The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-08-05
: Personal eee Pertinent :


Few people have realized, when
having their shoes blackened at the
shoe shine shop on Main street un-
der old Liberty Hall, how much of
interest was wrapped up in the mod
est young foreigners who piled the
brush and the polishing cloth.
Where did you live before you
came to the United States?' was the
inquiry made of one of the young
men in attendance recently, and his
reply was that he came from Greece.
Greece. The name of that country
has figured quite extensively in the
newspapers of late, and the student,
or even the casual reader of history,
finds pleasure in dwelling on any
thing pertaining to that land. You
don't know how it happens, but you
are carried back to certain Friday
afternoons in the old school house
when you threw all your little soul
into impressing the other scholars
with your declaration
AT midnight in his guarded tent
The Turk lay dreaming of the hour
When Greece, her knees in suppliance
bent,
Should tremble at his power"
Well evidently away back in the
days when Marco Bozzaris was
written Turkey and Greece were at
it, even as they are at it still, or, "at
it noisy" would perhaps sound bet
ter and be more up to date.
Yes, the young man was Greek;
but he came from the city of Salon
ica. We called it Sa-lon-i-ca and he
quickly used the word after us, pro-
nouncing it Sa-lon-ica. We conclud-
ed he knew how to pronounce the
name of his home city.
Sunday school scholars will be
| specially interested in the city from
which the young boot blacks hail,
for it is only shortened name for
the famous city of Thessalonica, to
whose citizens the apostle Paul wrote
the first of his wonderful epistles.
Salonica, the young Grecian said,
is city of about 100000 inhabi-
tants. He came to this country four
years ago to escape serving as a
soldier. At that time the city was
under control of the Turks, and
rather then be compelled to take up
arms against his own people he chose
to leave his native land. He came
to Baltimore first, then came from
that city to Honesdale.
In the month of June the young
Grecian, Gus Chakris by name, went
back to visit his native land. Since
coming here conditions have changed
in his home city. 1t is no longer con-
trolled by the Sultan's people, and
he knew he would not be in jeop-
ardy. He sailed on the Martha
Washington from New York, and
expected to reach a Grecian port
early in July. From that port he
intended going to Athens, and from
that city northward to the city of
Salonica, on the coast of Turkey
in Europe.
Athens. That is another city
made famous by the apostle Paul.
In that city, the capital of Greece, on
Mars Hill, was where Paul delivered
one of the most beautiful discourses
that ever fell from human lips.
Wonder if the young man who black
ed our shoes in the Liberty Hall shop
knows anything about that histori-
cal, literary and spiritual discourse
What l mean is this: Did he take
the pains to wander out to Mars
Hill? Did he find some one to say
to him, Right here is where the
great orator stood, and right on this
; Identical spot he said: 'Ye men OF
Athens, l perceive that in all things
ye are too superstitious?'
The writer never stood on Mars
Hill, but he was next door to it,
He was in the Brooklyn tabernacle
where the late Rev. T. Dewitt Tai
mage used to preach before it burned
down. One of the features of the
platform was piece of rock from
: that celebrated eminence on which
Paul stood in the midst"
Gus Chakris, after visiting his par.
ents and others, will return tc
| Honesdale. He likes the United
! States very much and is perfectly
) satisfied to spend his days right here
in Honesdale.
The other day Charles T. Bel.
lamy, of Delaware street, Scranton
dropped into this office while on a
periodical visit to Wayne, his native
, county. In saying something about
: Mr.. Bellamy in this department re.
Gently we stated that the foundation
J OF his success was the successful sale
} of patent scoop shovel that had its
origin in his fertile brain. He was
very emphatic in his denial of thai
: statement. He said his experience
, was that of many others who have
secured patents on useful inventions
He never realized penny on its sale
although the concern that purchased
/ it, he understands profted by such
| purchase. But Charley wasn't OF
the kind who whine about i'll luck
and refuse to continue to play in the
everyday game of life. He started in
to sell flour and feed. Then he
patented the scoop shovel. Then he
= began selling salt, which he found
f.. was exactly what the Bible says it is
: Good" and he is so fully satisfied
that it is good that he will continue
in the salt business, undoubtedly un.
til he retires from business for keeps
) ~
The other day when julius G
Bone was in Honesdale, as he wan.