Omaha daily bee., 1906-09-16

n
AA Lloyd steamer ''Gorita" Our
IoG14I steamer moved slowly out Of the
e harpor and southwark through
the Bosphorus anording us a good OPP
portunaty 10, see that part Of, 6tam-
bul, with its old wall. bordering on
the Bosphorus, which includes old Byzan-
ttum.-The National museum ana the stately
Old Mosques Sophia stand on the sum
NIT Of, the old town and can be plainly
seen for a long distance on the Bosphorus,
We passed through the Sea of Marmora by
number OF islands and had gorgeous
sunset Just before we arrived at Gallipolis.
near The entrance OF the Dardanelies or the
Hellespont. 7:so D. m. At o'clock D. m.
we reached the narrowest point, where II
- supposed Leander FIRST and Lord Byron
long afterward swan the Heliespont Later
on we sailed by Troas and the Peninsula
OF Tbrncias out. into the Aegean sea, in
which we passed by ports. towns and
islands OF classic and scripture names, until
we rodnded into the harbor of Piraeus the
seaport of Athens, Greece. As we entered
the hsrbor Athens could be seen. though
i've or six miles higher UP in the plain Of
Attica and partially surrounded by noun
ssins. We were soon landed and at once
driven 10 Athens over a splendid macad-
arnfxsd boulevard, built for Athens at the
sole expense OF q patriotic Greek.
oid ana new CIoseIy Mixed,
Athens is a new and old city closely com
pactsd together. so that it would be difi-
cult 70 separate the one from the other by
clearly defined metes and bounds. The
reason for this Is that the modern city has
made the best use OF all the available
spaos in the way OF Improvements. While
the nav city IL finely laid out with wide
streets boulevards, squares and parks and
while large and UP to date public and pri-
vate buildings have been erected and are
IN the course OF erection. all this has not
In any way taken from the best appear
ances of the ancient. places and buildings.
which are not only well preserved now,
but arrangements are made for their future
preservation and that they may be visited.
seen and studied to the best advantage.
Different from Constantinople. Athens is
finely laid out. both for convenience and
beauty. The avenues and streets are wide
ana 81 easy grades good pavements and all
clean. The public buildings. grounds and
parks are In excellent condition and as
. rule, open to the public Every opportun-
ity Is offered public Institutions and private
their properties. A strong public and pa
triotio spirit is manifest among the Greeks
las examples: One Greek built a grand
boulevard, that reaches from Piraeus to
Athens. Another built great stadium.
A third university. A fourth an academy
Of science. A. nth a library etc. Athens
Is growing city In 1870 1t was in round
numbers 1900: in 1879, 6S,OOo in 1885, 107. 900.
and in 1896 111.oo0
The chief attractions Of Athens to the
visitor are it's history its contribution to
art and knowledge OF It's ruins silent wit
nesses OF its former greatness. Grecian
knowledge and art are no longer confined
to that small country, but are taught and
studied In ali advanced countries.
Important Ruins of Athens.
The ruins Of Athens are many and ex-
traordinary. I can merely make mention
Of the more important ones only:
1.-THE old cemetery outside OF the central
gates Of the city.
1.-THE Temple Of Theseus. possibly the
best preserved ancient structure in Athsns.
erected 800 q. c. saat 3 =
Irrs4The Acropolis including number, OF
special ruins "a The Propyiia tho
wonderful gateway to the magnificent
structures OF the Acropoiis co The Nike
Arteros reconstructed Date of original
construction unknown. CO The Parthenon
was one OF the most perfect and beautiful
sdifces ever erected. 1t was built 4S7 B. C.
II was the principal building OF the Acrop-
oils In the stone paved floor OF the
present ruins of that world renowned
building 10 quadrangular space OF DARK
colored stones. plain to be seen, on which
once stood the celebrated statue Of Minerva,
virgin. of gold and ivory. thtrty-nihe feet
high. II was one Of the wonders of the
world. The Parthenon ruins are well
preserved. In the words OF another: '"The
Parthenon, the most perfect monument
Of ancient art, occupies the eliminating
point OF the Acropolis. towering over all
its neighbors. 1t excelled all the other
buildings of ancient Athena In the brill
liancy OF It's polychrorne and plastic EN-.
bsliishment; ana even in It's ruins presents
an Imposing and soul-stirring spectacle.
The browning glory of the Parthenon was
the magnificent sculptures with which Il
was adorned by the chisel and under the
superintendance Of Phidias. and which