The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1878-01-23
CRETAN WOMEN.
Ugly Homes Outside Made Pleas
ant Inside by Model Mothers
and Wives.
Uretan Correspondence London Times.

Cretan Correspondence London Times.
A Crstan village is a strange look
ing place. All the dwellings are
alike in ugliness, obIong in form.
with walls OF rough stone. ard fiat
roofs, destitute Of parapets and
chimneys. One or two arches are
thrown across the length of the cot .
tages to support the roor, which con-
sists of tenacious clay few inches
deep, laid on pieces of bark and roll :
ed fat-let antiquaries shuddr-with
the drums of marble columns. In
Askypho the heavy snow storms
which occur there make it unsafe to
carry up the buildings higher than
one story. and they certainly have a
most miserable exterior.
But the comfort within doors de-
pends at Askypho, as everywhere
else, net on the architect, but on the
lady of the house. and the wives of
Sphakia rank high among their sex
They are conspicuous for their beau
ty. Their dark eyes are large and
lustrous, their features are delicately
chiseled, and waving tresses fall in
profusion from beneath their modest
kerchiefs. Their carriage is as
graceful as the does.
But, though possessed of uncom-
mon personal charms, their attention
is by no means confined to the toll
ct. Everything which their homes
contain is the work Of their own
hands. The cloth of The husbands
jacket and fez Of the wool of the
sheep he tends is dyed, spun and
woven by the hauds Of his faithful
wife. She it is who makes his gar
meAts from the cotton plant which
grows before the door; the bright
scarf that binds his waist is from the
silkworm which feeds upon his null
berry trees; the mat and tapestries
whose bright designs, taken from
the pattern book of tradition alone,
giving his home a cheerful air. are
the work or her industrious loom.
and many more objects that / am
incompetent TO enumerate are due
TO her untiring labors. 1t was these
same Sphakian women who only ten
years ago were, with their helpless
children, hunted from mountain to
mountain, outraged and murdered.
In the cottage of my guide, though
the owner was by no means chief
among the people, the tableclOth.
the napkins. the sheets, all were
home made, we're bordered with
Cretan lace and pillowcase was a
single piece of the same rich materi-
al the counterpane was SO gorgeous
with many colors that did. not re-
frain from expressing my adnira-
tion OF it. "Yes," SAID my host,
"my wife is Of very good family,
and knows the oldfashioned ways of
weaving. which her mother taught
her."
The cottage itself consisted of a
modern.sized room, with a gallery |
for sleeping in, and two very small |
ones. of which the larger was the
kitchen. The walls were not even
and the foor was of
mud, yet the spirit that reigned |
there reconciIed one to all. / dined |
with great zest off English plates,
which are priced as much there as
Japanese crockery is in England.
but without wine. not drop of
which was to be found in any OF the
seven villages significant fact.
The wife waited on US. for eonjugal
respect is strictly enforced. while
even suspected infdelity is punish
ed with death. 1t is easy TO believe
how such a people hate and despise
anyone. be he calmakam or be he
s.milordi. !" who attempts to intro.
duce the vices OF western Europe
into their mountain retreats. Gre
tan Cor. London Times.