Home life in Hellas, Greece and the Greeks - eBooks4Greeks.gr

136 HOME LIFE IN HELLAShis opinion as to weather prospects, and it isfollowed by the remark "God alone knows," or"It is in the hands of God." This disposes ofthe question finally. There is nothing further tobe said. The Western rustic uses the intelligenceGod has given him to draw an inferenceon the subject from his surroundings—the directionof the wind, the aspect of mountains, thestate of the atmosphere, the behaviour of birdsand insects, which he knows from past experienceare indications of an approaching change ; andhis interpretation of these signs is usually correct.In this he differs from the Greek, who is contentto take things as they come. Whether this fatalismis derived from contact with the Turk orinherited from his remote ancestors is a problem.From what we know of the inquisitive, eager,speculative character of the ancient Hellenes, thelatter assumption seems "improbable. The inquisitivespirit has lost none of its vigour. Thissurvival of the manners of the Homeric age is,indeed, a nuisance. The curiosity of the Greekknows no limits. He is not content with learningthe nationality of the stranger, whence he comesand whither he is going. He questions him asto his family, his calling, his income, his age, hiswife's age if he has one, the number and sex ofhis children, the price he has paid for his clothes,the nature, use, and cost of any article in his possessionwhich happens to attract attention. Andthe traveller is catechised in this fashion at every