The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1915-05-15

clings acrobatic-like to a rock, which
is covered with luxuriant verdure."
In this curious republic there are
Russian monks and Greek monks and
Servian monks and Bulgarian monks.
Though peaceful in general effect,
Mount Athos has been a place Of
thrills. Not long ago the Bulgarians
made an effort to seize the Servian
monastery Hilendar and annex it for
their own monks. The matter caused
intense Indignation in Belgrade, and
was adjusted with some difficulty by
the governing council of monks at
Karyas.
For these men, rugged through long
years Of clean living and wholesome
work, are Of the stuff Of ancient con-
querors. despite the Transforming spir-
1t Of the church. 1t would be inter-
esting to know just how diffuse among
them is the old crusading spirit as
shown by the action of Father Bulato-
witch, who believes he will be fighting
for holy cause.
karyas an Eveless 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 a settlement, almost
hidden among gardens and olive yards,
scattered mosaic on a field Of green.
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 1t? 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
nave uLucl ldhcu SuCu al tAplOlI SILL
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 ciev-
erness Of a 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 deliberation. 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 a
man: but considering this as not being
absolutely convincing, she mastered
the cigar, and then, with heroic ef-
fort. conquered the pipe.
American Girls Exploit.
Her voice was a deep contralto, and
when she was at last ready for the
adventure she was as perfect a 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, pleased"
The girl instinctively made motion |
as though to gather up her skirt had
she been wearing one. That motion |
her. She was escorted
back to the little seaport with less
pomp than is due to IN empresa