The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1892-10-15
ATHENS, OLD AND NEW.
An American Traveller in the Cep-
ital Of Greece.
A Wonderful Mixture of tho Ancient and
Modern-The Rock from Which
Demost.tenes Delivered His
Incompatible Oratfons.
Especial Athens (Grecce) letter.

LSpcSldl StueHS (ITeCCe) Le1Ier.I
shall never forget the first glimpse
of the Parthenon 1t was from the deck
of steamer, just as we had passed the
straits of Salamis. There, in the dis
tance on the Acropolis, stood the re-
mains of the beautiful temple of
Minerva, the symbol of all that is glo-
rious in Greek history and art. Greece
is more visited than it used to be, vet
comparatively few travellers include
this classic land in their itinerary;
partly because travel in Greece has
been made comfortable only in recent
years. Until within fifteen years there
were only five, miles of railroad in
Greece, and that from the Peiraeus to
Athens. while carriage roads We're ex-
ceedingiy rare and hotel accommoda.
tions almost none outside of Athens
Then, travellers have Stunned Greece
because of the conviction that life was
not safe there.
In 1874 Lord Moncaster and two
friends, on their way to Marathon, were
captured by brigands 4 large sum was
demanded for their ransom. The money
not being produced when demanded
the unfortunate travellers were mur.
dered. The government pursued the
brigands, captured the ringleaders and
stuck up their heads on the square in
Athens.
In times of trouble on the Turkish
frontier briganda have usually infested
the mountains and rendered travel un.
safe. Two years after the above trag-
edy we travelled over the same road
from Athens to Marathon, and passed
over the samc bridge from beneath
which sprang the brigands who cap
tured Lord Moncaster and his friends.
We were not molested, even in the desc
late defiles near Marathon nor among
the heights OF Mount Parnassus at
Delphi. we ought to have notified the
government of our intention to make
the trip. Our plans were known, how.
ever, and guard of soldiers was sent,
who hovered near us all the time.
There is practically no danger to-day.
Railroads are multiplying and the
country is quiet.
The trip to Athens is usually taken
now by travellers to the Orient, going
Va SOllilB, dilt CIlc FlSlU IS one That Is
exceedingly rich. Every student of his
tory wants to visit the great fountain
head of philosophy and art. Greece has
played wonderful part in the history
of civilization, and her relation to the
present is of great Importance. You
land at the Pciraeus, as anciently SO,
now the port of Athens The harbor is
deep basin, with a narrow entrance
SO narrow that anciently only three
trireines could row abreast through it..
1t was customary in times of war to
stretch a chain acrass it. The distance
to Athens is five miles. The road skirts
the site of the ancient long walls built
| by Pcricles. The railroad station is
near by the temple of Theseus, which,
with its elegant columns, is among the
first sights to greet the travellers eye.
You perceive that the Greek is not 9
dead language by any means. Greek
| signs, Greek cries, Greek newspapers
meet your eye and ear. The old conju-
cations and declensions which floorcG