The Great Round World and What Is Going On In It, Vol. 1, No. 18, March 11, 1897 - A Weekly Magazine for Boys and Girls by Various
page 28 of 40 (70%)
page 28 of 40 (70%)
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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. |
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