Evening star., 1950-03-19
Personalities and Impressions
By Jessie Font Eyons

democracy lQ6dlS anu ways Vi
life overweight the influence OF
Communistic doctrines in the lives
of boys attending Athens College
in Greece.
There boys from 10 to 20. such
as Nicholas Stayros, whose father
died before German firing squad
during the occupation, are trans
lating the theory of international
good will into reality.
Nicholas couldn't be in the
school if he weren't on scholar
ship. Neither could some 500
other orphaned boys. Some 800
students overcrowd the school
from roof to cellar.
Ever since the school opened
in 1925, it's emphasis has been
on leadership training with schol-
astic attainment. It's students
learn the techniques of self-gov-
ernment and of community Or
ganization as an integral part OF
their classroom work. From the
very first day they enter they
begin to speak as well as to write
the English language.
A quarter of century ago
Athens College was an expert
ment. 1t still is unique, for in SO
many ways it is the product OF
the cooperation of Greece and
the United States. Saturday will
be Greek independence Day.
America Gets Behind Idea.
In 1923 when their country was
in the throes of the tragedy fol-
lowing II years of war, group
of public-spirited Athenians, in
Guiding Stephanos Delta and EN-
manuel Manaki, formed commit.
tee to consider the role OF educa-
ton in the reconstruction period
They asked for American leader
ship in founding a school for
Greek youth to be model fol-
educational reform. The Greeks
provided the campus and the first
building. American friends and
American dollars undertook to Sc
cure endowment and to give the
idea impetus.
From the very beginning there
was an American director and q
Greek co-director, and Greek
and American Board of Governors.
Elihu Root, Americas great legal
mind and elder statesman, wrote
the bylaws of the governing
boards. The late John H. Finley
editor Of the New York Times
was one of the schools champions
from the start. The project had
the unqualified Endorsement OF
the Greek state and the blessing
of the Greek church. For Is years
it grew in size. prestige and serv-
ice. Then came war years again.
Kept Alive Under Germans.
The buildings of Athens College
and its entire school plant were
occupied successfully by army oc.
cupation both friendly and hos
tile. The Germans looted and
destroyed. even fed its textbooks
and furniture to the furnace
Miraculously, it's heroic Greek
teachers carried on, sometimes or
a day-to-day basis, often in hid
ing, always in makeshift quarters
It's greatly beloved American pres
ident, DR.. Homer w. Davis OF
Corarl, Long Island, with other
Americans on the faculty, had to
return to the United States. Here
he became executive vice presi-
dent of the Greek War Relief AS
sociation. and later was connected
with the State Department. The
schools graduates proved their
worth in the Allied armies.
Now DR.. Davis is shouldering
the problems of the schools re-
Mobilization as it faces its tomor-
rows, not the least of which is It's
inability to accommodate the
more than 5000 students who
vainly clamored for admission last
year On his staff of teachers at
present are IL Americans and rs
Greeks. Four of the Americans
are Fulbright appointees. Stephen
S. Stefano, distinguished Amer
ican industrialist of Greek back
ground, is member of the Amer
lean Board of Governors, and
Syryos P. Skouras of Goth Cen
tury Fox fame is the boards able
vice chairman.
Work Is Now Pushing Ahead.
Today as the work of recon-
struction and education for the
future goes forward in peace
time Greece, the graduates of
Athens College and former mem
bers OF its faculty are filling i'm
portant posts in Greek govern
ment and civilian life at home
and abroad.
George Gondigas is with the
international Bank and Andreas
Abadjis with the Monetary Com
mission here. Theo Stavrides, a
former principal of the college,
and graduate Paul Mylonas, now
an officer in the Greek Army, have
been members of the staff of the
Voice of America in this country
broadcasting to Greece. Gradu-
ate John Sakelariades, former
president of the alumni club of
the college is among its many
students who are doing outstand-
ing graduate work in colleges in
the United States. G. Hunting
ton Damon of our United States
State Department was formerly a
member of the American staff of
Athens College, and Professor
Kyriskos Vavaressos. who is also