Evening star., 1926-04-24

This week marks the centennial OF
the peak of the War of Independence
of Greece from Turkey. Yesterday
was the anniversary of the fall of the
heroic city of Missolonghi, after
prolonged and bloody siege in which
two.thirds of the $500 population had
died. There was q desperate sortie or
the last 1900 effective fighters cut
ting their way out through the TURK
ish army Of 5000 and saving hun
dreds of women and children fleeing
with them. Back in the doomed CITY
remained 1000 old or disabled men
with their women and children. AS
the triumphant Turks entered, tnese
assembled in the powder house, ana
when that was attacked they blew
themselves up, together with nun
dreds Of the jubilant enemies.
+ y
What connection has that heroic
event with America? Or with our
AnpIo.Saxop race? 1t was the Greek
Alamo-more desperate than Cortez
Noche Triste, when the Spanish IN.
yaders fled before GuatomotZin out OIL
Nexico. 1t was never exceeded IN
desperation nor in heroic devotion out
Il remains to be adequately sung III
poem or prose. 49,. D,.ro,,
II was in Missolonghi that byron
served the Greeks so herolca1ly Ina.
he died there, five days peiole 'llo .
+rapic fall Of the city. When, IN
'ata,. ,,aars the body of the British
,ena- Vas taken to England the CRATE
f,1 Creeks begged that his heart
,oiebt remain where it had been so
sraeIv sacrificed. 1t Is said that In the
nnnfnsion of the prolonged struggles
tba hearts has been lost, but, "naI,
ever has been the fate of the physlcai
re1ic there Is no uncertainty as 10
The eternal resting place OF MS spliN,
mol heart in the cause OF nperty ai'u
humanity. h;storv is
~ racord of an American patrlot
- . save his services to Greece at
r,,ssoIonghi DR.. Samuel Gr!oiey
Howe. husband of our renowned j oA'a
Ward Howe. ..,.s 20 lord
Rvron in behalf Of struggling IleeIr' -,
nr Howe went to that county, 20 90
1904 when he was but 20 yeaiS -, "
ape- having been graduated dro,,, t,,,
Brown University and out i rhere
qualified to practice meolclnS' - the
fn,,nd the medical work OF the
~, nw unorganized, and. as q volun-
sa a. NY S,,,adTcll officer, he developed the
sort,ca am. built hospitals and 1ormeo
onah,,Ianr. corps. Soon he oecains :
go Thar a surgeon, for he carried
a gun ans marched with the soiaiers: 70
sharing. s-tthout pay, all theil iaL~ ~
shins. fs~ sent appeals 10 AIilel Ioe
for supplies, and. when responses
40 mo distributed the food and cioth'
mo once he had to lie concealed IN
the field for several days Whlie tne
turks made special search for nun; =:
Later, he became surgeon genera vi
the Greek fleet.
A week after the fall OF MiSsolonsn.'
DR.. Howe, who had leit tna. ;S. SS I.
wrote from Napoli, IN wnicn .;anai nc
"Yo,, may talk to me OF natiotiai
ro,;cv, and the necessity Of neutrality:
hut / saw. a curse upon such poilcy
r. is contrary to Christianity anu
humanity, it is a disgrace to our age,
that millions of Christians should De
left to the saber and yoke OF the ! URN. NJ
Pardon me! Perhaps my Language 10
too strong; but when l think OF tne
protracted sufferings of her nhaplt-
ants. many Of whom knew, CANNOT
restrain my feelings.
"Greece is my idol, and the suHer.
ings and privations l have endured
in her cause have rendered her tate
and her future to me more interesting.
4 y n / had many friends In humble
life. can say sincerely that found
the Greeks kindly, affectiopate, truth
full, grateful and honest. There Is
spark left of the spirit of ancient
Greece which 400 years Of slavery had
not been able to put out, the same
love OF learning, Of liberty and OF
their native land"
DIR. Howe remained in Greece until
1880, when he returned to the United
States. Three years later he found