Evening star., 1918-02-28
FOOD AND FUEL
: SCARCE IN ATHENS
Ancient Forest Of Tatoi to Be
Cut Down to Supply
Light.
BY EDGAR ANsEL MowRER.

7 BY EDGAR ANsEL MowRER.
Especial Correspondence of The Even
ing Star and Chicago Daily Newx.D
ROME. Italy, February Whether
through allied desire or inevitable cir
cumstances. conditions in Greece are
rapidly becoming intolerable. The hum
ger has almost reached famine pro-
portions. Every day the situation
grows worse. 1t would appear that
something ought to be done to feed the
unfortunate population. A correspond
ent writes from Athens:
The steamers whistle emitted a
ing nearer. the city of Patras. with the
quays incumbered by wagons, hand
carts. sacks. packing cases and a
crowd full of color and movement; AL
banese fustanellas. Greeks in Turkish
fez and the small black caps of Thes-
sally.
LAS soon as we had anchored at the
port a swarm of boats dashed at the
sides of our steamer, and like squr-
rels the boatmen climbed up, closely
followed by all kinds of small mer-
chants, anxious to sell us the most
varied and strange articles. After
great difficulty we chose boatman and
came to an arrangement with him, and
soil.
Trains Now Burn Wood.
Immediately one kind of annoyance
followed another. We found the trains
no longer ran regularly for Athens. and
therefore it seemed as if we should
have to remain in Patras for three. four
or even five days. Moreover, the trains,
tyox vel II H. lie
and stop at every tiny village. so that
it takes about thirteen and a half hours
to get from Patras to Athens nowadays.
Then, too. although there is a good ho-
tel at Patras. there is no longer the
necessary food for a population already
exhausted by the suffering imposed by
the blockade. All the reserves have
been sold and at fabulous prices, so
that the people are without bread and
all the necessaries of life and subsfst
only on olives and carob beans. Matches
which were selling at 40 centimes box,
are no longer to be had. The primitive
flint and tinder has come into use,
while the poorest utilize the tiny fame
before the icon. fed by olive oil, and
which it would be unlucky to let die
down.
Luckily our grievances were of short
duration and on the morrow we were
agreeably surprised to see a train arrive
from Athens. We left by it later in the
day and began the long monotonous
journey. only eniivened by lunch in the
restaurant car. well served, including
No Better in Athens.
And SO we arrive at Athens, where
the state of things is no better. not only
with regard to food but also for lodgings.
After the fire at SaIoniki, Athens was
invaded by refugees. who took hotels.
pensions and furnished houses by assault
With the greatest difficulty we found a
room at the Hotel Hermes, but after an
hour Of deep sleep We were awakened
by strange sensation. We turned on
the light and, horror struck, saw cushions.
sheets and shirts covered with dreadful
bugs We dressed hurriedIy and. having
convinced the porter Of this untimely in
at all the doors of the hotels At last a
waiter of the Hotel Victoria took pity on
US and made us up bed on two tables
in the dining room. where there were
already other travellers.
LAS for food. there is only one way
Of getting along at Athens and that is
to eat in restaurants. A bread card
was given US for a quarter of an 'oca'
a day; this is about 324 grams each.
As for other food. it is impossible to
tables, or cheese. Milk is 1 franc so
centimes (nearly 40 cents) the .oca,'
eggs are a franc GEO cents) apiece.
while there is little fish and some
lamb.
"And in order to acquire these poor
yictuals the restaurant keepers start
off to market at am, SO that the
people who arrive about s am. think
ing they have done rather well. find
nothing left. An occasional privileged
person by dint of pushing and blows is
able to carry of some small provision,
but the greater number return home
with their baskets empty. All have to
go to the restaurants in order not to
to do this die of hunger. and often in
the street one sees poor people faint
for want of food.
City Dark at Night.
"At night the town is in darkness. as
there is no longer gas or electric light.
to supply which for another eight
months it has been decided to cut down
part of the forest OF Tatoi. Thus it is
difficult to find ones way along the
badly paved streets, and one runs the
risk of breaking ones neck at every
step.
"All these sufferings are lighted by
great hope and a great faith-the faith
in the old Hellenic greatness and the
hope Of seeing its rebirth. This you can
read in the Greek soul when you get to
expand before you. The Greek sitting
at his cafe for hours on end, with his
eternal cigarette seems a physicist and
moral type of his nation. and he will
tell you, if you can make him talk
what he sees in his long meditations
He realizes his present uselessness. yet
he knows he has given to the world all
its beauty. and ingenuously he awaits
the return of his power. When will 1t
come about? He does not care. for he
knows that Greece cannot die
PAINTING ON EXHIBITION.