Page:Travels & discoveries in the Levant (1865) Vol. 1.djvu/99

Rh nasal, and their French atrocious as that of "the school of Stratford atte Bowe." At Athens French is better taught. At an examination at Dr. Hill's school there, I heard two young ladies recite a dialogue from Moliere in a very creditable manner. I was so much pleased with the manner of education in the school at Mytilene, that by way of encouragement I offered a prize of books, to the amount of five dollars, for the best essay to be written in modern Greek on some subject connected with the ancient history of Lesbos, such as Pittacus. This offer was civilly declined.

It is a pleasant surprise to find something to praise in the character of the Mytileniotes, and it must be confessed that they have shown great zeal and intelligence in promoting education by the establishment of schools all over the island. These schools are supported by local rates levied on the several communities. In the town of Mytilene itself, some years ago, a large sum was expended by the inhabitants for the purpose of giving an European education to two young men, on the understanding that they were to return to Mytilene, and give their acquired knowledge for the benefit of the island. One of these was educated for the medical profession, the other as a school- master. The young doctor unfortunately died; and the young schoolmaster, in consequence of a misunderstanding between him and the community, left Mytilene, and settled at Smyrna; but the attempt to introduce European culture, though a failure, is honourable to the Mytileniotes; the more so, as they