Various

“ Now I am going to tell you about a civilization so much older than that, that it makes the Roman Empire seem like a thing of to-day!
The Greeks are the most ancient people in Europe. Their early history, before there were books or written records, has come down to us through legends and tradition; that is, fanciful stories, in which fact and fable are mingled, handed down from generation to generation. These legends tell us that the founders of their nation were not men but gods, who came down from heaven and peopled the land ”

“ Germany, Russia, and Austria believe that the Empire is still strong, and can be held together by the powerful arm of Europe. To do this they are willing to crush and sacrifice noble little Greece.
England, France, and Italy, on the other hand, do not believe in the saving of Turkey. They refuse to allow a brave Christian people to be martyred for the sole purpose of shoring up an Empire that is a disgrace to civilization, and had much better be pulled down, so that a new and more creditable sovereignty may be built upon its ruins. ”

“ To every one who has studied mythology, as the history of the heathen gods and goddesses is called, Mount Olympus is an object of the greatest interest; and if this is the case with foreigners, how much more must this mountain be venerated by the people whose whole history is connected with its rocky masses.
The Greeks love Mount Olympus. They feel that it is their very own property, and much of their discontent against the Turks is that it is no longer on Greek soil, no longer a part of Greece, but belongs to the hated Turk. ”

“ Pericles created a Democracy. He believed the true ideal was a government by the people. That if Athens governed Greece, then the Athenians should govern Athens. And that the power of a state should rest, not with one, nor a few, but with the many!
During a period of fifty years free Athens was the acknowledged head of the Greek states, and in those years Greece had reached the meridian of her glory. But Sparta was jealous of the dazzling splendor of her rival ”

“ But the war still lingers on. What advantages are gained are of very small importance, and the rest of the world is looking on while lives are being thrown away in a struggle that seems as if it would linger on until the once beautiful island of Cuba becomes a desolate waste of ruined towns and barren fields. ”

“ It is feared that if Greece should whip the Turks, the great European war can no longer be avoided. The reason for saying this is that, if Turkey is defeated, the Ottoman Empire will fall to pieces, and all the Powers may join in one free fight for a share of the plunder. ”

“ The Greeks poured into the two Asiatic kingdoms, and Greek culture and civilization spread over the Orient (or East) . But while Asia was thus Hellenized, Hellas, the source of this splendid civilizing power, was moving surely toward annihilation.
Another world-conquering power was coming into existence. Before the Christian era arrived, the Roman Republic had absorbed the four kingdoms left by Alexander, and when the Roman Empire came into being (31 b.c.) there were Greeks, but no longer any Greece, except as a geographical name. ”

“ They all had the same religion and sacred rites, they were all striving for the same prizes at the Olympic Games, and all alike revered their poet Homer. The "Iliad" and the "Odyssey" were, in fact, the Greek Bible. It was the final appeal in matters of religion, and it was the history of their divine origin and ancestry. Boys studied it in school, and men never ceased to study it—many Athenians being able to recite both poems from beginning to end.
At the time the Greeks were thus becoming a great nation, there was in Asia an old and powerful empire called Persia. ”

“ A number of New Yorkers who do not approve of the Charter are going to fight it in the Legislature, and try to get the State Senate to throw it out. If this fails and the bill passes both Houses, they will try and influence the Governor to veto it.
There is a good deal of trouble ahead for the Charter.
Some ambitious people want to make a State of Greater New York, and call it Manhattan. They think that it will be of great benefit to the city to be a State, and that if this is done the taxes will be much lower and the city will acquire many valuable rights. ”

“ They were beaten until the blood flowed, simply to teach them endurance, and a Spartan boy would die under the lash rather than endure the disgrace of uttering a cry of pain. There was never any family life, nor pleasure. ”

“ Under these circumstances, he claims that Cuba is not engaged in mere rioting and disturbance, but in an earnest warfare, a struggle for liberty, in which she should have the sympathy of other free nations, and be given by them the privileges of a nation at war.
If this resolution is passed, Cuba will be free to fit out a navy to help her in the struggle, and to buy in this country and ship all the arms she needs to carry on the war. ”

“ An offer from President McKinley to bring about an understanding between the two countries has been courteously received by the Spaniards, and though it has not been accepted as yet, it is a great step in the right direction that Spain is willing to receive the offer amicably.
In the mean while, there is a joint resolution before the Senate, offered by Senator Morgan, of Alabama. It is "that a state of war exists in Cuba, and that the United States shall accord belligerent rights in its ports and lands to both parties engaged in the struggle." ”

“ This was found out when Greece refused to obey the Ultimatum of the Powers and withdraw her troops from Crete. The Powers threatened to blockade the Piræus and the ports of Greece. The reply of Greece was to charter every possible ship, and send men and arms to the frontier, and to tell the Powers that she would declare war on Turkey the moment her ports were blockaded.
Then the world waited to see what the Powers would do. But the Powers did nothing. There was no blockade of Greece, and according to the latest accounts there is no chance of one for the present. ”

“ People in Omaha, Nebraska, Kansas City, and finally in Chicago have all stated positively that they have seen a strange light in the sky, which was as great as that of twenty stars, which they said could be nothing else but a searchlight on an air-ship. ”

