The Van Buren press., 1897-04-24
SOMETHING ABOUT GREECE.
Items of Information Concerning the
Classic Isle.
1t has a population Of 2,ls7,2os.

Classic Isle.
Ii has a population Of 2,ls7,2oe.
By It's inhabitants Greece is called
"Hellas.'
The mean temperature of Greece IS
Ga degrees Fahrenheit.
No part of Greece IS 40 miles from
the sea, nor ten from the hills.
About one-half of the population are
agrieulturists and shepherds.
1t has an area of 81. or square miles,
or trife over one-half that OF Penn
sylvania.
1t is the only country in the worla
whose armies are provided with the
Gras guns and paper-covered cartridges.
The Greek flag is a white cross on
blue ground-the Bayarian colors and
the Greek cross.
1t is more thiekly populated than any
other country in Europe, with She ex-
ception of Sweden and Prussia.
1t has few rivers and many hills.
None of the former are nayigable, and
many of the latter are fortified.
In the eomplexity of its make and the
variety of its natural features Greece
/
excels every country in Europe.
Its present boundary limits were de-
iermined by arrangement between
Great Britain, France. Russia and Tur-
key, concluded at Constantinople on
July 81, 1852.
Only about 10000 of the inhabitants
speak any language other than Greek,
and only about 10000 profess any re-
| ligion other than the orthodox.
The chief characteristics of the aver
age Greek are his inquisitiveness, fond
ness for excitement, love of discussion.
desire for knowledge. an aptitude for
learning and aggressive patriotism.
Cell once remarked that in travelling
through the Morea in March he found
Summer in Messenia, spring in Laconia
and winter in Arcadia, without having
moved beyond radius of so miles
The climate has two striking Pc
culiarities-the heat in summer and
the cold in winter are far more intense
than those of any other country in the
World lying in the same latitude.
Though not much more than one-half
the size of Portugal, it has coast line
! greater than that of Spain and Portugal
together
There are three distinct races within
its confines, speaking different Ian
guages. wearing different costumes
and holding little social intercourse
with each other-the Greek, the Al.
banian and the Wallachian, or Rou
manian.
The present king. George l., came &c
the throne in 1863, in his eighteenth
year.
lie draws an income of 100000 an
nually. including $4,000 from Great
Britain. France and Russia.
lie is the son of the present king OF
Denmark, Christian IX., and brother o
the princess of Wales and the dowagel
empress of Russia.
He married in 1867 the Grand Duchess
Olga. eldest daughter of the grand
uncle to the prison emperor of Russia
She has had six living children-fvt
sons and one daughter.
The king has palace at Athens, bull
/
summer residence at Corfu.
He shares the legislation with a single
chamber, called the boule the member
of which are elected by the people ever,
four years.
There are seven ministers of admin
istration, whose salary is $2,140 a yea
eahc.
For purposes Of local government
Greece is divided into 10 monarchies
under officers called nomarchs.
1t has an excellent legal system
based upon the old Roman law.
Its regular standing army consists o
1880 infantry, 3,120 cavalry, 3,S42 ar
tillery, 1880 engineers and transporta
ton men, 3.400 officers and men, max
ing total Of 2S,470 troops in the lanc
forces.-Philadelp Record.