Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-05-14

ltaDly. Most OF the time in Athens
We sailed up the strait of Salamis,
where the Greeks did the Dewey act
to old Xerxes' nee At Corinth we
saw the remnant of what is said to be
the Oldest temple in Greece-550 B. c..
Also visited Olympia, the field where
the celebrated contests on the gridiron
we're held. The site has been nearly
all uncovered, and is most interesting.
OF course the center of attraction in
Athens is the Parthenon; and as | sit
here ON the Acropolis, in an old seat
hewn out of marble, facing this noble
old structure, the grandest and most
perfect ever erected by man, what a
food of memories could be called up
by referring to my guide on one hand
and my Baedaker ON the other. AS I
have enough to answer for already I
will not steal their reliable statistics
to worry the reader but considerably
let him consult his own encyclopedias.
You are struck with wonder at the
good preservation of these buildings,
considering they were erected about
tWenty-fOur centuries ago, and have
withstood earthquakes and powder ex-
plosions. Here, very likely, sat Peri
cles, the Mark Hanna of his time. as
he advised and consulted with Archi-
tect Ictinus and Artist Phidias, Incl
dentally debating the policy of the
administration. Just a little way to
the right is Mars hill where it is said
Paul preached, and where Talmadge
cOnfesses he harranged the multitude;
and to prove how much more effective
Parson Talmadges discourse was he
says a man told him that he heard his
voice down in the city a quarter of a
mile away. Over to the south we can
plainly see the entrance to several
caves, in one of which tradition has il
poor old Socrates was compelled to
make his quietus with dose of hem
lock for being ONE of the first to advo-
cate the nude in art, on some kind of
a trumped-up charge. I've always
suspiciCned that Zantippe was impli-
Gated. In fact, almost every place of
note within radius of many miles
can be seen from the Acropolis. But
one never tires gazing at the magnifi-
cent old ruins, and the longer we stay
and study them the less do we feel like
leaving.
One bright moonlight night as our
party sat in the shadow of the Parthe-
non, listening to our conductor dilat-
ing on the departed glories of ancient
Greece, a small party of Greeks passed
into the building and, after
kneeling down and kissing
the old, Scared, stony floor, broke out
into a wild, sweet song. At times it
would swell forth as though demand
ing of the old Greek deities "a return of
their greatness; and again gradually
die away to a low, despairing chant.
We were all ripe to fully enjoy and
sympathize. The time, place and all
surroundings could not possibly have
been more harmonious. AS we rev.
erently listened it was NO longer a
mystery why Lord Byron could risk
his life for these people. felt then
that if they would tackle somebody
about their size-not the terrible
Turks-perhaps I might break my
VOW, after our silver wedding journey
is over.
Four foreign nations have art
schools in Greece and they are all
busy trying to discover archaeological
treasures. Naturally no little rivalry
exists. If one party finds a head, foot
or any part of a statue, the missing
members are restored. Another party
may discover a part of the same thing
and likewise restorer; and so on indef-
initely. Consequently you will see a
little of the original statue in several
different places. The Grecians are
alive to the fact that we foreigners
come to see things, therefore they
haven't left a stone or anything else
unturned in order to satisfy our cray
ings The museums are full of more
so-called antique plumber than you
could look at in a month. Of course
most of it is instructive, but it strikes
me the thing is considerably overdone.
Lord Elgin, the Englishman, true to
his national trait, carried away to the
British museum nearly all Of the best
works of art The size and weight
were the only things that saved the
walls of the buildings from being
+o+od off tn ENGLAND
The Greek national costume is a
cross between a skirt dancers and a
Scottish highlander's dress. A fez,
and pointed shoes with what resembles
black chrysanthemums on the up
turned toes, makes the men sure
enough Jimdandies. Add sleeveless
coat and quilted dress and there you
have the feminine outfit Most OF the
people wear the same style OF dress
that other up-to-date folks do.
The government doesn't seem to
have the utmost confidence in it's own
paper nomey-won't receive it at par
for postage If you are unable to get
one of the ten drachma bills changed,
you simply tear it into two pieces. l
have seen and had several half bills,