Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-02-27

AlM&N lpire. The loss OF
W @2pN>. Crete, it has again
and again been prophesied, would be
the beginning Of the end. Crete is the
key to the Dardeuelles and the
Bosphorus. Notifications here could
easily command the entrance TO the
Black sea, and If the Greeks hold Crete
it is question whether they Will not
hold it Tor the Russians, This is what
the English feared when they prevented
Greece rom taking the island in 1869
This was shortly alter the marriage OF
King George to Russian princess, and
the English were afraid that his wife
would turn his feelings toward Russia,
This danger exists today. Queen Olga
is a Russian OF the Russians. She is,
you know, the cousin OF the present
car. She was the niece oil Alexander
ii, and her daughter not long since
married Russian prince. Ispent some
time in Athens just before the Princess
Alexandra was married, aud during my
stay had a chance to learn much about
the royal family. | had an interview
with the king, through our minister to
Athens. and met many friends ct Queen
Olga. She has practically Russianized
the king, am told, He has not adopt
ed the Russian religion, but by law his
sons have to belong to the Greek
,,tks -h e tho church
OF Russia. was in Greece on the
kings birthday. This is national
holiday. and at such times the king and
queen appear at church together They
sit upon chairs of gold, cushioned in
red velvet, while all the rest OF the
people in the church must stand up.
Queen Olga is very fine looking. She IS
a blorde, with brown hair, regular
features and beautiful neck and
shoulders She is tall and stately, and
is every inch queen. The Greeks are
very proud OF her. They admire her
when she appears at her receptions in
gorgeous dresses, wearing many pearls
and diamonds. They love her also be.
cause she does not put on airs. often go
ing about the city of Athens without
even maid with her. The Greeks are
democrats, rather than royalists, and
they like the queens democratic ways.
They admire her also on account OF her
character. She is woman OF culture,
speaking nearly every European
language. As soon as she became
queen she took up the study OF Greek,
and she is now the patron OF number
of schools for girls which she has found.
cd. 1t was in an Industrial school that
the wedding dress OF the Princess
Alexandra was made, and the work was
done by young Greek girls
CHAT WITH THE KING OF GREECE.
found that the king was very popu.
lar among the people. My audience
with him was arranged by our minister
to Greece. His majesty received me in
his palace, and from the democratic way
in which he treated me could see why
he is SO much liked by the Greeks. He
shooklmy hand as | was presented with
good deal more cordially than have
ever gotten from a President OF the
United States. He looked, however,
much more dignihed than any President
ever did. He was dressed in uniform
not unlike the undress uniform oil one
OF our army generals. His coat was
buttoned up TO the neck and there was a
little gold braid on his collar. He is. |
believe, about five feet ten inches tall
but he stood so straight that he seemed
TO me to be over six. He is a very
handsome man. His face is blonde; his
hair is OF light color and blonde mus
farlta oh cts
mouth. ! was surprised when he greet
cd me in the best o! English. He spoke
it as well as did and our conversation
was carried on in that language He
asked me number OF questions about
things in Hmerica and grew enthusiastic
as he talked OF the future OF Greece.
He told me that the Greeks were very
patriotic people, and said that they had
all the bravery and force OF the Greeks
Of the past, lie referred to the railroad
development which was going on in the
country, and said that Athens would be
a much greater city than 1t had ever
been in the past Throughout the
whole interview | could see that he was
very proud OF the Greeks. He has
right to be SO, icri' 80 largely due to him
that Greece is in scch good condition
today.
THE CREEKS OF 1897,
Very little is known about the modern
Greeks. They are the Yankees OF tine
far east, They are shrewd spectators
and are the money makers OF the
Mediterranean. The biggest business
houses OF Egypt are owned by Greeks.
found Greeks selling goods in jcrusa
lem ana they have large establishments
in SInNrna and EnnaInnIlnnuLn NM.