The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-02-24

| Vi VIZ liiOt ill'iibthinc inilOolbR in6
llain of Athens, Mount Parnes is the
| (3,64D, with its regular triangular
shape suggesting the pediment of q
temple, is the most imposing; but the
mettus (3,365) has always been most
intimate ly associated with Athens. 1t
lies nearer to the city, and from al
most all the streets and all the win
dows looking eastward can be seen it's
curved line marking the blue sky
above, except on the rare gray ds ys,
when clouds resting on its top are an
infalble sign of rain. The various
huts of the mountains and the smaller
hills forming an inner circle around
Athens, combined with the view of the
sea, lend an additional effect of airiness
and buoyaucy to the aspect. In the
long, straight streets of the neA town,
open from end to end, nothing i'm
pedes the view Oh either side.
In praising Athens, we must not
draw a veil over her defects. Such i'm
provements as are ipdispens able to a
modern city have not kept pace with
her growth in extent and sffluence.
The stages of this progress can be seen
in the structural inequalities even of
contiguous dwellings. These dwell
iLgs may be chronologict divided
into three cstegories; those of the frat
settlers, when all were poor, and the
main necessity was at any rate to be
| hous ed; those of the thrifty citizens,
who felt the want of more space and
greater convenience, but had little re-
gard for external appearance or inter-
lor cont ort, and considered carpets and
| plate-l lass luxury, and even Chin
neys of small conse quence; and those
of the wealthy immigrants who gave
an impulse to .hc building of elegant
houses among all who, thanks 10 in
cressing prosperity, could afford to i'm
itai e them.
The proximity of the quarries of
Hymettus and Pentelicus enables Ath-
ems to supply herself with building
material which no o'her city could have
at equal cost. Marble, in itself an en-
Enlistment, is profusely used and loses
none of it's brilliancy in the dry atmos-
phere, whose transpare makes
pleasant to the eye even the light col
Ors spread on the stone walls, which in
other ATTITUDES would hardly be bear
able. The agreeable effect thus OBJ
tanned is increased by the trees in some
of the streets and squares, as we'll as in
the gardens of the better class of
houses. But Athens might and would
be more verdant still were it not for the
lack of abundant water. This want
was felt in antiquity as well; to it may
partly be ascribed the epidemics re.
corded by ancient historians in times of
war, when the number of inhabitants
was increased by those of the surround
ing country seeking refuge within the
walls.
Aneinus Plus endowed Athens with
perfect system of waterworks. They
consisted of subterranean galleries COL
Letting the waters of the neighbOring
mountains. To these old Roman auue-
ducts, successfully discovered, repaired,
and utilized, Athens still owes her
scanty supply of water. Projects for
increasing the supply are ever talked
of, but will be deferred so long as the
municipal finances remain no better
than the national Meanwhile, the
macadamized roads between the fine
sidewalks are hardly wstered This
fact and the nature of the soil, notorious
for its thinnes since the days of Thucy-
ddes, account for the dust, which is
he greatest blemish of Athens. An
English lady was heard to admire the
picturesquesnes of it's whirling clouds;
but even were that single representa-
tive of an optimistic minority on fine
day, succeeding one of rain, to see the
town and the clear outline of the dis
tant mountains through dustless at
mosphere, she could not help regretting
that the same effects are not artificialy
attainable.
On the whole, Athens will show to
best advantage if visited after Constan-
tinople and other towns in Turkey, as
the standard of comparison will be
fairer than that afforded by the great
capitals of the West. 1t must not be
forgotten that, If one of the most an
cient, she is at the same time one of the
newest among European towns; nor
ought the long period of her decline
ever to be lost sight of when comparing
her with other towns. The traveller
who, RENE mbering that long period of
! Turkish sway, counts on receiving an
| Oriental impression from the aspect of
| Athens is doomed to disappointment.
Even the national garb is fast disap-
/ pearing. 1t may still be worn by few
elderly Athenians. These, and peas
ant here and there selling milk or
cheese, recall he day when their dress
was the national one. tits, however,
| the uniform of certain soldiers of light
infantry, who may be seen parading
the streets or mounting guard at the
palace, in all the white spendor of the
| fusisnele. The wide blue trousers of
the Ngean islanders are not less rare,
/ nor is there much chance OF seeing
them at the Pneus, among the cralt
| from the various islands moored along
/ the quays. The ugier and cheaper
product of The slop-shop has replaced
the picturesque drapeIy of the olden
time. The monotony Of the modern
costume is broken only by the priests
with their long black robes and their
/ peculiar hats,-"Pubhc Spirit in Mod
eTn Athens" by ID. Bikelus, in Janu-
ery Century.
- . -
| EVEN in the most severe cases Of spraiu
or bruise cut or burn, Thomas Electric Oil