The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-05-14
PART I.

"E, .etlon's no good!"
The short man stopped to wipe his
perspiring brow.
'It amt no good, say! Book larnin'
chases us out o. Paris an dumps us on
a wobble- -jointed ship wot sples our
appetites Book larnin' gifts us into dis
God -forsaken hole. an we amt
sweatin' goose grease up no twenty
mile Greek mountain oh, no, we amt,
JUS cause it's writ about in de Sunday
school books"
Doubtless" said the taller man,
easily. but think of the view you're
getting! our previous business expert
ence has afforded no such opportunities
TO inspire the mind. That blue mirror
by a thousand keels for three thousand
years. Yonder is Paranassus, yelled in
spotless snow. Athens hides beyond
the eastern hills, and Marathon, with
its glorious memories"
"Oh, chuck de mem'ries!"
"Oh, I'm all right, Sweet william"
said the tall man, looking down at his
sinewy, well-knit frame, looking every
inch the gentleman in knlckerbockers
hose and Norfolk jacket. I'm only
sorry that you would insist on desc
unlovely garb of a materialistic civil
ization. But here comes Dimitri."
Up the steep path there now toiled a
little man man with sharp features and
beady eyes of a mongrel Greek.
You climb brave, gentlemans," he
painted, as he reached them. II think
l should never catch you. haf lef'
the horses in YER good place, and l
haf engage a poor man of the village
who will come bearing your little bag
cages. See, there down! He comes!
In yet five more minutes we shall be
at the monastery-hOw you call him
the convent. Oh, l assure you, the
larges' and mos hospital in Greece.
on shall see"
A fourth man climbed painfully into
sight, clad in the costume of Greek
peasant, and bearing two silver
mounted handbags and a roll of blan-
kets; and the queerly- party
moved on up the steep. High above
them there seemed to hang in the air
rather than rest on the huge cliff, a
rambling, many windowed building.
On the front a balcony overhung
them as they passed, still two hundred
feet below. and from the dizzy perch a
Thirty or forty monks hung shyly
about the passage by the belfry when
the stately, bearded Zenodochos in his
tall hat and black gown came forward
to lead the party into the great vault
ed guest chamber. About it's sides were
ranged ten narrow beds. The wall was
partly covered with uncouth pictures
in an ancient manner.
1oD1 ola oil
mans" said the courier, as he bust
led about, looking after the comfort of
the travellers. There are other guests,
oh, yes! seven or nine poor fellows,
and the bearer and me. The convent
must receive all who come. But this
is the chamber of the guests very
distinguished. Here Lordos Byron
slept. King Otho, too You shall be in
good companies. The other beds, they
are not use"
Kin we see the"
'You shall see the treasures" cried
the eXcitable courier, interrupting
him. away from the world, the world
has not their equal. All, such beauti-
full Objects Then the view from the
top of the cliff"
"The views must be fine, I grant"
said the taller traveller, "but l own"
here he turned with q bow to the
Zenodochos and to a still older, more
stately monk who just then entered
and who proved to be the Prior him
self-"that l am become somewhat
skeptical about these wonderful old
books and pictures in out-of-the-way
places. The collections in the big cities
are ant to be finer, as well as less far
TO seek"
With deprecating gesture the cour-
Ter translated this speech to the Zeno-
dochos and the Prior. They exchanged
a smile OF amusement not without a
tinge of hurt pride
Hospitality first; then we shall see"
responded the Prior. "Some pe0rle
who have travelled much have been
so urbane as to praise our little church
and its few treasures
A younger brother on whose un-
shorn cheek and chin the first beard Of
manhood lay soft and thin, entered
nOiselessly, bearing a tray whereon
rested a single spoon, bowl of sweet
meats, three glasses Of water and three
tiny cups of Turkish coffee.
The two travellers in turn tasted the
contents of the bowl-a very sweet
compete of citron-and then enjoyed,
as only men tired with a long tramp
may do, the delicious, strong, sweet
coffee. The Prior drank with them.
Then they sat some minutes in chat,
the courier Interpreting.
The recluse Prior had heard in his
cell something of the wonders of
America, and wanted to know if in the
United States everybody We're rich; if
French or English were the language
most spoken If the Greeks who went
there did not all become wealthy, and
If the Americans were not much in
terested in Greece-to which queries