The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-02-19

!, the Emperor Of Germany.
clared that he would dissolve the
chamber, and take the affairs of state
into his own hands.
| But he had to reckon with the pa
| triotic Venizelos, the Greek Crom-
well. I shall certainly never forget
the glorious dignity of the illustrious
| Greek when he made his protest to
the king. The true story of it all has
never before been told. 1t forms one
Of the most dramatic chapters in the
stirring history of my country. wish
1 could do full justice in the telling
of it.
your Majesty. has no power to Gis-
solve the chamber" declared Venizel-
os bluntly.
! Tino clustered. and worked himself
up into uncomfortable passion. 'I am
the king" he shouted.
you are the king the statesman
replied boldly, "by the will of the
people. There shall be no autocracy
in Greece
Tino strobe like mailman up and
down the room.
This, sir, is too disgraceful," he
said, and repeated 81 tell you that 1
am the king, and you -'' T remem-
Der that he paused suddenly.
Venizelos, however, did not finch
Greece" he said, speaking with
impressive gravity, lis the mistress of
her own destinies. By the constitu-
ton your Majesty's powers are limit
ed.
People Starved and Ruined
''The King of Greece cannot reign
in defiance of the decree of his sub
jects," declared the statesman. 81 beg
of you sir, to be reasonable, and not
to rouse the anger of the people. The
constitution must be, and will be, pro-
tected.''
Tino was white with anger.
Get out of my presence" he said
go back to your bowling, disloyal
mob and tell them that 1 shall dis
solve the chamber at my pleasure -
Venizelos paused for a moment, and
then, in that strong, clear voice of his
exclaimed, You will do it at your
peril sire" They were his last words
but they were effective. Tino did not
dissolve the chamber.
1 have said something of the dis
+ tress caused by the Allied blockade
; Merchants had to close down Their
businesses, bankers were faced with
ruin, and, worst of all, the food short.
age was so intensified that whole
; families were on the verge of starva.
> ton.
The willy Tino and his heartles.
, queen had foreseen this. There wa.
no shortage at the palace. A large
supply of provisions of every kline
was laid in.
+ Royal Hoarders
T The cellars were stocked with tn
S choicest wines, and eatables, rangin:
t from the rarest delicacies to the com
d monest foods, were stored. The kin;
V himself was a big eater; the queen
e like most people of her nation was
= positive glutton. But they We're al
most incredibly mean. The queen per
: sonally allotted the food for the stat
It at the palace, and their share was S
Y small that it was with the creates
e difficulty eked out. 1t was while tn
l. royal family was at lunch that de
putation of Greek merchants arrive
= at the palace. There were five G
is them-all men of stability in the ma
i TONS commerce. The chief was n
" Theotokis, man of good family, an
l. great ability. He was said to be enor
i mously wealthy, and certainly hi
l. credit everywhere stood high and ur
aSSailable.
Disturbed at Dinner
l. eve intend to see his Majesty oul
is selves" declared Theotokis "and t
1y have with him such an understandin
TT as shall leave no doubt concerning h
lie Majesty's intentions. Greece is raj
ct idly heading towards ruin, and it
our hope to save her if that be pc!
es sible."
ID You may imagine that it was wit
nd a sinking heart that I ventured int
ry the dining-room. The queen who WI
sitting on the right hand of Tino, gay
a me a sour look as entered, and viii
We pered something to the king
u 81 am sorry to interrupt your Ma
Ie- esty," 1 said to him in a very 10
tone, but an affair of some urgen
e. has, occurred. M. Theotokis and son
nd other. leading citizens are here, al
ia desire to have an audience of yo
wo Majesty"
"Indeed-and had you not bett
is tell them to wait until it is my plea
te ure to send for them" snapped Tir
CO. who, turning to the queen, spoke
her in German.
es, Sophia's Bitter Taunts
ne The queen was furious. She spo
-IN coldly but bitingly, in much the saT
ne fashion as she did after .Tino was d
n.y. throned, and when she tainted HI
as the. man who could not keep /
art crown"
1T You had better see them" S
she said, and act as they may dire
md. or how would it be if you we're
for consult the delightful Venizelos?'
ny. Tell them to go to -" the ki
lit shouted, and then suddenly stopp'
led stay, 1 will see them" he said "a
the looked at his watch, sin a quarter
the an hour. Now co..
de- The queens ironic laughter folio
to ed me as went. 1 guessed that Ii
hes was in for a warm time from /
cynical tongue.
de- At length word came that was