Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1882-08-03
How the Greeks Welcome the
Birth of a Son.

An American at PetfaS.
am sitting on the little wooden bal
cony ofmy room in Kerios Chromopu-
loss house, in the Greek town of Petras.
take my breakfast on my balcony.
1t is supplied from the cottee-house.
Panagi, Kerios Chromopuloss servant,
who waits on me, is now bringing it in
on little brass tray; the coffee in bra
zen pot, with a handle two feet long. On
the tray there is also glass of ice-cold
water, cup and saucer ola very trans
parent china, and one little ring-shaped
combination of bun and crackers. This
is all my breakfast, and, with the excep-
ton OF three or four complementary cof-
fees, which l may expect to drink down
in the Platea, l shall have nothing else
until dinner, at midday Panagi
puts the tray carefully ON chair by my
side, and then siys: Kali emara Effen-
di." reply: "Good- day, Panagi," and
look at him anxiously, for | expect i'm
portant news this morning. From a
thousand circumstances | know that an
interesting event has been expected tC
take place in my hosts family. From
ten thousand noises during the past night,
| know that this event has taken place.
l shall know now if | am to rush at keri-
os Chromopulos when | see him this
morning, seize his hand, and say: "Na
su zese," (may it live to you,) and utter
| what enthusiastic congratulations l can
| put into Greek, or-terrible alternative
keep out Of his way as much as can,
| and when l do run against him put a
touch of coincidence in my salutatioh,
| say in consolation; 90 Theos
| teen estelle," God sent it, and
delicatelv hint better luck next time.
| The vital question at this moment is: boy
| or girl? It's all right; l can see it in
Panagi's face. A calm expression OF
triumph, as if to say we know how to
manage matters, is what | read there.
He viii not speak, evidently enjoying
my suspense. | can stand no longer this
uncertainty. ''Well, what is it, Panagi?''
"a very fine boy, Etfendi," and then I
| l get an overwhelming food of Greek,
tending to prove that this new subject OF
King Georges is endowed with all attri-
butes Of Apollo and Hercules combined
| Panagi, though a servant, is first cousin
| to Chromopulos, and enters warmly into
| all that effects the family interest. And
now you will probably ask: Why this
| great difference between the seNesf
| Why should boy or girl be vital Ques.
tion7 The same difference as between a
merchants bills payable and bills
receivable. 4 girl for Kerios
| Chromopuls would have been
bill payable at eighteen years date
the amount expending should Chromop,
ulos improve in his position and wealth
| Every girl in Greece gets married
| No girl can get married without dow
! ry, and the father must provide it.
boy brings into the family treasury. a
| girl is SO much loss. Should the father
die before the girlsare married, On the
sons deyolve the duty of providing dow
ries for the sisters. Until his sisters are
married the son cannot take unto him
fself a wife, unless he deties the custom
| of his forefathers for ages
But l see Chromopulos coming out OF
his door to 60 on the Platea to receive
congratulations. He sees me on the bal
cony, and puts his hand to his heart in an,
| swering salutation to the wave of my
hand. He will expect me to follow him
and do the proper thing So l throw
away my post breakfast cigarette, put OH
nv white sun-helmet, and 60 ON the pla.
tea toward the table at which see Chro.
,nopulos has seated himself
| have made my speech with appropri
,le enthusiasm to ChromOpolus on the
happy event. There are now about 8
dozen of us, making ring round the ta
BILE, drinking the coffee Chromopulos has
| ordorad for all