The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-08-22

ropean travellers going
homeward from the East. Instead of land
ing at Brindisi or Naples passengers will be
landed at Pirmus, tho harbor of Athens. and
day later they will find themselves at Vienna,
and in three days they may reach London. II
you VIII take your map of Europe and look at
the irregular peninsula which iuts down out of
its southwestern extremity you will see that
Greece is made mp Of peninsulas and islands,
and that the PelOp6nnesus is an immense
peninsula hanging onto its southern end. This
peninsula forms the s0uthcrnmost point of
Europe, and there Is no rougher sea in the
world than that which washes its southern
boundaries about Cape Matapan. 1t is around
this peninsula aud through this rough sea that
the many ships trading with Constantinople
and the Levant must pass. and ali ships sailing
for Athens must 90 clear arnund it. The Gulf
oil Corinth lies between this peninsula and the
mainland on the north and the narrow neck Of
land which binds 1t to tho rest OF Greece is
known as the Isthmus of Corinth.
This isthmus is now being cut through and
within year or so the largest ships will sail
in this way TO Constantpope. This viii make
the journey from Italy Go Constaniinoplo two
days shorter aud 1t will enable one 10 so from
Athens TO Italy in just half the time it now
takes. The canal has already been cut aud
the distance from one side Of the isthmus 10
the other is only three miles and half Nero
began canal here, aud Cesar and 1lairinn
entertained similar projects during their rcigns.
1t Is impossible to estimate tho difference
that this canal and the new railroad will make
In Athens The city Is already growing with
American rapidity, and it may yet be Que OF
tho great cities of Europe. Half n century eRo
II WAS a miserable village and Is years ago it
had ar1 told. not over 20 ooo people. Now
It's population is morelthau 100000 aud Il has,
by actual census nearly doubled in size within
tho last 10 years. Its porh the Pir,eus, Is only
four miles from IL, and tho two viii probably
bc connected in the future and they ought to
ho considered as Que city to-day. The PirGus
has more than $1,000 people and 1t may be
properly said that the capital Of Greece today
Is. with this suburb, q eityiof 5000 souls.
Greece itHeif Is materially changing. One
can now travel safely thsnsgh all parts Of the
country. and tho brigHudage which was 20
COMMON few yearsago isnow practically un-
known. Already $50 miles of railroad are IN
use, and you can go from Athens 10 Corinth by
rail. The most of the country Is you know,
mountainous, and the travelling In the interior
must be DONE with o knide or drageman on
horseback. Tho hotels In the villages are poor.
and iBsect-powdcr is Que of the main requisites
OF the tourist. The people are, however good
natarcd and hospilablh. and there is no danger
OF being ill-trcated. II is in the country dis
tricts only that you find tho strange costumes
and queer people who make up tho pcculiari.
ties OF modern Greece The men of the cities
dress Ia practically the same clothes as We do
at home. and a Greek town Is very much like
one OF those Of France. Out ia tho country
you end new dress In nearly every district.
And oBe OF the most common sights is men in
knse-breeches and ieggings, with short white
skirts fastened around the waist and reach ing
not quite To tho knees. like those OF n ballet
dancer There seem 10 be at least dozen of
these skirts, ono inside the other, aud they
stand cut as stiiiiy as those of the pretty girl
in tights who ridea the bareback steed around
tho ring and jumps through the paper-hoops at
the circus. Above these skirts the men wear
gorgeous vests coyexed among the wealthy with
gold and silver thread In beautiful patterns and