Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-01-25
Cyprian Experiences.

English people are still leading sort
of camp-life here. There are, it is
true, one or two establishments digni
fed with the name OF hotels, but that
is all I can say about them. The al
Tentative is to put up at the house of
Greek, and it is not a difficult matter
to find enterprising natives willing to
inhabit their cellars themselves if they
can only get Englishmen to rent the
few rooms of their houses. If the
stranger agrees to he "boarded" as
we'll, he deserves no little compassion
for what he will have to endure. A
days experience at house of the de-
scription referred to may show to some
extent the way and customs of the peo-
pie. Early in the morning. generally
before sunrise, the whole household is
astral least the native element in it.
What with this, the shouting of the
doDkey-men bringing water across the
courtyard, and the heavy gathering of
the hoofs of masters and animals alike
on rough stones, added to the clacking
and shrieking of half dozen women,
who argue and quarrel about the most
trivial matter, sleep after an early hour
is impossible. So the Englishman
rises from his lowly couch (for the
boards of his bed give way persistently
In the night, and he passes the re-
mainder Of his time rolled in a sheet
on the floor and proceeds to dress.
He plunges into his bath, but, alas !!
there is no water in it, they have for
gotten that. While he dons few gar
ments to go out and make his demand,
harsh, squeaking voice at the shut
tiers shouts in Greek, Mister, mister,
6 o'clock" A pair of dark eyes may
be seen peering through chink in the
shutters, and as the inmate energies
men intently gazing through the shut
ter still. He explains that it is water
that he wants, and several OF them go
off together to bring it. 1t appears he
forgot to fasten the door as be went
back to his bath, for in come two of
the women without any warning, one
bearing tiny cup of coffee. No amount
of argument can get rid of them for
some minutes, but finally the coffee is
deposited on chair-there is no table
and once more our friend is alone.
But he is not left quiet for long, for
the eyes continue to appear at the shut
ters and doors until he stuffs up the
aperatures with brown paper. Break
fast time comes. Some grapes, loaf
of bread without plate, a cup of coffee
and some sugar, in an old condensed
milk tin, are placed before him. 1t is
with much difficulty that they are told
spoons and another plate or so are re-
quired. An egg is brought, half
cooked; they throw down oil on the ia
BILE by the grapes. 1t is explained that
in England, we, as rule, use spoons
for eggs also. But one of the women
assured her guest that that is nothing
that eggs are eaten in Cyprus different
ly. Suiting the action to the word.
she dexterously denudes the half of the
egg of its shell and takes bite or a
long lick until the part exposed has
disappeared. Then she places the rest
beside the unfortunate victim. While
the meal goes on as it may, the harpies
seat themselves on each side of their
guest, and remark every movement.
Occasionally they partake of the lesson
administered to the myriads of flies,
and move away, but only to return
uea1h WIN ouEt6hluB huu ouOutluSs IL
Greek apparently thinks that raising
his voice to the utmost is the only way
to make an Englishman understand
him. The same difficulties 1 have re.
counted have to be endured at every
meal. 1t is either no plates or else a
score, no spoon or fork or else enough
for dinner party. Repeated exper-
fence teaches the natives nothing. They
will not learn. 1t is always to-
morrow with them. They prom
Use to do everything tomorrow !"
"a day which never appears on their
calendar.
The curiosity and inquisitiyeness of
the Greeks will always have to be en-
dured while You occupy any portion
of their houses. A thousand years
would never teach them to keep their
hands off your property, or at least to
keep out of your rooms.