THE STORY OF EUROPE.

of the whole. To care for these requires
an enormous sum of money annually as
you can see. There are also endless private
charities, among which are fifty day nur-
series, where mothers, obliged to work away
from home during the day, may leave their

children. Another evidence of the poverty

107
of the people is found in the fact:that over
one-half the deaths are in families too poor
to bear the expense of burial and must be
aided by the city. Let us be thankful that
no such condition exists in any of our

American cities, whether North, South,
East or West.

ATHENS.

 

ee how about telling us
one of your stories about Athens,”

said Grandma Locke, as the chil-
dren, grandchildren, and neighbors were
gathered around the great fire log, at her
house on Thanksgiving evening.

“Yes,” chimed in all voices, “Tom tells
stories as naturally as though he had done
nothing else all his life.” “ And now begin
right away Tom,” said Esther Clark who
had never heard a story on Athens, and
who was alittle in doubt whether or not,
she would like it, so thought the quicker it
was over the better.

“Well, once upon a time,” said Tom,
« Athens was the greatest city of the world.
By great, I mean she possessed more learn-
ing, had finer masters in art and architec-
ture, and built some of the most wonderful
temples to false gods that the world has
ever seen. Chief among these temples is
the Parthenon, built four hundred years

before the time of Christ, around which

 

were carved the most beautiful figures and
statues ever known. It is supposed that
Phidias, the greatest sculptor of all times
did this work. The Parthenon was built
on a high plateau and is the most conspic-
uous place in Athens, even to-day, not-
withstanding the fact that it is in ruins.
The different nations which warred upon
Greece, have carried off these masterpieces
and sold or placed them in their museums,
until all there is left in Athens are the
columns, and foundations, and a few broken
pieces of sculpture. How my heart beat
with indignation as I thought of this van-
dalism which has been going on for. years.
To me it seemed like desecration to pick
up even a little piece of marble which lay
at my feet, having fallen off from the great,
elegant ruins as a result of the hot sun,
beating rains, and chilling winds. When
the Parthenon was originally built on the
Acropolis, there was placed in the center,

their chief goddess, “Athena,” who was