The Portland daily press., 1891-12-01
the MODERN GREEKS.
Interesting Talk at Baxter Hall by
Ame. vIatess Of Athens.

Last evening Baxter Hall was we'll filed
by an audience Of unusual intellectual
ability TO listen to lecture by Nine. Via
tese, a native Of Athens, bat now a resi-
dent OF Boston, upon "rhe Modern
Greeks" Before the lecture, the Imperial
Mandolin and Guitar Club rendered Sc
lection In their usual finished style. Prem
tlss Loring, Esq, briefly and gracefully
introduced the speaker. saying that Nine.
Vlatese and her husband are at present
working TO benefit the Greeks who have
emigrated to this country, and said that a
part OF her remarks would be devoted 10
an explanation Of that work and Its
needs.
Nine. Viatese Is a slight. younglsh lady
with typical modern Grecian features. She
speaks English with much ease. having a
slight accent. but making herself perfectly
understood. Nine. Viatese commenced her
talk with brief resume Of what she
called the glorious history of ancient
Greece. She then spoke OF the 500 years
OF bondage Of Greece to the Turk, saying
that In that time the Greeks were corrupt
ed and brutalizsd and lost their ancient
renown and their manly strength. Al
though 10 bondage, Greeks never ceased to
dream Of the time when she should be
free, and at last they accomplished their
object In 1929. A king was secured from
Bulgaria, and modern Greece began. Her
greatest growth dates from the accession
of King George TO the throne In 1868, since
which date she has made rapid strides for
ward. The greatest growth has been In
the direction Of education In which an
American Jonas King had the principal
part A complete common school system,
up TO a university has been established
and is doing much good.
Greece has had hard times politically In
the past. and Is how burdened by an I'm
have abandoned their religion, the Greek
Catholic, but as yet they have found none
To substitute for It, They are in great rel
igious unrest. Mime. Viatese described at
some length the appearance OF the city OF
Athens and Of ether parts OF the kingdom,
saying that cotton and woolen factories,
railway and horse car lines were beginning
their benefcent work.
Then turning to the Greeks In America
Mime. Viatese said that it was only within
a few years, perhaps five, that they began
crossing ihe ocean, but that now there
were 1000 more or less SCdlLtItu dUOub iEOm
the Atlantic to the Pacific. She described
the life OF Greeks In Boston, where they
are for the most part fruit vendors or
other street merchants, She depl0red the
necessity that led them to enter these
walks Of life, In which she said they were
neculiarly liable to fall into temptation
and 10 form habits Of immortality and
crime which are wholly foreign to their
Nine. Viatese then outlined the plan
which she and her husband are trying to
mt into effect, of Greek mission and In
dnstrial school to be located In Boston,
where the immigrant can be received as he
lands and housed and taught to be useful
citizen. There has been small beginning
made already at No. IA La Grange street
where a small room capable Of holding
about so people has been secured and as
many Of the Greek sidewalk merchants as
can Be reached are In a fair way TO learn
much that will lead them to rise to some
thing better.
At the conclusion Of the address. the
Mandolin and Guitar Club rendered two
more selections which we're warmly ap
| plauded.
Nine. Viatese met many OF the audienc'
in the small anta-room in the rear Of the
| hall