Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-04-16
GREEK TREASURES

Which America Wants and Is Searching
For-The Village of Custri.
Wehave no wish to deprive the Hellenic king
dom of good bargain, or the American repub-
lie of as many statues, and temples and bronZes
and coins as it can discover, aud it may be
that, by the purchase and removal of the lit
tie village of Castri, the way might be pre-
pared for discoveries more extensive and val
liable than any which have Us yet attended
modern explorers at Delphi But the village
is small and insignificant one, aud stands
on a narrow strip of ground between what
are called the ruins of Delphi and the point
at which the spurs of Parnassus descend
pretty sheer to the spot whence still bubbles
what is called the Castalian fountain.
Hence the area to be excavated, if we sup
pose the villagers of Castri to be expropri-
ated for the purpose, is not very extensive
There is perpetual glamour about the
very name of Greece, and an added spell
round that of Delphi which will make up for
many things the traveller might expect to
find and will not. For instance, he will find
scrub and rank grass instead of wood and
trees, and nowhere, save at the Castalian
fountain or where the Plesitus flows, will
find water. Greece is rs it was, a somewhat
waterless land Nor are the hills very strik-
ing in outline; and the twin peaks of Parnas-
sus are here too nigh To do themselves jus
tice But the gulf of Corinth lies like sill
yer lake below; and, with the help of an en-
thusiastic imagination, the wayfarer may
work himself into the feeling that his feet are
carrying him over sacred ground When he
reaches Delphi, he will find as a recent visitor
declares:
Fallen tablet, PROSTATE column
Solitude and silence solemn
The matrons and maidens of Castri will
probably be washing the clothes of their bus
bands and brothers in the fount of Castalia,
with their krtles well tucked up above their
knees. For the rest, there is some water
cress, few novels and a Greek monastery
and church of liliputian dimensions, inhab-
tied and cared for by a single monk
Are these present features to disappear, on
the chance of our American brothers finding
relics of the palmy days of Greecel To re-
move the little squalid village of Castri
would be trifing undertaking for a com
munity that has cleared the western back
woods, and constructed Chicago out of moth
ing. Nor are they to be deferred by the leg
ends that still linger round the place
Originally, it will be remembered, the ora
Gle was delivered through the mouth of
priestess of tender years, sitting on the sacred
tripod. Later, the priestess had TO be 80
years of age. America, as the youngest of
the civilized continents, will perhaps reverse
the arrangement, and plead its youth in order
to ingratiate itself with the lord of the twang-
ing bow. AS for the Greek monk and his
semi-subterranean chapel, its curious icons
and frescoes Of saints and martyrs, the ex-
plorer from New York would soon make
short work of these. Hard by them stands
splendid laurel or bay tree; and this might be
turned to account by the purchasers. Indeed,
might they not get all their money back,
quite independently of any classical tror-
vailles, by selling laurel wreaths from it to
all the distinguished" citizens of the repub.
lie, Of whom, as everybody knows, there is
such a prodigious quantityi What remained
might be disposed of i'll the mother country
where likewise eminent" personages have a
tendency to increase at a marvellous rate
Take it altogether, the scheme seems fitting
and an opportune one. The analogy between
the republics of Greece and the American
republic is not, ut first sight, obvious; but.
with a little perseverance, and good will, we
feel sure it might be made out. There may
be some who will feel lingering compassion
for poor Apollo; while Others less tolerant,
will be disposed to wish that he still could
deal out punishment from his avenging
culver. London Telegraph