The herald., 1896-06-14

plant, he placed it in the bone Of q bird,
Soon the good saint perceived that it
had grown out at each end, whereupon
he placed both in the bone of a lion, but
stlil the wonder grew, until the youth at
length placed 1t in the bone of an ass.
Arriving at Naxos, he was unable to
separate the bones from the plant. The
vine grew and bore grapes from which
wine was made to gladden. the hearts Of
men, but the marvel of 1t was that when
men 11rst drank they sang like birds;
when they took more they were strong
as lions, but too much wine gave the
nature of the third beast"
The Greek churches are Byzantine in
style and resembles bazaars, with their
bright pictures and profusion of tin
flowers and wax candles. AS worship
ers enter. each one takes taper, and,
lighting it, goes around the church kiss
ing every ikon. The priests are often un-
kempt, untidy, ignorant-looking men.
They all have long boards and let their
hair grow almost to their shoulders. On
their heads they wear black cylindrical
hats, surmounted by circular piece OF
goods Their gowns are usually black,
with loose sleeves. Occasionally you see
one going about in some sort of dirty
brown robe, with a cord about the waist.
Most of these priests (pappas hava
black hair and swarthy faces. Some.
however, have yellow locks which look
not unlike a great mass of hemp. The
effect of the tall black cylinder on such
head is grotesque in the extreme. AS
rule the people look with i'll favor on
all who attempt to convert them from
the faith of their fathers, consequently
there are very few Protestants found
among the native population. The Greek
church, of course, does not acknowledge
the papal power; moreover, it forbids
the use of images. SO everywhere one
sees only the pictures of saints and mar
tyrS. Sometimes OFFERINGS bIIpy
about these ikons. and in this way the
church receives considerable revenue
At Eastertide the ancient and the
modern are strangely mingled. The
Easter feast is held at the same time of
the year as the EleuSuian mysteries of
old-when Persephone, daughter of Ce-
res returned to earth bringing life and
happiness with her, and typifying a res
direction In the vegetable world The
ceremonies are strikingly similar. The
nine days fast and the mournful night
procession at Eleusis were followed by
the morning OF JOY, which celebrated
Persephone's return. The Lenten fast
is rigidly observed, bread, olive oil and
vegetables forming the habitual diet.
On Maunday Thursday occurs what "a
called the reading of the twelve gospels.
or what are in reality the last three
chapters from the four evangelists. On
the night of Good Friday occurs the fun
eral procession. In every church the.
ikon Of the Savior is displayed on a bier.
surrounded by candles and covered with
veil and mass Of flowers
People thrOng into the squares. an .,e
available spaces are filled with shep-
herds who have come down from the
mountains with sheep and lambs, for
who is there will not break the long fast
with an Easter lamb which can be
bought for about six drachmas Oess
than a dollar)? Saturday night the real
celebration begins. All the city throngs
towards the cathedral. Within are the
royal family and the ministers of the
realm. Just before midnight the bishop
and priests advance to TIVE door. The
dignitaries light their tapers from that
Of the bishop. Soon the lights have been
passed on to the silent multitude. The
whole mass Is ablaze. The metropolitan,
all glorious in his tiara, carrying the
crozier mounts a platform outside the
cathedral. The bell sounds the midnight
hour. Then the chief priest proclainms
the joyous news, "The Lord is risen" In
an instant the silent multitude is trans
formed into an exultant host. On every
tongue are the words, Christ is risen;
he is risen." So, amid the ringing of
bells. the whizzing of rockets and the
blazing Of bengal lights. old and young.
rich and poor, high and low, pass from
mouth to mouth the beautiful passage,
and joy reigns supreme.-Maud Burn.
side, in New York Post. ,...