend Perhaps the most distinctVe IeasIe III ls III
between the Athenian Of today aud the Athenlan o.
twenty-five hundred years ago. II ls eNhi4tu ~ uS W
cuIdty. The subtety Of the Greek Is Ia such marked
contrast 20 tic blunt frankness OF the EngiishTan o
dishonesty. The polish Of manner and ipolteness o.
sYocch observable in the French and the Greek tht
aud Engishman. and often by the German, ~ mere de
oepIyT ye9eeTng IL 1oe no 90 bo op DHsounG
a man " smile and be a villain" but he may ais
smile and earnish his language with compliment and
hattery without jOt less q human sympathy or non
csy OF purpose tian the mhnest OF MS crltlce Inc
Greek conceal ms real thoughts while appearing u
haruonize with yours 1t does not follow thatin so do
ing ne practices prcmeditated deception POncy and
tact suggest manner and language wmch the orient =
regards fitting than downright PLAIN speak
might cGcud. Modern Greeks embelhsh facts
a. then ancestors embellished their architecture.
Ionic. others the ealorescent CoriDthian A Greek
w OokOr in the eye and fathOin ones Thoughts beioe
expressing his Re calculates your wants rather
As be assents. seems 20 assent with eyes
aud tongue While mentally swapping his fingers at your
ignorance folly. You may leave him VIII the uUpres-
that Your superior intelligence OF persuasion has
inr hat he Is relieved OF bore He understands you
better than you understand him; and while you 20 away
deceived by your own want OF perception ne goes aE az
with respect FOR your honesty, but more and more con
Greek will contrive to delude unless in game u
WIS but he despas OF assimilation, and wishing your
tang 1t is himself-in BIS criginin hi capabiues-in
uwarted he iaDents his fate which De pnts upon hrs
pONet or lis physical inability % cope With bis adYer r
cary. He appears weak aud offers no resisting haPd,
bur he wraps himself IN nus own merits and tuds com
pensau0n IN ideas. As poor aud distressed GeDpe-
al The advantage he from the society Of the par
rene whom he nwardly despses 50 perhaps ne Greek
derives consolation from the thought ihat stDer nations
their power and strength are but 90 9hderiDgs in
comparison WIN the GIT OF blood Which flows Me'n az
ctsttal pride In the veins Of his own cOuntrvmeD Ho
will take all the world has to give and ask for more with
an inward conviction that he is receiving bat his due,
esc ~. ldn9 OF tHe Greek which Is national more
Aau personal characteristics. Ths trait leads him 10
lmIlac Other Powers, so far ex8flas may give his
nAou MI0ltance IN their eyes he hears The hast and
tecoguLs TIE advantages OF ponpOus courts, strong
nhts he displays OF national assembles and OF minis
V'"i pi'iihehee: ae the ancient hthenlan, he con-
turutes the support OF PUBLIC ggstt1 l0h pays eeeeT
hl tie tax vhlgh goes TO sustain the lite army and
TIE little Beet aud II he dies rch-Yheher abroad OF
~ bonneville oequeath generous sum towards the ma
towards the foundation Of public Institution that
shall bear his name
- wsiET
The vanity Of the Greek is chiefly in an intel
lcetal direction If he can make little boast on his
own account he takes pride in the diplomacy, the
LEGAL and forensic talent the classical knowledge OF
Athens. as compared with those of other nations
Among the lower classes especially, the personal
vanity Of the Greeks displayed in their passion for
dress. The frequent holidays are welcomed by the
most modest women as an opportunity to adoTn
their persons with cheap jewely and gay
colors. The steamboat passenger, gttter1ng IN
his gold-embrOidered jacket and tasseled leggings
Will sport his snowy skirts on the Grimy deck where
the foreign traveller wears from choice his shabbest
suit The Greek officer takes a TIRE delight in the
rattle Of his sword. lie wears it not only IN the
field. or on parade. but in the drawing-room when
be makes a morning call. The ring Of che Sca0bafd
may often be counted On every step of the staircase
as he his martial progress 10 the scene Of hls
captures. If lac has won enamel Cross or shout
der sash in the service Of some foreign prince he
displays II with an almost childish exutatioD. Deco
ratiuns are bestowed with lavish hand The weaTer
IS content with some outward token of distinction
but to ascertain for what he is distinguished, one
must often ask the gentleman himself. More than