Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-11-21

ioinain ah nignt, 10 De thoroughly cooke&. uei
work finished, she gave a sigh of relief and sat
down to await her family Of thirty women
whom we saw approaching through the gath
ering darkness. As they came nearer
Il perceived that they were mostly
girls OF fourteen or fifteen years. With one or
two older women who led the party. They
were sturdy-lOoking. sun burned set, and in
stead OF seeming weary with the long day 8
work were in the best of spirits, laughing and
talking. The effect was most picturesque; for
although clad in the poorest, and in many cases
most ragged costumes, the shape of their gar
ments was such as best to set of their superb
figures, and their tree, untramnNed gait gave
them even majestic 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 kerchiefs 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 an
nounced Mr.. y. told us that these women Ia
borers were set of people from the poorest
part OF the population, who always went about
together from
ESTATE TO ESTATE
to help when there was extra work on hand.
They received q drachm per day and their food:
the day lasting from sunrise to sunset. This
company was from Chalcis: but he soon ex-
pected a band of men from saams. whose
natives are considered remarkably good work
erS. The conversation then turned upOn the
condition of the laboring Classes in Greece,
WhereupOn he expressed much dissatisfaction at
the large number of feast days that peasants
keep. and said that the country would always
be poor until the laborers would learn to work
more steadily. Some of his people, particularly
the Older ones, would never work on aliy saint $
day; as the name of the saints is legion. there
would be an average of nearly Gay week. be-
size the sunday. when they would do nothing
hr,f 10, III, :,
sing. | could not help thinking how: much this
sOciable dancing and singing adde0 to their
charms rs human beings, and wondering whether
they would come home at night from their
lahors with such an elastic step. were 1t not for
this waste OF time of which the landlords so
bitterly complain
On Sunday, almost before daylight. the bells
began to ring for morning service. and the pea
SAINTS. who are early risers. We're soon fiocking
INTO the little church. Not only the villagers
came. but people from surrounding farms; and
from my window | saw the priest who had come
from distance, d!smCunting from his horse,
ana answering the sautatiOns Of his DarishiOn-
ers, who perhaps had the mere regard for him
because he did not live among them. but came
only once a fortnight to conduct service | had
been told that there was to be second LiturTia
SAID at seven O'Clock. for the master and family:
50 waited for that hour. when we all walked
down together. On entering the church we
1Uund there GOOdiv number OF peasants. who
ii't iict pCVIi dbIt IA ptt ~ early HlHSS. As
is the custom iii the Greek church, the cCHgrc-
cation remained standing during the entire ser
vice, the men on the right aud the women on
the left. They We're very deyout in manne"
looking toward the picture OF the Virgin near
the altar and to her they addressed their
prayers. in low voice. their only motion being
the frequent sign of the cross. Several mothers
were there, holding babies in their arms with
small children ciinging to their skirts. The lit
tie ones crossed themselves with their tiny
fingers, in imitation of their elders. Some
times person coming in would step forward
put down
SMALL. COIN,
and light little taper. which he would put into
the candlestlck. saving prayer for the soul OF
dead friend. or would kiss the picture of the
virgin. The priest. VINO ofliciated az the altar
had exchanged his usual black robe fora gaily
c0lored one Of some common stuff and his hair
always concealed under his high cap, except in
church. hung down in heavy black curls over
lis shoulders. He went through the prayers
III Il loud nasal chant and read the Gospel in the
same tone. with great speed. assisted in his dl-
ties by peasant lad. whom he had trained and
VINO was probably destined to be a priest