The record-union., 1897-03-14

We have been led to think Of the
cities of Greece as masses of ruins. But
it is a fact that Athens, for instance, in
1871 written in the geographical die
tionaries as a town of 1900 people,
in 1889 had increased to a city Of Ill.,,
800. 1t actually sextupled inside of
fifty years. Vola a Thessalonian sea-
port, between 1879 and 1889 trebled in
population and the classic Tricca in
creased in the same proportion. Thus
what was a small nest of ruins arose to
be a f1ourishing city as large as the
metropolis of Scotland. This upstart-
ing of ruined town into a great city
in so short time Professor Blackie de-
clares is more than notable when it is
recalled that the Greeks had for 400
years been a miserably down trodden
people beneath the cruel heel of the
relentless Turks, with the best hope
of the people borne by an unholy
tribute far away from their mothers
homes, and trained into the tools of an
inhuman tyranny"
Behind the debasement Of that peo-
pie however lived all the four centu-
ries a heart of sturdy independence,
that cherished the patriotic memories
Of ages, and seized eagerly on every
chance that might enable it to stand
before the world in the attitude and
character that had given it the most
prominent place in the history of the
human race"
How such words written by the
courageous Blackie apply and stir our
hearts to-day for those other Greeks
in the Island of Crete who are demand
ing the same release from the same
tramp Of Turkish hoofs.'' The Greeks
were extinguished politically, says Pro-
fessor Blackie, by the Osmanli irrup-
ton in 1853, but they have never been
conquered intellectually and morally.
The Turk could rule them by the saber
as the blast rules the ship in storm,
but when the time came that the Turk
had to employ in the sphere of useful
public business active intelligences as
to call upon the very men he held in
slavery. So it came about that the
Greeks of the Fanar in Constantinople
often became the most influential and
effective Governors of the half con-
luered provinces of Turkey. While
they were doing duty for the Turk
however, they We're all the while 81
emily but surely preparing the way
for the happy hour when the yoke
could be thrown off, as it was. All
over Europe, in Asia Minor in Africa,
there were colonies of expatriated
Greeks waiting and always working
for the hour of national regeneration.
The growth, persistence and undying
faith of this spirit among the Greeks
the essayist dwelt upon at length and
with eloquence. and upon the wonder
full cohesion of Greeks-howeve small
however far distant from their native
soil. Wherever they are, the Greeks
stand ready to lay down their lives to
maintain the liberties of their native
land. We have evidences of this fact
in America. where we find the groups
gathered about the few and scattered
Greek churches. compact bodies and
devoted liberty lovers.
Concerning Athens, Prof. Blackie
declares it has many points of SINH
larity with Edinburgh. called the Mod
ern Athens and these points he notes
with fullness and eloquence. and
dwells upon with unreserved admira-
ton and upon the glories and beau
ties of the scene greeting the eye of
whoever stands before the temple of
Theseus. and reflects upon all the his
toric and noble recollections the view
IF tho classic Landscape call IN as