Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-08-27
CITY OF ATHENS FIGHTS
EPIDEMIC OF SMALLPOX
Outbreak Takes Heavy Toll OF Chill
drcn and Adults in AZ
fcctcd Places.
RIVALS INrANTILE PARALYSIS
Results in Compulsory Vaccination,
but Supply of Vaccine Is Limited.
Great Reliance Placed Upon Eli
cacy of One of Sacred Ikons.

ATHENS. GREECE, August 2G.-Thc
epidemic of infantilo paralysis in New
York is rvalcd by an epidemic Of
smallpox in Athens that is taking
heavy toll Of both children ana adults
in tho city proper, and in Pracus. the
port of Athens. incidentally. Greek
ships arriving from Alexandria re-
port the spread of the bubonic plague
in Egypt, and cholera has broken out
in tho Island Of Castclloriza. due to
tho arrival of refugees from Asia
Minor. a quarantine has been cstab-
lished between the island and the ports
of Greece.
The epidemic Of smallpox in Athens
has resulted in compulsory vaccination
or revaccination but IL Is difficult to
carry out the orders, the supply OF
vaccine is limited, and the movement of
the demobil!zcd troops into tho in
terror makes IL difficult TO combat the
spread of the disease.
The remarkable feature Of the
epidemic is the reliance that is being
placed upon the efficacy OF ono OF tho
sacred ikons, or images Of Christ The
ikon of 81. Barbara OF NicoIncdia in
Asia Minor, has been brought with
every pomp and circumstance from the
ancient church of tho convent OF
. Daphni near Athens, and set UP in tho
church OF Chryssosp!liotissa, In tho
quarter where the smallpox is taking
MS heaviest toll.
All morning. during the transporta-
ton Of tho holy !kon tho bells Of every
church in Athens ana the Piracus tollcd
at regular intervals. The procession
fr.r, 80
that for FIVE miles lies shaGelcss across
the Attic rlain--the ancien, sacred
way" so graphically described by
Chatcaubrard. Tho black robes Of tho
priests were slowly whitencd by the
dust. and little streams cf sweat made
irregular lines down the gray faces OF
those who formed the cortcgc bearing
the sacred image
BELIEF IN IT'S EFFICACY
IS VERY PROFOUND
The belief In the efficacy az the ikon
OF Saint Barbara is very profound
among the simpler Greeks Especially
is this truo Of tho artillcryiucn and
firernen. whose patron saint, So; Bar
hara, is no, only in Greece. bu, in other
countries as well, where hor day is
celebrated ON December !. st Barbara
was virgin martyr!zcd in 235 y. y.
during the prosecutions which char
actcrized the brief reign Of tho Roman
Emperor Maximin; OF. according 10 an
other version, her head vas cut of by
her own father. who had failed TO per
suadc her 70 rcnouncc Christianity, in
the year 3o6 under tho Emperor
Galerius
sun further evidence Of tho belief In
tho power Of ikcns is seen in the prep
arations FOR the annual pilgrimage to
tn" shrine Of the virgin II Tinos, which
viii he mad" on Angus, % II is
belief current among the ordinary
Greeks that tn" virgin saved the life
of king Constantine L. las, year. when
he lowered between lifc and death af-
ter operation at the hands Of two
famous German surgeons. At time
when hope had practically been given
up. il was decided to bring tho sacred
ikon OF tho virgin OF T!nos 10 tho bed
side of the sovereign All along tho
entire route peasants gathered and
knelt at tho roadside as tho sacred
image passed; and minister in the
antechamber OF the royal palace
marked on special map the progress
OF the procession. while outside the
palace thousands of humble Greeks
gathered many weeping with hystcr!-
cal emotion.
flna!ly the image arrived, ana was
set up in the bedroom OF the monarch.
According Ia the Greek peasant from
that momcn, the Kings life was saved.
The image OF tho v!rgin Of Tinos was
then returned Ia its shrine on tho top
OF mountain, whittier every year come
tens of thousands OF the dcvout Of the
Greek Church, much as French Catho-
lies visit the shrine OF I.ourdcs.
The 1900 inhabitants of the Island
Of Tinos have total income OF $780,
0o0 per annun from the yearly pill