DEPOSED

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 September 1917, Page 6

DEPOSED

CON.ST AN TJ N JS’S EM 15 A 1! K ATION

GREECE’S SCANT FAREWELL

A school for girls, two or Three

good building.-! a church, a few fishermen’s.’ huts, and a landing-place are all that this place comprises (prime Mr. G. J. Stevens fro'm Uroposi "n the eventful day when Constantine embarked there for Italy and thence to Switzerland). Situated forty miles north of Athens, in the classic waters of Evripos, with the Island of Euboea opposite, Oropos, by the scene enacted an hour ago on its: placid beach, has suddenly leaped into fame. It marked the first stage of the journey into exile of a deposed monarch.

The little beach was tilled by -00 Or MOO people, the little girls from the school, a. score or so of peasant women and fishermen, inhabitants! of the place, groups of officers:, retainers, courtiers, and friends who motored down’from Athens: to bid the "last adieu to him whom they undoubt-

edly loved, but. who had served them badly. He arrived at eleven precisely. driving in an open ear with his first s<>n, like him shorn of hist l ights aindyordered to exile. Dressed in a general’s uniform, -the ex-King rose from his seat and stood for an instant looking on the scene before him. His' face was: calm : it showed no traces: of emotion. Holding his toll figure upright, he walked to the little landing-place saluting and shaking hands with all alike. The Royal exile stepped into a pinnace, which steamed away and deposited him on board the Royal yacht, at anchor in the haw. His consort

Mid 1 1 is children had preceded him. On the landing-stage stood the new King - surrounded by his uncles. Ids ■ mithful face bearing signs of profound emotion. A solitary figure, standing- alone and aside, in the naval uniform of France, was (here to certify (he execution of the decree of the three protecting Powers that King Constifntine and 1 1 isi first, son should leave the soil, of (1 recce. A decree for Ids residence in the country would have created obstacles to that appeasement and reunion we have promised to bring to Ids people. Ex-King Constantine, with a retinue of forty-four persons, is now on his way to Si. Moritz, in Switzerland. He changed his niijLid four times as to the place of hisi future abode and the time of his departure. ili s perturbation of mind was, however, respected and excused and his whims asi to the way in which he wished to depart were satisfied. As far a s. possible, the measures, taken were made to appear as unobtrusive as possible, lie left under the im piession that his people are all with him ; certainly a casual observer who witnessed superficially the scenes enacted around his palace in Athens) would be ready to say so. Hut to understand the true meaning uf these scenes one must study the psychology of the Creeks. Emotional and unvindietive, their sympathies are easily moved before misfortune. This last sentiment wasi the

one which prevailed among the nmsse s of the people who trudged throughout, the night of Monday-Tuesday to the palace as if in a pilgrimage. The stage-play resorted to of having the church hells ring all flight and speeches delivered to represent the King as. a martyr had their additional effect on a people who by nature a.re fond of tragedies when well staged. Hut when 4 Hie King was al-

lowed at the end to leave (he palace the. spell at once broke, and many whom an hour previously had been moved to fears recovered their equanimity, and sat at the cafes imbibing their drinks and enjoying their ordinary life as if nothing unusual had occurred.