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

152 HOME LIFE IN HELLASversing. It may be in a cafe or in a railwaycarriage,but if two persons are engaged in adiscussion which is at all animated, they shoutand scream their remarks, effectually stifling allattempts at quiet conversation on the part ofothers. One may be chatting with a friend in acafe, and when this occurs, the only thing to dois to take refuge elsewhere or remain dumb untilthe din ceases. This is one instance amongseveral illustrating a lack of regard for the publicconvenience, without which life would be impossiblein our great Western centres. Anotheris the failure to appreciate the fact that the streetbelongs to the public, not to the individual. Thepedestrian is forced to step from the pavementinto the roadway for the convenience of a knot ofpeople who have appropriated the former as alounge. In like manner the shopkeeper makesit a temporary warehouse, whilst the provisiondealertakes a portion of it to himself permanentlyfor his barrels of salt fish and olives, and, strangestof all, the butcher uses it as a slaughter-house.Less offensive are those who turn it into a kitchen.Towards noon and at eve, he who walks abroadencounters, at short intervals, the brazier of glowingcharcoal in his path, and is saluted by theodour of the particular stew or fry destined forthe repast of its owner.If the passenger on a Greek steamer thinks thatby taking a first-class ticket he secures a littleextra comfort and convenience, he imagines a vain