The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-01-30

IO0g, StIdlgat StfeetS Oh the new COW He
open from end to end, nothing impedes
the view on either side.
In praiEng Athens, We must not
draw a veil over her defects. Such i'm
provements as are indispensable to a
modern city have not kept pace with her
growth in extent and afduence. The
stages OF this progress can be seen in
the structural inequalities even of con-
tiguous dwellings. These dwellings
may be chronologically divided into
three categories; those OF the first set
tiers, when al were poor, and the main
necessity was at any rate to be housed;
those Of the thrifty citizens. who felt
the want Of more space and greater
convenience, but had little regard for
external appearances or interior COM
fort, and considered carpets and plate
glass q luxury, and even chimneys OF
small consequence; and those of the
wealthy immigrants, who gave an i'm
pulse to the building Of elegant houses
'among all who, thanks TO increasing
prosperity, could afford to initiate them
Tho proximity of the quarries OF
Hymettus and Pertelicus enables
Athens TO supply herself with build
ing material which no other city could
have at equal cost Marble, in itself an
establishment, is profusely used, and
loses none Oh its brilGancy in the dry
atmosphere, whose transparency makes
pleasant to the eye even the light coiors
spread on the stone walls. which IN
other latitudes would hardly be beara-
BILE. The agreeable effect thus obtained
is increased by the trees in some OF the
streets and squares, as well 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 recorded by
ancient historians in times OF war, when
the number of inhabitants was in
creased by those of the surrounding
country seeking refuge within the walls.
Antoninus Plus endowed Athens with
a perfect system of water~orks. They
consisted of subterranean galleries COL
lecting the water of tho neighboring
mountains. To these old Roman aque-
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 ma
cadamized roads between the fine side
walks are hardly watered. This fact
and the nature of the soil, notorious for
its thinness since the days of Thucydi-
des, account for the dust, which Is the
greatest blemish of Athens An Eng
hsh lady was heard to admire the pic
turesqueness of its whirling clouds; but
even were that single representative OF
an optimistio minority on a fine day.
succeeding one of rain, to see the town
and the clear outline of the distant at
n,osphere, she could not help regretting
that the same effects are not artifcially
attainable.
On the whole, Athens willshow to best
advantage il visited after Constantine
pie and other towns in Turkey, as the
standard of comparison will be fairer
than that afforded by the great capitals
Of the west. It must not be forgotten
that, If one of the most ancient, she is at
the same time one of the newest among
European towns; dor ought the long
period of her decline ever to be lost
sight of when comparing her with other
towns. The traveller who, remembering
that long period of Turkish sway,
counts on receiving an oriental impress
sion from the aspect Of Athens Is
doomed to disappointment. Even the
national garb is fast disappearing. II
may still be worn by few elderly
Athenians. These, and a peasant here
and there selling milk or cheese, recall
the day when their dress was the ma
tional one. It is, however, the Uniform
of certain soldiers of light infantry,
who may be seen parading the streets
OF mounting guard at the palace, in all
the white splendor of the fustanelle-
The wide blue trousers Of the Aegean
islanders are not less rare, nor is there
much chance of seeing them at the
piraeus, among the craft from the vari-
GUS islands moored along the quays.
The uglier and cheaper product Of the
slop shop has replaced the picturesque
drapery of the olden times. The mo-
notony of the modern costume is broken
only by the priests with their long
black robes and their peculiar hats
d. Bikelas. in Century.