“ This society has been gathering men into its service for years, and making them swear, on joining, that they will do all in their power to restore to Greece her old possessions in Macedonia, Epirus, and Thrace, and that they will bring these Greek peoples once more under the rule of Greece. ”

“ In some instances the relief steamers will find a whole family perched on the cottage roof, the women and children, half-dead with fright, clinging panic-stricken to the roof, and crying aloud for help. In others the people will not realize the danger they are in, and refuse to be taken off their housetops, insisting that the floods will subside in a short while, and that they need no help. ”

“ Greece has been hoping that she could force Turkey to declare war, that she might escape from the penalties threatened by the Powers if she was the first to begin the fight. She is now free from any further fear that they will blockade her ports, and can fight the enemy without interference. ”

“ This day is always celebrated in Greece as a holiday and fête day. Coming as it did this year in the midst of such angry feelings against the Turks, it was feared that the soldiers on the frontier would lose control of themselves, and that their officers would not be able to prevent them from crossing the frontier and attacking the Turks. ”

“ The shores of Asia Minor and of the Mediterranean were soon fringed with rich Greek colonies. Every place they touched blossomed into beauty, with temples and houses adorned with sculpture and painting. One of their cities on the coast of Italy was called Sybaris, and it has given us the word "sybarite," which means a person who abandons himself to luxury. ”

“ The Crown Prince has sent a telegram to Athens, saying that the victory lies with Greece so far, and that he intends to try and take back Milouna from the Turks.
It is said that Germany persuaded Turkey to declare war, and that the Kaiser is in full sympathy with the Sultan.
England has declared herself neutral, which means she will not side with either party; but it would appear that strong efforts are being made in the British Parliament to force England to aid Greece. ”

“ One thing is certain, however, that a great many persons are experimenting with air-ships, for from five or six different towns word has come that so-and-so has been experimenting with an air-ship for a long time, and perhaps the object in the sky is his perfected ship. ”

“ Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands have been the first to protest. Germany has sent a decided hint, through her Ambassador, that she will make such a heavy duty on American goods, if the bill is passed, that she will ruin our trade in Germany as surely as we shall ruin hers in America.
The most serious complaint against the bill comes from the business men. They say that business was just beginning to pick up again, and that the introduction of so disturbing a question as the Tariff, at this time, is killing business, and making it as bad as it was before election. ”

“ While the city of New Orleans has not yet suffered, there is hourly fear that it will be flooded. The levees are breaking in all directions, and in the near neighborhood of New Orleans fresh breaks are feared, which will send a vast volume of water flowing toward the city. ”

“ The work of the Powers has failed in every direction.
The Admirals of the Allied Fleets which are blockading Crete, received orders from their governments to spread the news through the island that the Powers offered Crete home rule under a European Prince, and to assure the Cretans that the blockade would be removed the moment the Greek troops were withdrawn from the island. ”

“ In the mean while, the fighting continues on the frontier between the Turks and the "brigands," and every moment it is expected that war will be declared, and all its horrors will overshadow Europe.
The Greek Ambassador has taken formal leave of the Turkish officials, and is waiting orders to return to his own country. The Sultan, on his side, has sent the necessary orders to the various ministers and consuls in Greece to return to Turkey. ”

“ Senator Morgan has laid a great mass of evidence before the House, which shows that the Cubans have a government which is in thorough working order, making laws, administering justice, carrying on a postal service, and maintaining a fine and well-organized army. ”

“ I like The Great Round World. Mrs. Mills, my teacher, reads something out of it every morning that she has time. Will you please answer a few questions? Can the prisoners in Sing Sing prison talk together? If not, why not? Can they, after doing their day's work, do work for themselves and keep the money? ”

“ They claim that a wonderful new business is to grow out of this new industry, that is to make all farms pay and everybody happy.
The importers and people who do not approve of the bill are crying aloud that clothes and woollen goods are going to be so much dearer. ”

“ This action on the part of the Cretans turned every one's attention back to the frontier of Greece and Turkey. It seems that the question of Cretan liberty must be settled there.
The war fever is running very high in Greece, and King George is being urged to declare war, and let the Greeks show the Powers they are able to settle their own affairs for themselves. ”

“ The Government says these fighting men have only been sent with the Commissioner to guarantee the carrying out of his commands, but it is very openly reported that they are being sent out to strengthen the force which England already has in South Africa, and that war will soon break out in that quarter of the globe. ”

“ The Turks refuse to believe him. They insist that the invaders were led by Greek soldiers, and declare very positively that they know for a fact that the "brigands" were trying to arouse the people of Macedonia, and that if they succeeded, the Greek army would join in and help ”

“ Telephone and telegraph messages are being hourly received from points along the river, asking for boats to come and save the unfortunate people, who in many cases are clinging to trees and housetops till help comes. ”

“ This society has also sent large quantities of food and supplies to various points in Arkansas and Mississippi, but the help of the Government was very badly needed. The Citizens' Relief Committee could only reach a very small portion of the people who are suffering from the angry rise of the Father of Waters, as the Mississippi is called. ”