The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-09-09
THE GREEK OFTODAY
HE DOES NOT WORK WHEN HE CAN
GET CIGARETTES.

Other Things-The influence Upon Archi-
tecturaI styIes-The Modern Greek wom-
an-How the Men Dress.
The modern Greek says he is the
Ineal descendant and heir of the an
cient Greek, but he is not. He may be
! divided into two classes-such exam
pies of him as look like the young Apol-
10 and such as do not. Those of the lat
ter class, which is very far the larger,
look for the most part like the impeni-
tent thief. The dress of the modern
Greek is a number of short white pet
ticoats, not unlike those worn by fairy
in the ballet, only in cases less clean.
To call him dirty, however, as some
travellers have done, is most unjust A
chimney sweep is dirty at the close of
his days work, but with the modern
Greek dirt is less custom than an i'm
memorial tradition.
The first cases of him seen by the
traveler-supposing him to approach
the country from that side-are in Mes
senia. This fact has suggested to an an
tiquary that at the disastrous close of
the first Messenian war, in 1855 B. c.,
the Messenians bound themselves by a
great oath that until they had washed
out disgrace they would wash nothing.
That oath they have faithfully kept,
and now it is unlikely ever to be either
terminated or broken.
The modern Greek does not work.
There are, it is true, workingmen. They
are needed for demonstrations Of the
unemployed, but they do not work In
the same paradoxical spirit it may be
said that the principal industry Of the
country is idleness. But for the conven-
fence of the gazetteer it is officially
given out that the nation is engaged in
commerce-mainly currants. Besides
this there is brisk trade in justice in
many parts of the country, while the
inhabitants of some seaport towns de-
vote their energies to backing one an
others boots in the principal streets.
Such are the industries of modern
Greece. 1t is to be observed, however,
that, although the modern Greek never
works.. he has an unequaled natural
aptitude for looking as if he were just
thinking it almost time to begin work.
Although inactive, he is enterprisfng.
The race is very widely spread. Indeed
the only place near Greece where you
may not expect to find Greeks is the post
of duty. Even here the modern Greek
has been noticed more than once, but he
was almost invariably just stepping off
a moment to light cigarette. When
he is about to light cigarette, he is al
ways smoking one, except when his
neighbours tobacco gives out. He is not
always drinl1ing-a fact which may be
ascribed more to the character of his
native wines than TO his native sobriety
though he can seldom spare the time
to leave the wineshop, but fills in the
interval trying to induce his neighbor
bly, the national devOIlon W tHe 0ISa-
rette to which we may attribute the
characteristic architectural styles OF
modern Greece. The common feature
in all these is their rough, bold incom-
pleteness. To the experienced eye the
building looks as if it were tumbling
down, but this is not the true explana-
ton. Plainly the house was half built
when the master builder stepped away
to get light and forgot to return. In
agriculture the modern Greek does not
excel.
1t is thought by sociologists that the
land was SO ravaged by the end of the
Peloponnesian war (404 B. CO that the
Greek became dispirited and has not
planted anything since. Certainly it
would be impossible to ravage the land
now. Thus cut off from his traditional
military exploit, the modern Greek is
but an Indifferent soldier. But it is to
be remembered that it is now hardly
over so years since he freed himself,
acting through the fleets of England,
France and Russia, from the brutal do
minion Of the Turks. Doubtless in
century or two he will have advanced
more than one step on the road to re-
juvenescent prosperity. The perpetual
invention of new labor saving machines
is of the happiest augury for his future
civilization. It should be said, more
over, that there is in the islands town
with a large square and fine subtropic-
al plant in the middle. 1t contains pub
lie buildings partly finished and eight
or nine drinking shops, besides statue
Of patriot in knickerbockers called
Muley-no doubt in affectionate recog-
milton of his tenacity of purpose. The
square is called the Place Of the Glory
of the Resurgent Hellas, but 1T is very
many times too large for it.
The modern Greek woman differs in
several important points from the mod
ern Greek man. She sometimes works
and not seldom in early youth looks
like a habitual criminal. 1t must not
be thought, however, as some have done,
that she goes so far as ever to tell the
truth. When she goes on journey. she
carries with her everything she has il
the world, in this respect approximatine
to the custom of her sisters among less
civilized peoples. She carries her goods
in broken box with particoloret
leather top, trellised with yellow tinsel
In the rare cases when the lock is no
broken she further secures it with I
piece of broken string. Pail Mall Ga
zette.