The state herald., 1916-10-20
GAINST a background Of


~ BILE temples. of massive aque-
ducts, Of extensive amphithea-
tiers, 1t Is easy to project the ties Of
sentiment which bind the life Of the
Greek Of today to that Of the classic
worthless from whom he claims direct
descent, according to communication
addressed to the National Geographic
society by George Higgins Moses, for
merly United States ambassador to
Greece. Mr.. Moses in his graphic pic
ture Of the Athens of today and Of the
modern citizens Of the city which
reached the pinnacle Of its greatness
In the days Of Pericles, says:
ut was with only slight shock that
I learned that the man who brought
me my morning coffee at the legation
bore the tremendous name of Themis-
toclcs. And yet 1t is difficult to Wis
ualize the modern Athenian with those
who once walked his streets.
thinking of Homer. Of Praxiteles
and Of PhidIns. one looks for Helen,
for Hermes and for Athene; but the
only Helen ever saw In Athens was
an American girl, married to n men,
ber Of the cabinet, and whose golden
hnir. blue eyes and classic features
made her at once tie reigning hostess
In the city. And II is only In the
islands or deep In the country where
the Albanian flood once swept across
the Attic plain has never reached. that
one finds the facial lineaments and the
bodily grace which the ancient sculp-
tor has taught the modern world as
being common to all Greeks OF classic
time. And this survival persists chief.
ly among the children. because inces-
sant toll md scanty nourishment soon
deprive both boys and girls Of their
native grace and stamp them with
the inerndicable marks Of q life Of
labor.
Climate 'ls Agreeable.
'The Attic year is sharply divided
climatically Into two seasons, the rainy
and the dry. the latter beginning late
In May and extending TO early Octo-
ber. and during which there In no rain.
fall except single thunder shower.
which comes with great regularity dur
Ing the second week In August. Out
side Of Attica climatic conditions are
somewhat better. In the islands along
the Gulf Of Corinth. and In the Morea
there II constant Greencry-grass,
vines and many trees. But for one
who spent. as did. four summers on
and In Athens. II II not easy to learn
that hills m,y have a beauty aside from
forests, and that colors, contour and
form can lend enchantment to the
naked rock. II was long before my
New England eyes appreciated the
wonderful tints which the Atheninn
sunset throws upon Lycnbettus and
Hymettu and that I learned that Ath.
ems now. ns ever. should be hailed as
the 'violct.crowned city
"Personniiy. ! found the Athcninn
climate agreeable. and ! cannot now
recall n single day Of my stay there
when. even ID the rniny scnson. the
sun did not shine at least part OF the
time. Cold winds there were. 10 be
sure. In winter. blowing down from
the snow-cnpped hills above the town
or blowing up from the sen Mt Phnler-
on: but there were no frosts; the roses
bloomcd during every month Of the
year In the legation gardens; oranges
ripcned In the open air. and we picked
our breakfast fruit from the trees
outside of the window. while the pnim
hourishcs there M hive seen II no.
where else. not even In the Riviera.
The summer heat In cnsily cndurnbic.
despite n wcil.nigh constant tcmpcrn-
turc Of nearly 100, the absence Of rnin
removing the humidity which mikes
American midsummer NO intolcrnblc.
Social Year 10 Divided.
"Socinlly, too, the Athcninn ycnr di.
vidcs itself with the climntc. At the
end of the rainy season the court. the
diplomatic body and the rich fee nwny.
The latter going ns they sny, to Eu.