The times., 1897-04-18
PRINCE GEORGES ROMANCE.

In little flat-roofed village close by
| the city OF Athens lives a girl whom
| fate has lowered most previously with
beauty, intelligence and nobility of char
| acter, though wealth and nobility of birth
| have been denied. She is only peasant
| girl, but the romantic story of her life
\ reads like a passage from the Arabian
| Nights. 1t is simple fact, however, it is
| probable that the royal family of Greece
/ would he well pleased could they Ieiegate
| it all to the realm of fiction.
| LaIissa is what the Greeks call ''psy-
| chopaida,'' or 'souIchild, "a Child by
| adoption. SheiS also as befits the heroine
| OF such a romance, veritabl shepherdess.
She is of good peasant stock, but was left
an orphan very early in life, and upon the
death OF her parents was received as ser
want by the family with which she has
since lived.
1t is a custom among the Greek peas
ants when the daughter OF household
is sent out to service, as is frequently
the case when there are two or more
sisters, that il the maiden be induStTi-
GUS and well-conducted, and especially
il she become friendless and homeless,
the family which She enters adopt her
as Il ''sOul-Child,'' send her to school "a
few years, and finally dover and marry
her at the age of twenty-five or twenty
six.
The ''soul-chiid," +" in return, takes an
active part in household duties, and as
sists to spin, card, wind and weave the
wool or FAX for the needs of the house and
it's members; and she it is who Oftenest
leads the focks to pasture After time
If she is fortunate enough To become the
possessor OF some embroidered garments,
a slab upon which to say prayers in
church and a good supply Of stockings of
various COlOrs, she is pretty sure to nave
an offer OF marriage. and 20 establish her
self in tiny house OF her own.
But there are soulchildren and sOul-
children. II is not every one that has a
face like flower. d great mass OF mid
nisht-hued hair, Iustrous eyes to match,
and a mouth like a tiny crimson bow.
This maiden has them though, and thereby
hangs tale.
"a woman to wear witchcrafts Of
color and still be beautiful" thought a
staIwart young man, who, with several
attendants, rocked Idly, one day, u little
more than year ago, in pleasure boat
near the fishing grounds near to this
uititul bINch lldlllici, DIS lit NdJCItNl tut
strong, vigorous movements OF a young
girl maneuyering a boat at no great dis
tance For, above all else, Larissa is a
sailor; the love Of the sea Is inbred i'll her;
and as for fear, she knows it not.
The man whofirst saw her thus, eighteen
months ago, managing her little craft with
the seamanship born of long practice, her
cheeks peaCny with therchlife given by the
sharp breath OF the sea. was no other than
that we'll beloved darling OF the Greek
people. Prince George. himself, an adj
Inirable sailor So capable is he in
all branches Of his favOrite art. that upon
his visit TO this country with the young
Gar OF Russia, a few years ago. certain
sTay-headed admiral at the Brooklyn Navy
Yard said OF him, That young fellow
knows more about naval warfare than
do
Prince George is the idol Of the masses.
Like most Europeans, he Is n faciIe In
euist, Speaking Danish. German, Rus
sim. French. English, Spanish and !tal
ian with equal fluenCy. But he is also an
adept in the patios OF the people In this
he loves to address them. and such is his
personal magnetism and popularity that |
at the first come on. bOys-whose with |
me-" The crowd Of enthusiastic by-stand- |
ers quickly sweHs To thousands. nbedient |
to his slightest bidding.