The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1902-04-01
1RIcANoAce IN MACEDONIA.
universal Admiration For the Men who
Rob and Plumber

""iNerAh admiration For the Men who
Rob and Plumber.
The bandit is the Macedonian hero.
The admiration OF him is inbred. Greek
independence was won by bandits in
ured TO lighting ana marches. not by
townsmen. The Greek National cos.
iume to-day-the resplendent uniform
worn the the Kings crack regiment of
Euzones lis that of the Albanian
origand. Macedonia spasmodically
hopes to be redeemed from Islam ms
was Greece. I'm a country where pow
erty is the sole safeguard against plum
der, the brigand is the only hero. and
he is the only dandy He comes into
The semi-weekly market. where the
women chatter over their wares. or
strides through 4 railway car. known
by everybody. with his Snow-white
fustanella standing out about him like
ballet dancers skirt. his heavily-tas-
Selled cap. his embroidered tunic stiff
with cleaning metal. twring his fierce
mustachoiS. The romantic young envy
him; their elders at least recognize i'm
him familiar burden. He is popular.
The world hears nothing of the bri-
gands unless they disturb Europeans.
With natives their methods are drastic.
The famous Nicko once took from Lar
issa two children of different families.
whom he held for ransom at 800 and
400 liras, respectively. The Weather
parents redeemed their child. The
other pair were very poor. They sent
fifty liras. with humble apologies.
Nicko returned the money BY heroic
efforts the distracted people scrapad
together 100 liras; again Nicko re
turned them, giving i'm a peremptory
message three days to furnish the en-
tire sum. When the three days had
passed he sent back the child cut into
four pieces. Ksmct! 1t was fate!
Nothing was done
Seventy or eighty dollars for ma
tive, 100000 for foreigner-that is
about the scale and the measure OF the
lands poverty. This same Nicko took
from the heart of Il village. no one
hindering him. Mr.. ana Mrs. Synge.
British subjects. He sent Mrs. Synge
10 Consul-General Blunt i'm Salonica.
10 say that the ransom was fixed at
100000. Women are seldom taken
by brigands; it is the theory, natural
enough in the East, that woman
cannot walk or ride well enough to
stand hasty marches. Besides. in Mace
DOMAIN circles, there is still no doubt
as to which is the important person,
the head OF the family When bandits
steal women it argues an education in
Western ways. Mr. Syngc was well
treated and fed heartily; if occasionally
Nicko would smile wickedly and draw
his finger across his throat in panto-
mime, it was but the custom OF the
country. He was polite enough in ne
gotiating by messenger with Mr.. Blunt.
assuming all the airs OF a belligerent
party. In the end Blunt got Synge off
for $4,000 and forty gold O. watches
bought for 50 each in the Salonica
market. Blunt's kavass took the money
into the mountains and met Nicko. who
bit and tested every coin of the gold.
throwing out few light pieces. The
watches were all acceptable That
ended the transaction-eXce that the
kavass nearly came TO blows with
Nicko because The latter wouldn't fec
him for his trouble in carrying the
monCy.-Thc Era.