Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1882-12-21

country life. Its name is Turkish, and
is that OF a flower which grows abun.
dandtly In the vicinity. We turned of
the main road into lane through the
fields then waving with wheat and barley
ripe for the harvest. This farm was
bought sixty years ago, by the father OF
the present owner, from q pacha, for q
diamond hilted sword worth Ave thou
sand drachmas, or about one thousand
dollars 1T Is now estimated at about
forty times is value. It is very extensive
and beside the grain fields, has vine
yards and valuable chromium mines.
The village is smalI--a group of ten or
twelve houses, clustered about the white
washed church. Behind this, on higher
grounds, stand the house and garden OF
the proprietor, nestled at the foot of an
abrupt and wooden cliff. A way i'll the
distance the snow-capped peaks of Del
phis, the highest mountain of Euboea,
looms up to height Of over five thou
sand feet. It's base is q half days
Quincy from Vertonda on horsebac K,
and we hoped at first to make the ascent;
but, hearing on all sides the difficulties
to be encountered, we did not attempt
it. One of the few people who had
climbed it, however, was Queen Amelia,
who was an undaunted explorer OF all
parts of her kingdom.
The house of Mr.. X. is a low cottage.
covering much ground, and built around
a courtyard, which we entered through
high, strong gateway. The gate and
the iron barricades at the windows gave
me feeling OF trepidation but my
friends laughed at my fears. and the ct
tractive and chereful aspect of the es-
tablishment reassured me. Flowers
were growing everywhere, pigeons were
cooing from their cotes in little tower,
and several smiling servants were
awaiting our arrival. The inside of the
house was most comfortable, and the
view from the front windows was sub
erb. overlooking the garden and village
to the sea, half mile q way; beyound
this lay the Beotian Mountains, and
still further III the distance. shining
like golden crown in the setting sun.
rose the eternal SHOWS of Parnassus.
After little wandered out into field
opposite the house, where a woman was
cooking at fire built in rough sort OF
stone furnace. She had an immense
copper kettle full of soap l said ''You
must have large family 2" Yes" she
replied with an amused smile ''thirty
women" Supposing that they had a
system of cooperative Housekeeping,
and that she cooked for the whole vll-
age, continued my inquiries, when
she told me that, il being harvest sea-
sou, there were many extra laborers,
who were women, and she as the stewards
daughter, had the supervision of them.
The supper consisted only of piece
of bread beside the soup and this diet
has but few variations, such SIS black
olives, salad, and fruit in the season.
Meat is great rarity many eat il but
once year, at the feast of Lambri, or
Easter. Then every one eats roast spring
lamb and if one is too poor to buy it
he will be sure to find somebody to give
it to him. The generosity Of the Greeks
Is extreme at Easter and New Year, as
it Is considered religious duty to help
the poor at these seasons. She took
her soup off the fire, and put 1t out 1n
the air to cool, remarking that it was
very injurious to the teeth to eat hot
food. AS Greek peasants always have
fine teeth, probably the theoryssis oOr-
rect one. After this she raked out her
fire and put number of loaves of bread
on the heated stones there, she said,
they must remain all night to be thor
oughly cooked. Her work finished, she
gave sigh of relief, and sat down 90
await her family of thirty women, whom
we soon saw approaching through the
gathering darkness. As they came nearer
I perceived that they were mostly girls
of fourteen or fifteen years, with one or
two older women who led the party
they were sturdy-Iooking, sunburned
set, and, instead of seeming weary with
the long days work, were in the beat OF
spirits, laughing and talking. Ike effect
was most picturesque for although clad
in the poorest, and in many cases most
ragged Costumes, the shape of their
garments was such MS best to set off
their superb figures, and their free, un-
trammeled gait gave them even a ma
iestic air. The material of the dress is
both wooden and cotton, Of soft yellow
ish-white, embroidered with bright
colors the broad sashes and the ker-
chiefs worn over the head are also of
some gay color, becoming to their dark
hair and eyes. As soon as they had
reached the place where we were they
sat down in groups, keeping up the
same lively chatter.
During our own repast, which was
soon announced. Mr.. Y. told us that
these women laborers were a set
people from the poorest part of the
population, who always went about to.
qether from estate to estate to help
ho,, thara xras extra work on hand