The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-04-09

years Of clean living and wholesome
work, are of the stuff of ancient con-
querors, despite the transforming spir-
it of the church. 1t would be inter
estlng to know just how diffuse among
them is the old crusadng spirit as
shown by the action of Father Bulato-
witch, who believes he will be fighting
for a holy cause
karyas an EveIess Eden.
The Saloniki steamer puts into the
small port of Daphne. but even though
a woman landed there in disguise and
were not discovered, she could not
consider herself really in the forbid
den precincts of the Eveless Eden.
The envied objective is Karyas, the
capital, on the easter slope of the noun
tain, a gem Of settlement, almost
hidden among gardens and olive yards,
a scattered mosaic on field of green.
And yet in this garden there is no
note of the appealing cadences of a
woman's voice, no sound of childish
laughter not one touch that would tell
of the presence of Eve.
That there may be no invasion the
army of fifty Albanian guards watch
night and day. Women have endeav-
ored by various ruses to enter, but in
variably have been discovered and
turned back. But who was the Byzan-
tine empress to whom the chronicler
refers who insisted upon the forbidden
visit and who lived to regret it? You
naturally settle upon Theodore, the
wife of Justinian, who, having been at
one time performer in the circus and
much given to adventure, is likely to
have undertaken such an exploit sim
ply because it was forbidden.
A story is told, also, of an American
girl student in Greece who essayed it.
and nearly succeeded, but for the clev-
erness Of monk who was endowed
with some of the subtle craft of Sher-
lock Holmes. She went about to pre-
pare for the adventure with painstak-
ing elaboration. She practiced for
days walking after the real masculine
style, assisted by the young man who
was to accompany her on the mission.
She could smoke a cigarette like
man; but considering this as not being
absolutely convincing, she mastered
the cigar. and then, with a heroic ef-
fort, conquered the pipe.
American Girls Exploit.
Her voice was deep contralto, and
when she was at last ready for the
adventure she was as perfect young
man as one would expect to see out
for travel and instruction. The party
landed at Daphne without the disguise
being discovered.
On arriving at Karyas one reports
to the project, who is in charge of the
Albanian guard. One Of these soldier
monks watched the proceedings with
keen interest. There was nothing in
the manner of the disguised girl to ex-
cite suspicion-she was playing her
part to perfection-but this fierce look
ing soldier cleric must have received
some subtle intuition that the enemy
was at hand.
Preferring to be absolutely certain,
he said nothing while the routine was
being gone through. But as the party
was about to go out into the single
street of the capital he suddenly point
ed to the floor and exclaimed in per-
feet English:
BE careful, please!"
The girl instinctively made a motion
as though to gather up her skirt had
she been wearing one. That motion
discovered her. She was escorted
back to the little seaport with less
pomp than IS due to an empress.
Wars may sweep the earth with fire
and steel, and women bear the bitter
est penalties of the loss, while they
rise to the supremest heights of hero
ism and self-sacriice-being angel to
friend and foe alike; but there, at
Mount Athos, she can have no part
either in its peace or its peaceful wara.-u
For she is the enemy. the inside
'oe urged to invasion by the nj
powerful of feminine motives-curi00
;ity.
Against her the army of the guard
md the army Of the isolated faithful
ire increasingly on guard. And we.
Who are in the high fever of life, in
he full consciousness of what misery,
and crime such an obvious
hing as sex may encompass-who Of
Is can say, with anything of verify,
hat these earnest men of Athos are
lot entirely and supremely happy in
heir Eveless Eden?