Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1890-03-13
GREECE And CREEKS. !"
An Americans Impression OF the Land
Where Burning Sappho Lived
and Sung.
4. Land of FlockS and Shepherds. and
Traders That Only jew
Can Beat.

\ part only Of one letter seems a mean
and scanty allowance for a land like Greece.
but II Is a country of which one must saw
great deal or very LITTLE There are
no halfway grounds. To one familiar
with Greek art, history and literature. it
Is country Of uneouaed interest, and a
volume woald moi suffice 20 treat Of its past,
but OF modern Greece there is much less to
say At the island of Corfu first set
foot ON Greek soil and hogan to feel that /
was again getting among an oriental peo-
pie. The men are darker than the ltal-
lans, and the eastern mode Of dress is seen
on every side-the red cap with tassel the
bright-colored waist. the sash. the white
highland kilt with its many pleatS and
folds, the white leggings and the long
pointed shoes, turned up at the end like
an Indian canoe with little rosette as a
finish. The money changers are seated at
their desks ON the sidewalk. the
public writers are ready to write for You a
business note or a love letter. shoe-makers
are plying their trade along the
shady side of wall, sedate old
fellows are seated at little tables
with pipes that look like q chemi-
cal resort, drawing the smoke through
water and the whole business and social
life is in the street Greece is an island
kingdom. with quiet varying dialects and
customs IN different parts, but coming to
the mainland the first impression is that
of the rude, >emi-barbarous character of
people. This is more noticeable than
even in Spain or the most remote parts of
Italy. The country is mountainous, very
generally treeless, and with a scanty sup
ply Of water; the land is poor except in a
few valleys, there are no manufactures
but a very primitive agriculture, and
Greece is now. as Of old, mostly land of
flocks and shepherds, with some olive
orchards, vineyards and cuTant fields. It
is hard for such a land to become rich,
and the marks of extreme poverty are
everywhere visible Formerly the Greeks
were poor but distinguished for their Spar
tan virtue. They are still poor but their
virtue is questionable. No one denies
their ability, and In matter of trade no
one but Greek dares to meet Greek. ex-
cept possibly Jew Any one who expects
to keep even with them in purchase will
need to sit up the night before arranging
his plans and studying the ground The
finances are In a desperate state Even
the deprecated Italian currency commands
premium of 20 per cent, and good silver
is unknown in circulation. The ragged
paper money of one and two drachma
pieces reminds one of the souvenir pieces
of our war times The Greeks with all
their coast line and islands have ever been
famous as sailors, and they have now a
large number of small CoaSting steamers
and quite a respectable showing Of foreign
trading vessels Were it not for their
poverty they would soon take high rank
as maritime power There are many
excellent features in the character of the
people They are not only quick witted
and enterprising, bat self-reliant, hos
pitable, exceedingly patriotic and with an
intense desire for knowledge. A much
poorer nation than Italy, they have no
beggars, md they almost equal the New
Englanders in their desire for schools and
colleges.