The evening leader., 1918-08-21

tAeSfiI VI ttIS dISSh QudiICA anu tAiO
multiplicity and diversity of interests
represented. The foreign aspect of
the neighbcrhood is intensified at JEFF
ferson street when we catch glimpse
of the gold dome of Holy Trinity
church, an expensive edifce of great
beauty which stands out in contrast
to the ramshackle buildings of the
Ineighborhood. Large numbers of
Greeks find employment in the mills.
From the. Atlantic seaboard the
Greeks have found their way to Pitts
burgh and to the Ohio Valley. When
l recently visited Cincinnati / noted
Greek lodging house opposite the Cen
trail Union depot. The disused Frank
lin Bank building on Third street near
Main has been secured for church.
This seemed to me a particularly fit
ting arrangement because the build
ing is modelled after the Parthenon
with portico of Doric columns.
The procession has moved westward
to Chicago and the towns of Illinois,
Iowa, and Wisconsin. In Chicago
there is large colony in the neigh
@borhood of South Halsted street. I<is
not unusual on Good Friday night to
see the stores in this vicinity draped
in purple and black, and at midnight
ia procession marches through the
street carrying cleaning tapers. The
workers of Hull House have met SYM
pathetic response to their efforts
among the Hellenic population. The
classic plays rendered by the Greeks
in their native tongue are always an
interesting feature of this social set
tlement.
When l visited Chicago some years
ago a costly and beautiful church of
Byzantine type was in course of con-
struction on La Sale street near Oak,
a long distance from the original
Greek quarter. This would seem to
indicate that the population is scat
tering over wider area.
Groups of Greeks will be found in
the principal towns of the midwest
The youth are among the patrons of
the gymnasium and swimming pools
at the Y. M. C. A. They are fond of
wrestling and boxing.
The immigrant has invaded the
southern states in large numbers
Strong settlements are found in Bir-
mingham, Ala; Charleston, S. c.; Sa-
vannah, Ga; Atlanta, Ga; New Or
leans, La. By far the most striking
colony is at Tarpon Springs on the
Gulf coast of Florida, where the life
and customs of the home lard are
closely reproduced. This is the worlds
ias"est sponge centre whence over \
hundred vessels 90 forth to the gulf
~ Mexico The sponge divers arc
Greeks, The town has population Of
a eco people. Half of this number are
Greeks representing every phase of
actvity-lawyer, doctor, artist, teach
or. banker, merchant, baker, grocer,
diver, ere. The Hellenic aspect is
marked. The signs along the princi-
pal streets are in Greek characters.
The newspaper often carries a Greek
page. P}acards announce a Greek
play et the theatre. / chanced to be
there lest year at the celebration of
fhe Epiphany which occurs on Janua-
ry 10. Commemorate is made Of the
baptism Of Christ. One feature is the
blessing of the waters which appeals
forcofullv to these seafaring people.
| arrived the evening before. The
populace was sstir Tourists were be-
ginning to come to witness the unique
occasion | passed two mep carrying
an icon toward the bayou where flags
and decorations were already in evi-
dence. The coffee houses were throng-
ed with Greeks. American and Greek
flags fioated from the buildings.
The church service began early in
the morning and continued three
hours. At its close therr was a pro.
cession through the streets led by the
priest in his robes. Music was pro-
yidea by local band. The congre-
gatio7, augmented by American visi-
tors, marched to the bayou whore nu-
nerous boats and launches had assem-
bled. Some of them We're quaint in
construction and bore such Greek
naraes as "Enosis," "Andrcniko," and
i"Pillaros." Some were painted in
br' ght colors. When the priest. reach
ed the decorated platform at the wa
ter's edge he offered prayers, held
aloft small cross, and made an ad-
dress to the men lined up on the Gu
D1,.. L