Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-06-02
A City of Clacking Tongues
From the Literary Digest.

One of the keenest journalists that ever Wis
tied Athens wrote that all the Athenians and
nothing else but either to tell or to hear some
new thing This journalist, DR.. Luke by name
was himself Greek and he recorded his i'm
pressions in the 18th chapter of the Book OF
Acts, where they may still be read
Suppementng this ancient comment is the
remark made few weeks ago by diplomat in
Athens His view of the Greek habit of much
talking which amounts to the same view that
was held by DR.. Luke, was expressed as follows
THE trouble with these Greeks is their cafe
habit. They spend too much time sitting in the
cafes talking, talking, talking about all sorts OF
trivialties mostly political. That breeds in
trigue and scism. They are takers and not
doors, and so are never content with whatever
order my be existent"
Thus the first century and the Goth coincide
in their judgment of the Athenians, comments
DR.. William T. Ellis, writing from Athens to
the New York Herald, and he continues:
IAN epidemic of tacturnty would be the
greatest of boons to this volatile people. With
every man doing a task and nobody talking
about the other mans work, Greece would
quickly restore the glory OF the older days.
Given general visitation of silent loyalty, with
the nation resolute and diligent behind its chos-
en- course and leaders, it would quickly become
the dominant force in the near east.
$50 far as superficial investigation reveals.
Athens is more interested in the latest political
and social gossip than in the big problems OF
the new era, thus indicating the historic criti-
cism with which this article began.
"Of paramount interest seems the question
of King Aexander's marriage. He is in love
with young Greek woman of excellent family,
but the government will not let him marry
her. The demand is for foreign queen. Rea-
sons of state are given for this. 1t is said the
parents of the young lady in question are pro-
German in sympathy; but this is Indignantly
who
Also it is declared that the marriage would give
one Greek family great influence in politics.
Other observers say that the real reason is
that the Athenan ladies refuse to accept as
their leader and liege sovereign one whom they
formerly outranked.
Nov. while this discussion RACES an Eng
fish speaking Greek officer brings the latest
td-bit of gossip which is that the loyal king
lover has transferred his interest and affections
to an American Red Cross girl. From young
American naval officers who met the k1ng. often
and have taught him American dances, Ameri-
humor and American good times, | learn
that while the king likes American girls he is
still true to his old love.
of more real interest is the growth of the
republican sentiment here. There is roy
alist' party, favoring the return of King Con-
stantine, but apparently it is actuated, like par
ties the world around, more by the zest for the
spoils of office than by any more abstract con-
sideration. Also it is anti-Venizelos, although
prudently cautious in its opposition. Venizeos,
however, is firmly in control as anybody
ever was in Greece This is now one-man
country and Venizelos is the man. I wonder
what the young king thinks as he goes about
and sees 10 portraits of his prime minister dis
played to every one of himself. He knows too,
that Venzelos openly promised Parliament that
if the present king is not success no other
would be put forward republic would be the
next experiment.
Behind and beneath all this external life
and politics lies the grim and CORY Balkan
problem, which is working out in Greek villag-
ers staying and being slain, and in such vast
human misery as the western world simply
cannot know"