The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1922-02-16
GREECE OVERSHADOWED
BY HER ANCIENT GLORY
Engineer Who Built Public Works In
Athens Describes Country
and People.

Robert c. Wheeler OF Albany. an
eng neer, who supervised the con.
struction Of modern water and sew.
erage systems In Athens in the sum-
mer OF 1920, spoke Wednesday eve.
nlng before the members o. the Con-
gregational Club at their montlly
meet ng In the Second Congregation.
al church chapel.
The meeting was called to order
by Doctor l.. II. Ross, who acted as
chairman. The minutes OF the last
meeting were read by the club sec
retary, A. S. Martin. One candidate
was admitted to membership and Mr..
Wdeeler was voted an honorary mem
ber. The speaker was then intro
duced by Doctor Ross.
II was during the mastery regime
of Premier Venizeios that Mr. Wheel
.er was sent to Greece by New York
concern TO engineer the construction
OF two piping systems, one TO bring
the waters Of Parnassus into Athens
the other to make a sanitary dispos,
al OF the city's sewerage.
The speaker touched but briefly
upon the technicalities which his
work involved, and drew clear word
pictures OF modern Greece, her citi-
2ens and conditions.
Mr.. Wheeler spoke of Greece as
being chiefly an agricultural coun-
try, the raising OF oranges, various
kinds OF grapes and other semi.tropi.
cal fruits in quaint ties. Much OF TIE
hardest work in the rural sections,
which are mostly landed estates, and
in the cities is done by women. He
mentioned seeing women breaking
stone by hand for building pub ic
roads. As a rule labor Is much
cheaper than machinery, although
one sees some American implements
and quite often American automo'
biles.
The cities are clean, after a fash
ion of their own and all waste, such
as metal scraps and paper Is salvag'
ed and turned to some useful end.
The houses are masonry atairs plas-
tered with mud and seem to stand
the dry climate indefinite y. The
people themselves are intelligent
not of the same blood, how
ever, as the ancients, and natural y
enjoy the bizarre and motley ar
of eolors.
The speaker pictured the ruins OF
the civilization that nourished before
the Christian era, citing Delphi as
perhaps the scene that impressed the
the most,
He sad that the modern Greeks
are In the position of man VINO mas
climbed to the highest pinnacle and
then fallen and has given up all hope
OF ever attaining his former IN
ieliectual, physical and civic glory !
The speaker gave the rather olinu
emmlgrat'on system OF Greece. as
The reason why so many undeslr
lbles are brought to these shores ana
have to be deported. lie sad that
.he dif ificuty would be overcome III
line and would come about after
iip' omatic understanding between
he two countries.
Soon after Mr.. Wheeler left Greece
he ministry of Veniaelos fell ana
he Young regent died. The people
,eturned Constantine to his throne I
md the questions which time VIII
answer are whether the restored
monarch can bring his country TO
normal balance and keep going on
he modern road. regardless of the
many disturbing factions that have
,ept the country in a turmoil
The rest of the program was ue,
,oted TO refreshments and an old /
fashioned sing with Max Cru ck- /
hank as leader and Marden Nicho.s |
Il the plano.