The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1915-03-26
THE GREECE OF TODAY.

With indecision marking the atti-
tude of Greece toward the Anglo
Russo-French and Turkish struggle on
the outermost fringe of the Balkans
and while her p. 'itical leaders are
working for and against the continu-
ance OF neutrality, general sketch
OF this modern kingdom prepared for
the National Geographic society by
George Higgins Moses, United States
minister to Greece and Montenegro
IN l9O9-l9l2, forms timely and in
structive commentary upon present
events there. In the last two genera
tions the interests of Greece have
been expanded so rapidly as to awak
en- in the minds of many of its patri
OTIS ambitions of Eastern Empire.
re-lnspiriting of Byzantium's dust.
Modern jewellers in Greece feel
themselves to be the direct descend
ants OF Byzantine Greeks and of the
heroes OF glorious classic Greece, Mr.
Moses writes; and, he continues, their
llte has shown a persistent continuity
winch warrants their claim; for
whether their land has been ruled nv
a Roman emperor, a Frankish duke
Venetian Baltic, or a Turkish Dasha
the thread of Hellenic existence has
remained unbroken. Their religion,
their tongue and their traditions have
survived all change of masters and
all forms of dominion, and, so, Greek
character is much the same TODAY as il
was 1000 years ago. : :
In many respects Greek life to-
day, also. is the same as it was at the
birth OF Christ, says this writer. who
mas seen Greek peasants plouphinp
with bent sticks, just as Adam NAV
nave accomplished his ploughing af-
Ter being banned from Paradise Ath-
ems, the splendid Of old, and TODAY he
coming the Paris of the Leyant"
however according to Mr.. Moses. Is
distinctly modern city. 1t has wide
and gay streets. dotted with small
parks, and adorned with many hand
some public buildings, most of them
gifts of rich Greeks, who have snent
abroad "'''Nu
creeks swarm the seas for a living
as OF old, he says, and, as of old. their
passionate sociability draws them
from the country to the towns and
citieS' One-tenth of the population
OF Greece is to be found in Athens
and PiraeuS. The drain of cmipra-
tion from the rural districts 70 naive
iands IS enormous, and, in the words
OF cabinet minister, it constitutes
grave national hemorrhage In
some villages in the Peloponnesns
MN. Moses explains, there remain
scarcely anough men to fill the offices
y Nevertheless, he continues, emipra.
tlon has been benefit to the counfr,.
Tor large sums of money are sent
PACK each year. especially from the |
United States, to families who remain !
behind. and to this steady American
stream OF gold may be traced the an.
preciation of Greek paper currency
Many OF Europe's backward nations
like Greece, gathered much Of tPe;r
early stimulus from the money which
poured out of the rich United Stat
back home. avs
My chief criticism of the modern
Greek life" Mr.. Moses saws ,.wanIJ
,e that the young men of good ian,
~ and of fortune have not turned
themselves to the economic develop h
lent OF their country Manufactur-
lg and agriculture have been almost
holly neglected, and all that one
ears and much of what one gets to
1t is brought from abroad. The