The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-05-14
fcopyright. 1901. by John I.angdon Heaton.l
PART /.

wobble-j -jointed ship wot spiles our ap-
petites. Book larnin' gifts us into dis
God-forsalIen hole, an now we amt
sweatin' goose grease up no twenty
mile Greek mountin; oh. no, we amt,
JUS cause it's writ about in de Sunday
school books.
Doubtless" said the taller man. cas-
ily, "but think of the view you're get-
ting! Your previous business expert
ence has afforded no such opportunities
10 inspire the mind. That blue mirror
by a thousand keels for three thousand
wears. Yonder is Parnassus, veiled in
spotless snow. Athens hides beyond
the eastern hills, and Marathon, with its
glorious memories"
"Oh, chuck de mem'ries!"
ooh, I'm all right, Sweet William"
said the tall man. looking down at his
sinewy. well-knit frame, looking every
inch the gentleman in knickerbockers,
hose and Norfolk jacket. I'm only
sorry that you would insist on desecrat-
ing these sylvan soltudes with the un-
lovely garb of materialistic civiliza-
tion. But here comes Dimitri."
Up the steep path there now toiled n
little man with the sharp features and
beady eyes of mongrel Greek.
.'You climb brave, gentlemans," he
painted as he reached them. Il think
should never catch you. haf lef the
horses in yer' good place, and haf en-
gage poor man of the village who will
come bearing your little baggages. See,
there down. He comes! In yet five
more minutes we shall be at the mon
astery-how you call him--the convent.
Oh, / assure you, the lSrges' and mos
hospital in Greece. You shall see."
A fourth man climbed painfully into
eight, clad in the costume of Greek
peasant. and bearing two osilver-mounted
handbags and roll of blankets; and the
queerly-assorted 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 balcony overhung them
as they passed. still two hundred feet be-
low, and from the dizzy perch a bell
pealed out brazen welcome.
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
20 lead the party into the great vaulted
guest climber. About its sides were
ranged ten narrow beds. The wall was
partly covered with uncouth pictures
in an ancient manner.
Il al In
MANS" said the courier, as he hustled
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 distin-
guished. 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 treasurers," cried
the excitable courier, interrupting him.
"Away from the world, the world has
not their equal. Ah, such beautiful
objectsl Then the view from the top
of the cliff"
"The views must be fine, I grant,"
aid the taller traveller. "but / own"
nere he turned with bow TO the Zeno..
dochos and TO still older, more stately
monk who just then entered and who
proved to be the Prior himself-"that I
am become somewhat slSeptical about
these wonderful old books and pictures
in out-of-the-way places. The collec-
fions in the big cities are apt to be
finer, as well as less far TO seek"
With adeprecating gesture the courier
translated this speech TO the Zcno-
dochos and the Prior. They exchanged
q smile of amusement not without n
tinge of hurt pride.
Hospitality first; then we shall see"
responded the Prior. "Some people
who have travelled much have eecn
SO urbane as to praise our little church
and its few treasures"
A younger brother. on whose un1
shorn cheek and chin the first beard of
manhood lay soft and thin. entered
noiselessly. bearing tray whcreon
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.
1s only men tired with n 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 Amer
ica. and wanted 10 know IL in the
United States everyone was rich; II
French or English were the language
most spoken; IL the Greeks WHO went
there did not oil become wealthy. and
IL the Americans were not much inter
csted in Grcece-to wEich queries re-
plies compounded II truth and polite
error we're returned.
"If ycu are now rested" said the
p-fo- oftc- ten rnirutca or 20 thus