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 EPILOGUE. 289 music and dancing and fireworks. The brave men who had fired from a safe distance upon the Cretan Christians were celebrating the anniver- sary of the Sultan's ascension to the throne. While in Athens Mr. Bikelas invited me, to- gether with my little daughter, to dinner. He listened with great interest to all I had to say about Hellenism in America. "How unfortu- nate," he said, "that America is so far from us." In the house of a lady of distinction, where I had been honored with an invitation, I met some refugees from Thessaly — ladies and gentlemen. We spoke of America, and each and every one expressed himself in the very words of Mr. Bi- kelas. When you come to Athens, the doors, the arms, the hearts of the people are wide open to you, because you are an American. 19