New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-18


vcrscd the Peoponnesus. His descriptions
Of the country are excellent they show not
only graphic power, bnt n fine sense oil the
characteristic features of the scencrythc clearness
of contour and beautiful fusion of color. the boid
outlines of the hills forming a framework for the
brightest softest. and most delicate of hines. ana
the sudden seeing of distant things that you never
supposed from the map that you could possibly
seen mis- classical and historical references are
ample. picturesque. often eloquent. never pooan
tic and he has observed the present CONDITION VI
the people with the keen eye of practical scotch
man. He speaks Lightly of the moral character Oh
the agricultural population. They work hard anu
live simply. marry as soon az they can and hardy
ever get drunk. They have strong domestic hapils
and family life has a decidedly patriarchal tone.
Once we breakfasted in cottage OH the island OF
Rhenea close to Deos. Our host was an oid man
who might have carried in the Greek war thai rusty
gun which hangs against the cottage wall lie 81.
cross legged, smoking his pipe; his wlie or9 rn
us milk coffee. and sort OF cream cheese. "ci
son-in-law was there, boatman from the nelghnor-
ing island of Siphnos: and presently his VIE, le
daughter of The old compile came H. ana SAT 1"%
looking at us with her large dark eyes widely
opened. The old man and his wife taiken 10 , us,
and their son-in-law replied to the Questions tilar
were asked about his children; the Young inounJJi
smiled brightly when the children were mentioned,
but never spoke. This silence had the AR OF custom
rather than snyness she was evidently llc Pi to
of the island cottage. and was the only one III eo
family who shoes 1t seems that u Is iuo
of etlduette in Greek households OF the hunioleI
sort that in the presence OF strangers no "on'h
shall speak except the mistress OF the mousse. .
In the Peloponnesus, and particularly III Arcadia
the condition of women is lower than in other
mfrs of Greece. and a great deal of hard out-of-
door work is thrown upon the weaker SEX The
manners of the common people. however, are ha-
b;tuallv more courteous than is the case IN most
other countries As we wound in single ana
strapaline file along the narrow paths" says Pro-
fessor Jebb il would often happen that one or inc
Grecks would call ont something which announcer
did not hear and then the formula invariably was,
Ifyoa please, what do you say 7"
in treating of The Progress of Greece Professor
.Jebb makes due acknowledgment OF The WORKS OF
his predecessors and gives particular praise 10 the
hoo, nv our former Minister at Athens, Mr. Tuck
orman. on az The Greeks of To-day" In agrcui-
ture which must he the main source OF the pros
peritv of the country. the people have had 10
struggle against the disadvantages OF want OF cap
ital excessively small holdings, ont of which the
peasant can only scrape poor subsistence the
lack of roads and consequent inability to reach
market. and the fact that the Turks before they
were driven away cat down or burned the olive
ic. and other valuable trees, and left the land
wilderness. Not more than quarter of the arabic
land il uuder cultivation. Still there has been
rapid progress of late years. especially IN the pro-
duciiou of olives, vines. figs and currants. Road
making ON account of the hilly and rocky charac-
ter of the country is enormously expensive but the
Government is doing something in this line OF I'M
movement and it has accomplished great deal
in opening harbors. lighting the coasts, etc, etc
Eleven new cities have arisen on ancient SITES GOO
villages have been rebuilt since the war; Sparta
has great silk factory, run by steam; thlrty
steam factories have been opened in the Pcireus III
t,v.lve wears: and there are nearly 500 other man
ufacturing establishments IN the kingdom, employ.
ing % 900 hands. and turning out $50 100000
worth OF goods every year. The shipping interest
has been so greatly developed that the Greek mer-
camille marine now ranks seventh III the world In
no,ular education, both in the lower and higher
GRADES Greece has an exceptional reputation, and
many recent travellers have been warm in their
rraisc alike of the yscm and of its practical appli
cation. But the facilities offered for free school
inc have had one unfortunate conseq lence. Where
oven the university is free TO ALL it is natural that
an unusually large proportion of young men go
through college course and as there is little scope
in 80 poor country for the trained intelligence, it
results that the liberal professions arc absur'ily
overcrowded "While there is felt in Greece,
writes Mr. Watson British Secretary OF Legation
AT Athens, a painful dearth OF men whose educa-
ton has fitted them TO supply some OF the multlfa-
IRONS material wants of the country-such, for IN
stance az surveying farming, road-making, and
brdce-building-th u.s. on the other hand. pie
thora Of lawyers writers. and clerks, who, III the
absence of regular occupation become aGltators ana
oohee-house politicians"
There are several pages Of Professor Jcbbs book
which have direct reference to the question Of the
Greek frontier which is now once more disturbing
clement in fine politic5 of Europe =
The Greek question has one aspect in which II
hanpens to touch the pOlt's of the hour but II has
also another, larger ana higher aspect III whlci,
If rises clear of them With regard to the general
nosition and prospects of Greece, there are two
things which would perhaps be generally admitted
bv persons Of sober Judgment, who have cndeavored
o look fairly and dspassiOnaey ut the facts OF the
case First Greece has made crcdltable progress
during the hast fifty years, during the last htteen
IL has made progress which may well he called re-
markable and which, notwithstanding deficiencies
that remain offers solid ground OF confidence III
the future OF Greece and the Greek nation. Every
one now admits that ii was mistake 10 make thc
Crock nation Sc SMALL and TO give il such frontier
"A frontier Shich eayesout stOh place as Janlna,
for instance long the very centre OF Greek lie,
during a period when Athens was Il sccond-rate pro-
| vincial town. Then the country started with q
heavy debt for loan of which less than one-iifth
was applied to the purposes LOT winch II was
raised Further. it is only since the beginning of
the present reign that Greece has had truly eec
| tive constitution. All these causes have kept the
| country poor Want al capital has1mpeded agrcul;
| ture and public works Greece has universal
| Suffrage. and civil servants are removable Oh a
! change Of Ministry. Thus there has been gen.
cral deorth of secure careers for abe men. The
| liberal professions have been Ovcrstockcd. Greece
| has had too many politicians and too many po-
Itica journalists III this last aspect things are
| mendjnq More openings for educated energy are
being made by the Developments of manufacture and
! commerce. Greece must not he Judged by par
| ticuar moments of trOnble and depression. Other
| countries besides Greece have such moments now
| and then We must judge Greece by It's general
position and prosperity. As compared with the state
If things from which il started. 1t had to create
for itself the first elements of civilization. Europe
| set Greece to make bricks without straw. Consider
fairly what Greece has done. and you will not
denim or despse it, YOU will respect and esteem it.
Won vill fad il worthy of sympathy and encour-
| aQement-ycs and worthy OF ad mration.
| Secondly, the Greek race offers. on the whole,
the hest hope Of settled order. of constitutional gov
eminent, and of high civilization III those countries
| which were once Hellenic. This may he said with
! out any undue dispa ragement OF ITS competitors