The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-07-09
Greek Laziness.

1t would be hard to name any other
people, undoubtedly clever, and possessed
Of considerable educational appliances, that
can boast neither of authors, painters, sculp-
tors nor composers. There are no native
theatres native literature is confined to
journalism, and the fine arts are so utterly
neglected that even the jangling of piano
forte is an unusual sound hence, if the
creative power of nation really bears a
constant ratio to its generalvig we cannot
estimate very highly the vitality of the
Hellenes. A powerful consideration
strengthens this conclusion-the hopeless
backwardness of agriculture and of the ru-
raj population. NJ. About calculated that
Continental Greece contains 100000
acres of mountain and pasture, similar
extent of arabic land, and about ,250,0 900
acres of forest. OF the 100000 acres of
arabic land, less than 200, 900 were actually
under cultivation, that is, something under
four per cent The proportion may have
been somewhat increased in the last twenty
years, but still remains apallingly small.
Even on the wide Argiye and Beotian
plains, which boast something resembling
roads, cultivation appears in Insignificant
patches on the table-lands of Arcadia it
is even sparser; while in the beautiful
mountain hollows, on strips of soil that in
the similar limestone formation of the
Derbyshire or Craven hills would be rented
at e3 per acre, it is almost non-existent,
The traveller is APPALLED, by the surrounding
desolation, and yet there is scarcely pro-
duct of the temperate zones that will not
flourish. Tobacco and cotton grow well
in the plains rice could be introduced with
success and the mulberry, with due en-
couragement, would provide for the rearing
of an indefinite quantity of silk worms.
Figs, almonds, apricots, oranges and lemons
are unsurpassed. The olive grows every
where we'll nigh INTENDED. In rock dis
tricts all cereals thrive, with the exception
of oats the Corrinthian currant is almost
a specialize Of the Pcloponnese, and, since
the appearance of the phylloxera in France,
has found fresh market amid the wine
manufactures of that country; the other
grapes are among the finest of the world.
Such are the capabilities of land that ig-
norance and Incidence have turned into a
wilderness. The vintage is so clumsily
trodden and fermented everywhere, except
in the islands and near the seaports, that
/ wine which ought to command the markets
of Europe, not only is unable to bear ex-
portatiOu, but would spoil before the end
of the year unless mixed with resin, prac-
tice highly nauseous to the uneducated
palate. In fact, dislike of field labor
amounts to mania, and, except at harvest
time, no male is ever seen at work like
other noble savages, he sits at home at ease
while his helpmate scratches the soil and
bows her head beneath the weight of bur
deus. The result upon the interior eeono-
my Of the dwelling is such as may well be
imagined Even in priests or farmers
house furniture rarely extends beyond
rude table and two or three wooden stools =;
whole villages are without fireplace the
process ofsweeping or cleaning is unknown,
and the entire family sleeps, curled up in
rags, upon the floor, in company with the
insects ofthe establishment.-BIackloood S
Magazine.