Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-09-17
CONCESSIONS TO CRETE
Influences Which Are Said to Have Had
WeightWith the Sultan.
Where the Atherican Minister Lives
Visit to the Palnce-The Famous
COrtnthinn Canal.
Correspondence ofErhe Evening Star.


PATRAS, Greece August %, 1885,
The uprising OF the Armenians in Con-
stantinople. yesterday affords an explana-
ton OF the concessions made by the sultan
to Crete and revives an ancient tradition
here This tradition is: when a Constan-
tine and Sophia shall once more reign
over Hellas. the holy city will belong to
the Greeks" The sultan Is said to have
yielded to every demand Of the Cretans.
and promised that hereafter they shall
nominate and elect their own governor,
who shall be Cretan.
The Crown Prince of Greece is Constan-
tine. His wife is Sophia, the sister Of the
Emperor of Germany. The wife of Con-
stantine the Great was also Sophia. This
coincidence and the widespread faith the
Greeks have In the legend combine to make
the impulsive Hellenes very hopeful as to
their future. especially as regards Turkey.
The American minister. Mr.. Eben Alex
ander. will leave Athens the Sd of Septem-
Der for a months vacation. which he will
spend In Germany The doctors advise a
more bracing climate for his wife. After
visiting Germany Mrs. Alexander and the
children will return to America. They will
be escorted by the minister and Mr.. An
drew H. Patterson, professor of physics in
the University of Georgia, who will soon
marry the eldest daughter of Mr.. Alexan-
der, beautiful girl who Is popular where
ever she hSs been in Greece. l am told
sthat for two winters she has been the belle
of Athens. Mr.. Patterson is native OF
Salem. N. c., ard is an alumnus of the
university of that state and OF Harvard.
He is in every way worthy Of the charm
ing young lady he has won.
The American legation at Athens Is a
pretty house of white marble, very taste
fully furnished. 1t Is near the kings pal
ace. Mr.. Alexanders two young sons speak
Greek like natives. The youngest, aged
To-, no nfavfellOw
Prince Andreas. who Is about the same
age. ! heard in Athens that young Alex
| ander treated the prince just as he did his
| American fricn6s-wrestled with him. raced
| with him, boxed with him ard showed him
no quarter whatever on account OF MS
rank. The kirg is said to have great
| fancy for the fearless and democratic
| American boy, and presented him recently
with a handsome renkEife.
The palace in Athens Is built of white
Pentetcan marble. At the head OF the
grand stairway Is splendid painting OF
Hercules freeing the bound Prometh he US
| At the entrance to the queens apartments
| Is marble statue of Penelope engaged ir
| work. while she awaited the return OF
| Ulysses The queens apartments are yer!
beautiful. Two large GObelin tapestries
especially impressed me, though ] am moi
an admirer of tapestries generally. The
| throne room. the apartment where the
| king meets his ministers. and ante-room:
| are also very attractive The gem of the
| palace is the ball room. the largest II
| Europe. 1t is'a sGries of large rooms. with
| highly polished floors. lofty frescoed cell
! ings. all separated by pure white Cor
inthian colurns}1of marble from Noun
| Penteticus. -
The grounds are we'll kept and luxuriant
Prince George. the second son. is mos
| popular among the Greeks. because he is
| great big, hearty. democratic sort Of al
| athlete. They say that when his cousin
| the Gar of Russia. came to visit Greco,
| Prince George pretended he had forgotten
| something. and. instead of sending one O.
| his staff for 1t. literally pushed his wa.
| through k'croWd, who cheered hin
| at every step, Just to show Nicholas J.
| the difference between Greece and Russia
| l am told the GEAR looked on in amaZement
| The Tniversityaof Athens and Academ!
| of Sciences is the most beautiful new
| building in Athens. Mr.. Alexander tell
me that the. frst American graduate of tn,
| university was Rev. Daniel QUINN PHI. D.
now professor of Greek in the Catholi
| University of Washington. He speak
very highly of DR.. Quinn's attainments
The route from Patras to Athens b,
steamer takes one through the famou
| Corinthian canal. recently finished o.
each side of the boat were massive wall
of white stone, which lowered high abov
the topmoSt mast.
From Athens to Patras by rail one ha
fine views of ancient Ecnsis. Cornth
Acro-Corinth. Aegion. Megara and tn
most marvellous stretches of scenery. High
! rugged mountains, olive groves and vine
Saronic gulf and Cuffs of Corinth an
Patras, all bordered the opposite shor
| by picturesque mountains.
| The currant season is Just beginning
| Eleven steamers are in harbor one fror
New York, waiting to be loaded with tn
dried currants, the main source of wealt
of the Peieponessus. Why this should b
so l cannot imagine. for everything grow
here to perfection Every fruit known I
our markets is in abundance as well a
some with which our people are nc
| familiar