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Page 10
And her islanders have the same heroic blood in their veins to-day. The
trouble now is that Turkish misrule, since she was made over to the Turks
in 1840 by the Great Powers, has fanned the old desire for freedom into
flame.
The Greeks were most probably unwise in firing upon the Turkish transport
_Fuad_ as she was bearing munitions to the Turkish garrison at Canea; but
we can hardly blame them.
There comes a time when patience almost ceases to be a virtue. The Cretans
are human. They have waited long, though impatiently, and their very
impatience has shown us how hard the waiting has been for men of such
fiery character. They feel now that they would rather die in the struggle
for freedom than submit longer to the injustice of their Turkish rulers.
I was in Athens when the coming of age of Crown Prince George, the brave,
handsome young Greek of whom we hear so much, was celebrated.
The streets, from the palace to the church where the ceremonies were to
take place, were most beautiful with triumphal arches. Rich tapestries
floated from the windows all along the way, and the flags of all
nations--among them our own dear Stars and Stripes--swung merrily to the
breeze.
The city was full of soldiers. Among them were the Greek mountaineers in
their picturesque costume of white linen, consisting of tunics with long,
flowing sleeves, and kilted skirts so full and so starched that they stood
out like the skirts of a circus rider.
Their long, pointed shoes, which turned up at the toes like a toboggan,
had large red rosettes on the very points. Their caps were gayly colored,
and a long tassel fell from the crown to their shoulders.
Not a very good fighting costume, you will probably think; but if you had
looked into their keen eyes and determined faces, you would have forgotten
the costume--especially if they had come to fight you.
They are hardy fellows, and although their enemies outnumber them four to
one, we may depend upon it that, if battle comes, there will be as brave
and heroic fighting upon the side of the Greeks, as when their forefathers
fought the Trojans in the days of long ago.
But they will have need of all their courage, for the enemy is not only
fierce, but cruel. The Turks are fatalists, who believe that whatever _is_
to be _will_ be, and that if they are fated to die in battle, nothing can
save them.
If they die fighting bravely they believe that they are sure to go to
Paradise.
With this belief you can readily see how little they are likely to run
away.
Unless the Great Powers interfere, the conflict will be a terrible one.
How much better it would be to settle the difficulty by arbitration, and
prevent such a cruel war.
IZORA C. CHANDLER
INVENTION AND DISCOVERY.
Many new and interesting patents were shown at the Cycle Show at the Grand
Central Palace, New York City.
One of the most ingenious was a new tire. It is called the Hose-Pipe Tire,
and seems to be a very sensible and useful kind.
The feature of this tire is that it has a second tube laid flat inside the
first one.
This second tube is not inflated, but kept as an emergency tube.
Should the outer one be punctured, the pipe inside can be inflated by
means of a separate valve connected with it, and the rider can go on his
way with little delay.
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