Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-11-14
ATHENS OF TODAY.

Its Court and Kfng-The Royal Palace and
Gardens-RaiIways In the Classic land.
lisa well-known fact in Athens that
King George has outlived his popularity,
and all classes hail with expectancy the
approaching marriage Of the duke Of
Sparta, for it Is an open secret that he
will shortly succeed to the throne. The
duke is great favorite with the Athe-
mans, and a most enthusiastic welcome
awaits his German bride. The residence
of the future bride and bridegroom will,
SO far as Athens is concerned, be splen-
did new palace built for thepurpose, and
situated almost Immediately in front of
the royal palace, where the king is often
In residence.
The royal palace is very simple and
severely classic in treatment as to its ex-
terror, but several of the state apart
ments in the interior are decorated with
a richness and elegance which are very
unique in effect, notably the splendid
ballroom, with its massive pillars and
wealth of crystal chandeliers. From the
upper front windows of the most central
rooms access may be had to balcony
which commands most varied and en-
chanting panoramic view of the city, the
most picturesque object in the same
being that rocky citadel, the Acropolis,
with its crown of ruined temples and
sacred buildings, all glowing with color
in the clear transparent atmosphere,
which is the charm of this tabled coun-
try of delight.
The royal gardens surrounding the
palace are on certain conditions open to
the public, but are not kept in the spick-
and-span order usual in such resorts. A
pleasant feature in their arrangement is
the frequent introduction between the
flower beds of small streams of running
water, which, besides serving the pur-
pose of irrigation, lend refreshing cool
ness to o sometimes too hot and dusty
aspect
Athens is in the dry season subject to
a perfect simoom of dust, SO much SO
that many of the. inhabitants betake
themselves for that period to the neigh
boring seaports of Pir@us and the SISTER
town of classic antiquity. This dust is
the one great drawback against con-
tinued residence in so fair a city, and it
is said that some travellers coming in
particularly dry season were so smoth-
cred in thick clouds of heavy white dust
that after performing the necessary ablu-
tions they fled the place with the utmost
speed at command, leaving their short
visit to remain a dusty and obscured
memory in their minds.
Railways are not at present largely de-
veioped in Greece, the most recent pro-
ject being line to Larissa, though the
main branch from Patras to Athens is
the chief iron road in the country. On
this line the travelling is none of the
swiftest; and though, as may be seen on
the map, the distance is comparatively
short between the seaport town of Patras
and the capital, yet one would hardly
credit that it should be at such miracu-
lous speed that if you start at II o'clock
in the morning you arrive at Athens at
7 o'clock in the evening. But it may be
that the railway company desires to af-
ford the eager sightseer full opportunity
for gloating over the ever changing beau
ties Of mountain, lake and sea scenery
through which he slowly passes.
The railway station at Athens is situ-
ated at long distance from the city, and
the approach to the latter is through a
miserable and mean thoroughfare, from
which one emerges with glad surprise
into maze of broad streets lined with
handsome buildings, all glowing in the
stately glory of freshly hewn white mar
BILE, and filled with gay and picturesque
throng. One Of the finest of the many
splendid residences in modern Athens is
the mansion belonging to DIR. SchIiemann,
and as this, in common with the prevail
ing fashion, is surmounted with elegant
statues and otherwise enriched with
holdings, carvings and other adorn-
ments, it seems fitting home for SO
great q master of archaeological lore
London Figaro.