Kitabı oku: «The Great Round World and What Is Going On In It, Vol. 1, No. 18, March 11, 1897», sayfa 5

CRETE AND GREECE

Well, well, well! So little Greece has really done it! While the Great Powers have been worrying each other, have been forming alliances and triple alliances, have been threatening Turkey and shaking their fists at each other, have been trembling in their boots and calling conferences, little Greece has fired upon one of Turkey's ships, and "accepts full responsibility for all her acts."

The first shots came from Crete, that long, beautiful island south of Greece, called in the time of Homer the "Isle of One Hundred Cities." It has a most heroic history, remaining free long after Greece herself had become subject to Rome. Only in the year 68 B.C., after a long and determined effort upon the part of Rome, did Crete surrender.

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.

Should the second tube also become punctured, it is so arranged that it can be taken out, mended, and replaced without much trouble.

New saddles of all descriptions were shown. The Schlesinger Anatomical Saddle, with its spring cushion which does away with the jolts and shocks that the rider receives with an ordinary saddle, was voted the best shown.

There is a new foot-pump from which great things are expected. It is small enough to be packed in the tool-bag, and strong enough for all purposes.

Among other things, a bicycle cleaner made by the Ætna Company, of Newark, N.J., was particularly recommended to prevent rust, and to polish the steel and enamel parts.

The aluminum cyclometers made by the Trenton Watch Company made a very handsome display. They will register from 1 to 10,000 miles.

The League of American Wheelmen are preparing a set of road books which give the best roads and routes to various points of interest.

The New York Times published in their supplement for February 7th four of these route maps.

They are most excellent. The hills, the character of the roads, the railroad crossings, the trolley lines, are all marked with the greatest accuracy. Even the awkward corners where trolleys are to be met are marked, and the various rules and regulations of the villages which must be passed are also given.

These four maps give trips to Mt. Vernon, to Bronx Park, and to New Rochelle, over roads and byways with which the present writer is thoroughly familiar, and the accuracy of these charts cannot be too highly commended.

With such guides as these in hand, a wheelman can make delightful, safe, and speedy trips.

Our young readers would do well to secure copies of The Times supplement, and obtain these excellent maps.

The League of American Wheelmen has very generously decided to let the general public have the benefit of its road books, and they will put them on the market, we understand, as soon as they are published.

G.H.R.