Gilpin observer., 1913-04-10

the privileges Of the monks. who submitted after
the capture Of Salonica and agreed to pay
tribute. The republic has, up to this time, been
directed by council elected by the monasteries.
The common seal Of this council which is divided
into quarters for that purpose. is In the
tody OF the four senior members Mount Athos,
the second most holy place in eastern Christen-
dom, is at the extremity of the peninsula OF
Athos the easternmost peninsula OF Chalcidice
In Macedonia, which projects into the Aegean
sea and Is connected with the mainland by
row isthmus. which was pierced by canal dur
ing the invasion of Xerxes. The monasteries are
scattered over the entire peninsula.
A most interesting account of visit to Mount
Athos is contained in 4 book written in 1887 by
an Englishman, Robert Curzon, who went book
hunting to the mountain. Speaking of visit to
one monkish library, he wrote:
"The library I found to be in a dark closet
near the entrance Of the church. It had been
locked up for many years but the agoumenos
(head Of the monastery made difficulty In
breaking the old-fashioned paddock by which the
door was fastened found upon the ground and
upon some of the brokendown shelves about 400
to 500 volumes, chiefly printed books, but among
them now and then stumbled upon a manu-
script OF these there were about thirty on vel.
lum and fifty or sixty on paper I picked up
single loose leaf of very ancient uncia Greek
characters part of the Gospel of st. Matthew.
I made bold to ask for this single leaf as a thing
Of small value.
Certainly said the agoumenos what do
you want It for?
MY servant suggested that perhaps 1t might
be useful to cover some jam pots vases OF
preserves which had at home
OH said the agoumenos. take some more
and without more ado he seized upon an unfortu-
nate thick quarto manuscript of the Acts and
Epistles and drawing out a knife. cut an inch
thickness Of leaves at the end before could stop
him. 1t proved to be the Apocalypse. which con.
cluded the volume but which is rarely found in
early Greek manuscripts Of the Acts. 1t was OF
the eleventh century. asked him II he would
sell me any Of the other books and he said GER
tainly; they were of to him."
One monk whom Curxon talked with in the
course Of his journey round the mountain could
never remember having seen woman. He
asked the Engshman whether they all looked
like the pictures Of the Virgin Mary. Curzon
had an amusing experience with the agoumenos
OF another monastery. He tells 1t thus:
THE agoumenos declared his willingness to
show me everything the monastery contained.
But first said he, wish to present you
with something excellent for your breakfast
$50 expressed my thanks for the kind hos
pitality OF my Lord Abbot, and he sitting down
opposite me on the divan. proceeded to prepare
his dish
"'This, said he. producing a shallow basin
half full OF white paste is the principal and
most savory part Of this famous dish: It 10 com.
posed Of cloves Of garlic. pounded down with a
certain quantity Of sugar. With It will now mix
the oil in Just proportions. some shreds of fne
cheese and sundry other nice little condiments
and now It is completed
"'Now,' said the agoumenos cru ,blinu soma
bread into 1t with his large and SON ,what dirty
hands. this is a dish for emperor Eat nv
friend, my much respected guest: do not bs shy