The morning times., 1897-02-28

most eNtravagant contrast to be found in
history"
The entertaining author Of ''InnocentS
Abroad is not to be taken too seriously.
but here he really Sctrns to be in earnest.
and his words are most unjust. It is true
that the relative Importance of the Athens
of today among the cities of Europe is
small-though it is far from Insignificant
compared with the Athens that was the
Eye of Greece when Greece was the one
enlightened nation OF the world. 1t is true
that her wonderful supremacy OF genius has
been queled by ages of oppression. But.
after all, making reasonable allowance for
altered conditions, the resemblance of the
Greeks of today to the Greeks Of old is as
tonishing; for better and for worse. they
are chips of the Old block.
Even in material things. the diminished
Importance OF Greece is not SO much due to
change in herself as TO change in the world
about her. Thisis trueto an extent that one
who has not carefully looked into the facts
| would scarcely credit.
The population of Athens in ancient
times has been estimated at 1870, 900
souls; and this included the Piraeus, or
port. The city proper has now a popu-
$4,000, giving the same total. The
truth Is that the great cities of the
classic period were not surpa assingly great
according to modern standards. Buffalo
is in all probability larger today than
was Athens in the time of Demosthenes.
And when it Is remembered that OF the
population of the ancient city the vast
majority consisted OF slaves there were
only about 20 900 freemen, even under
the Athcnian democracy--it is apparent
that modern Athens has decided advdn-
tages.
Again, the army that yanquished the
Persian host at Marathon numbered
scarcely more than 10000 men. The
standing army of King George is now more
than double that being about equal to the
standing army of the United States. The
great army raised from all parts OF Greece
to repel the invasion of XerXes is said to
have numbered 110 900. Who can doubt
that considerably greater force Of equally
brave men could be mustered in the same
country now, if tila existence of the nation
were again imperilled?
For the Greek of the present century,
ready at minutes notice to defy the
Turk and all the powers OF Europe, is
just as valiant rs his forefathcrs. The
race is and has always been impetuous,
but rather lacking in steadiness. In an
cient times, as wen as now, they often
repcnted Of their bold plunges, and
were ready to back out If they could
Detailed Illustration would require too
much space here, but every student of his
tory knows that old Greek armies were
alike fleet of foot in pursuit and in flight,
AS Mahaffy rather mcrcilessly points out,
they not infrequently wept before going
into battle, and ran away as soon as they
saw the enemy But let their lineal de-
scendants do the like, and how promptly
and heartily are they reyiled as decadent
race!
The extreme factiousness OF politics in
modern Athens is close reproduction OF
the state of affairs in the ancient city.
Cinon no longer roars to the silent populace
from the crumbling bema on the barren
slope of the Pnyx, but the denagogue is
just as prominent as ever. The orators OF
the ecolesia are replaced by throng OF
scribblers as partisan and as declamatory
as the opponents of Pericles. The method is
northumberland is ALL There is the same
curious mixture Of intense patriotism
and bitter party strife.
The people grumble in precisely the old
strain. Heavy taxation has been a special
grievance from the earliest days.
''The king has ruled this. our poor