Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-05-07

survives, in the present, the greatest
city in Asia Minor, and the second
port Of an extensive empire.
While Ephesus, Miletus, Sardis,
Magnesia, Pergamus and Halicarnas-
sus have faded away, Smyrna has
continued its story Of untiring centu-
ries. 1t has risen superior to every
stress, remaining today what 1t was
yesterday. as lasting as Mount Pagus
at it's back. The rise, splendor and de-
cay Of great empires have formed but
momentary episodes in this citys life,
whose history stretches from the 18th
century before the birth Of Christ
down to the present day. 1t, most
truly, deserves the title Of Eternal
City; for it, like the phoenix Of my
thology, has ever renewed its nerve
less age by more mangnificent
youth.
Smyrna was founded by Aeolian
Greeks upon the natural outlet Of an
important trade route. 1t grew rap
idly into wealth and power, and early
took the lead among the cities Of
Asia Minor. Ionian Greeks conquer
ed the city in the 7th century B. c.,
and under these masters 1t played a
leading role in the Ionean League.
Jealous Of it's tremendous riches, the
Lydians captured and conscientiously
destroyed Smyrna in SIT B. c. Their
endeavors were so thorough that there
remained but village until after the
Macedonian conquest. Alexander the
Great caused the city to be rebuilt,
and it was laid out with extravagant
magnificence. Among the many
beautiful buildings Of this new city
was the Homereum, where the poet,
Homer, was worshipped as a hero.
The Seleucidae declared the city
sacred and inviolable.
In the days Of Roman conquest,
Smyrna was the great world center
of art and learning, somewhat the
Paris Of that early age. The Ro-
mans, who treated the city well, called
it the philosophers Grove" and also
THE Oasis Of the Muses. and the
Graces" For many generations, Smyr-
ma was the proudest Asiatic possession
Of the Byzantine empire Of the east.
In 1902, it was destroyed by the Mon
gols Of Tamerlane, and such Of its in
habitants as could be found were
killed. When it fell to the Turks,
Smyrna received another loving nick
name. 1t was called "The Eye Of
Asia Minor"
The city lies at the head Of the Gulf
Of Smyrna, some 200 miles southwest
Of Constantinople, with which 1t is
now connected by rail. The fore
ground Of the port is level ground,
while the background is cut by the
sharp shoulder Of Mount Pagus. There
is a population Of more than 100000
of which about one-half is Greek, one
fourth Mohammedan, while Armenians
and Jews make up the greater part Of
the remainder. There were also large
number Of European residents before
the war, who in the order Of their
numbers, were French, English,
Italian, Swiss and German. Greek is
the language Of greatest currency,
and, at the wars outbreak, French
was the most useful tongue for the
visiting foreigner.
Smyrna was divided into five quar-
ters, for the Turk, the Jew, the
Armenian, the Greek and the Euro
pean. The Turkish and Jewish quar-
ters were devious, crowded, squalid
and forbidding. The Armenian and
Greek sections were well-built, with
wider and cleaner streets, and Of
more satisfying appearance. The
European section was Smyrna's glory.
Here were the finest thoroughfa-es,
the most imposing buildings, a sharp
ly contrasting cleanliness, and the
lovely water front. The strange or
ganization of the city has given oc-
casion for the development Of Gu
rious municipal government. The
Christian ard Jewish communities
have separate elected councils, WHICH
are presided over by their respective
religious heads.
The trade Of Smyrna is large. 1t is
worthy Of note under present condi-
tions that the greatest part Of this
trade was in the hands Of the English.
It has an annual import Of about $15,-
600, 900 and an annual export Of near
ly $2O,O0OOOO The imports are man
ufactures, coal and iron; and the ex-
ports are mainly dgs, the famous
Smyrna rugs, raisins, tobacco and
silk.