The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-03-16
C|IPT|S ON THE GREEKS
Greece a Poor Country to Get
Rich in.
WAGES ARE VERY LOW
Three PriRates to Every Officer
in Army.

Athens, Ma rch 14.-wilian E. Curtis,
Of the Chicago Record-HeraId writes as
follows,
The patriotism Of the Greeks is pro-
verbal, and evidence Of the nunifcence
of the children of this classic country
are on ehery side. do not know of any
other city. ror any other land Of SIMILAR
population which shows so many public
buildings and benevolent institutions
founced By private individuals. Most Of
the fortunes have been made abload.
Greece is not a money-making country.
The opportunities for gaining wealth are
limited As was explained in a recent
letter, agriculture is still in a primitive
condition; there is comparatively little
manufacturing; the mining resources are
Insignificant and the commerce and uer-
rantile trade can never amount to much
because of the meager population. There
fore Greeks who are ambitious for ealth
go elsewhere. They are a migrating race.
great city. and they use the same meth
DDS, practice the same economy and show
The same skill in trade as the Jews. It
IS d proverb that one Greek is as good
as two Jews in a bargain. They often
begin in a small way. peddling fruit,
tcnick-knacks and other trifes, but gradu-
ally extend their commercial horizons IN
til many Of them become mercantile
princes. You WEI find them in London,
Paris. St Petersburg, Vienna, and es-
pecially IN Constantinople, where nearly
one third OF the population are Greeks,
and the richest men belong to that race.
Throughout Syria Egypt, and along the
coast of Africa the larger share of the
mercantile business is IN the hands of
the Greeks. In the Black Sea country
they control the grain trade and through
out the east from Italy to Egypt and as
far north as Budapest and Odessa they
practically control trade
Many Greeks ara found an South amer
Sea also and IN the Transvaal and other
parts Of South Africa. During the Boer
war several Greeks have had important
contracts for furnishing supplies to the
British government and have made more
money during the troubles than they did
while the country was at peace. in the
Argentine Republic are several Greek
families. IN fact, wherever they go. they
make money, and II is the ambition Of
every Greek TO return to Athens and live
among his own people. The long streets
Of the fine mansions and other evidences
OF wealth and luxury demonstrate that
INV haT al do
There are many reasons for the work
ing classes as wei as the tradesmen to
emigrate. Wages are low, although lab
orers are scarce, and particularly mechan-
ics. The earnings Of those who remain in
the country have not improved since the
war with Turkey, but are lower than be
fore because workiDgmen are paid IN
Deprecated paper currency worth not
more than so per cent of its former value.
The wages or ordinary Iaborers run from
% 80 so cents a day and those Of skilled
mechanics from 50 to so cents day.
The law which requires military ser
vice of every citizen drives good MANY
young men from the country. for It
compels them to waste the best wears
of their life. There is no reason why
Greece should have an army. If she had
none she would be much better off.
The military history OF Greece is not
1attering. and during The late war with
Turkey it was clearly demonstrated that
the people had neither military skin nor
courage.
If the parliament would abolish the
army and navy. leaving Just enough sol
dicrs to preserve the peace and rest
entirely upon the protection Of the great
powers Of Europe. it would be a blessing
10 the people and relieve them from an
enormous burden Of taxation Many thou
sand able-bodied young men would be re-
leased from a military servitude which
not only keeps them from the fields and
factories but units them for the labor
after their term of duty has expired
II would also remove from the sons Of
the upper classes p temptation which is
fatal 10 success in life. Opportunities are
so few ia Greece that educated young
men must seek employment under the
government or obtain commissions IN The /
army Under the present system of nol- !
itics tho former can only look forward
10 an uncertain and IN Improbable ca /
reer. while there IS even less 10 encour- /
age the ambitious in the army.
Tho number of officers is So much IN (
excess of the requirements that tbere 1
is nothing for them to do but TO sreni 4
their time in the conee-houses and in I
worse forms of dissipation The streets
of Athens and other cities are crowded /.
with men in uniform, and if you viii
enter any cafe or stop at one of the many t
groups Of idlers in public places YOU may !
notice thar AT least one-third and some
times more than one-half of an those {
present wear the uniform Of officers Of +
high rank have been told that there Is /
IN officer Tor every three privates in the 4
Greek army. and certainly that prepor-
ton exists IN Athens. although it may not
be SO larse as in all other parts Of the
country
Greece has no naturalization treaties /
Like Russia. the government never re- /
leases ~ subjects from their obIratfons /
-once % Greek always Greek ANY
1atrra}ized Greek citizen OF the T-r;te.5 4
States Who returns 20 his native eaun- /
'ry may he impressed into tie army with I
cut ceremony Il he did no, serve his time
before he left the country The same 4
rcle applies TO ,he Grek residents al
England. France and all the ether conn 4
tries Hence shc chief business Of thaI
nitec States minister ut Athens Is p, 4
HELM our naturalizcd Greeks ont Of trouble 4
AS athens is an attractive rlace for 4
scholars ard men OF literary tasta. tho 4
list Of those who have occupied our le- 1
sAuen here contains The names OF cfstir-
Salsne1 scholars. authors ana .,ae+e rl-i,-