The Minneapolis journal., 1905-10-15


This dress is still worn thruout Greece. The
younger men in the cities are adopting English
styles. but the older inhabitants and all the
peasants cling to this fashion OF decades ago.
Professor Oftedal was induced to permit the
pubica tion of this picture, which Grecian friends
urged him to have taken. only on the promise
that its use would be for the purpose of en-
tightening Minneapolitans in the manner of dress
with the Greeks and came into direct,
friendly contact with the people. of all
walks of life, while the. ordinary .visi-,
Tor sees little more of the people than
of those who are his guides or his host s
, servants. These employees, porters
and guides, are much the same in Greece
just to the nation which he visits for
the traveller to base his opinion of the
race on these individuals. sr. -.
''I found the Greeks excellent peo-
ple," said Professor Oftedal. "strang-
ers are we'll treated thruout the land,
both in the large cities and by the
= peasants. These servants of the hotels
and railroads and others of kindred
classes are above the average found
what they can get, but they will not
boldly rob tourist as the public serv-
ants in some other countries will. ~
GAS individuals these people are
wonderfully economical. They are, it
can be said, economicalto a fault, for
a they strive only for what they need, as
a general rule, not augmenting their
growth in wealth and position as a ma
tion as they might by little extra
Greeks of today are progressive race.
Their progress, since they threw off the
oppressive Turkish yoke has been won.
derful and today they are. we'll educated
and honorable above the average.
tFHellenism is at present the great
foe Of these people. =. Unconsciously
they forget more advantageous things
for this beautiful dream Of the some
time when they can gather all Greeks
live in peace and entirety forever. This
is the one great ideal Of Greeks. It is
their whole life, their inspiring ambi
tion, and tho it will be decades before
= the dream will be realized every man
Of the nation would sacrifice his every
asset to make it realization possible
But even for that, Hellenism has a
wonderfully. beneficial effect in Greece
It inspires honor, and there is not 8
more honorable race in the world to-
day, '-~:-.,.-.:-'. ,...., 5-....-..-
,"Of course there are rich Greeks. Ir
g commercial lines Greeks are successful
but the wealthy Greeks have made thei1
fortunes outside Of Greece. Poor a!
individuals, they are poor as nation
The financial standing Of Greece is no
what it might be were there a desire tt
raise the standard and not spend 81
much toward the realization of, the as
semblage of all Greeks. a-:,::; ~: :: :, :
."Poor as he is, however, the averag
Greek is well educated. The educa
tional average is above that Of man,
~;obo- oo = RI " Groo1
can read and write. In the cities edu
cationa1 advantages are better. Ther
are excellent colleges and universities
Tuition is free in all. Public fund
support the schools. low and high, an,
education is compulsory. 49,. ,. !.
- * Effects of Turkish oppression ar
evident everywhere. The people still
bear the marks Of the intense sufferin,
they underwent when they fought thei
oppressors. But, commercially, .tth
cities are very modern. Athens and It
pendous manufacturing plants, all o
which enjoy great patronage, alth
Greece is an important market for tn
- manufacturers Of all European countries
Railroads cross all parts Of the country
and "a line thru Thessaly that will Civ.
Greece direct communication with Eu
rope Is nearing completion. There B j
but one electric railway in Greece
that running from Athens to Piraeus
but there are many horse car lines tha'
appear to be adequate for the needs o.
the cities. 80 ssss,5 go.
- HIns Athens, a city Of approximate
ly 100000 inhabitants, there are elep
en- daily newspapers. On account 70.
their numbers, there not being suf
ficient support for all, none are grea-
publications, but they are all read and
In their way, are as important in th,
papers at home. i received I he J om,
nal, during my sojourn in Athens ant
'~ you should have heard the exclama
tions of surprise when 7 informed