The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-05-28
"A Funeral Procession In Athens.

The trsv e',:n.-2' procession which we
met In Athens showed tuc puculiaritics OF
the Greek custom at their best. On an
open bier, resting on the shoulders of six
ynlng men. Law the body of q beautiful
girl of sixteen, dressed in light blue and
white, her face and arms exposed, her
he I'd garlanded with flowers, and flowers
filling her hands and lying in knots and
clusters on her breast. So she was borne
through the clear, sweet morning sunshine
that flooded the streets of her native city,
to her grave beyond It's limits, under the
shadow of Mount Hymettus.
Delcgeorges, cx-Prime Minister, in the
quickly succeeding changes Of Grsck party
government several times at the head of
the cabinet, and as often the leader of The
opposition, died during our stay at Athens.
He was a man whose staunch integrity
and democratic love of simplicity had en-
deared HIM 10 the people. He was buried
on the day after his death, the rule in
Athens.
Dense crowds of men and boys thronged
| the streets near the house, from which the
procession was to start. There were no
services at his home, but acquaintanccs
passed in to view the remains, and to offer
sympathy to the family, who, as q rule, do
not accompany the procession to the church
or the grave. Every man who entered the
| house put on white lace scarf over the
right shoulder and under the left arm-the
badgc Of mourning, Many bearded priests
Of the Greek church mingled with the
crowd. Their luXuriant hair is never cut,
but is twisted into roll, and knotted on
the back Of the hc9d like a woman's. They
wear a tall, cylindrical hat, brimless be.
low, but with a round flat crown VIII cl,
projects laterally an inch OF two. The
dignitarics Of the church were resplcndcnt
in gold embroidered robes of white, purple
and scarlet.
The c,flin was Of blue satin. The body,
dressed in plain black as in lifc-thc low
shoes tied with white ribbon--was brought
out and placed on the open bier. AS is the
custom Mt Athens, the upper half of tho
coffin, for its entire length, had been re-
moved with the lid, and was carried III ad.
vance of tho bier. On it was worked iI
white cross and a crown. A glass cove,
was placed over the body. Flowers il
profuson lay about the form of the dcat
statesman.
Two red banncrs-onc with q forma
sacred painting, in the Byzantine style O.
the Annunciatlon, and of Mary and the
Child; the other representing, in archaic
figures. the Cruciflxion and the Rcsurrcc
tion-were borne before the coflln Thcl
followed the clergy and prominent citi
Zcns, while the brass band played a slow
moving dirge. Leaving the crowded streets
l went by shorter way to the cathedral
where the mention of my nationality passc,
me through the closed doors, and sccuret
inc an excellent place--scats there wcr
none, save for bishops and king.
First enter the sacred banners, and til
man with the lid of the coffin; then priest
with lanterns, censers, tapcrs and banners
then the coffin is carried in and placed on
, black catafalque in the choir. The king
with a lew attendants, has taken his plaC
just to the left of the Patriarch's throne
which ls on the south Of the choir. Kin
George is rather tall, erect, well formed
fair-haircd, with blonde mustachc, an
pleasantly regular features. He wears til
dark blue uniform of n major, and a liel
blue short cloak with crimson lining, Will
wide, light blue scarf crosses his brcas
from the right shoulder
Young men press forward to the cofn
with garlands of flowers. They are del,
gates from the university and the school.
The Patriarch takes his scat, two bishop
on either hand, venerable, white bearde
men. The loud, shrili chant of the priests
, mems voices singing In unison, begins til
scrvice Two singers who are not prics,