CENTENARY OF LORD BYRON’S DEATH.

THE FETES AT ATHENS. From HAROLD SPENDER. ATHENS, WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

We have descended from the Balkans into a land glowing with, a new hope and confidence. The great mission which brings us here – the celebration of Byron’s death for Greece a hundred years ago – seems in some wonderful harmony with the freedom which has burst on this land along with the melting of the snows on the mountains and the blossoming of the spring flowers. As our train slowly wound southward through this beautiful peninsula – climbing the hills within sight of the Pass of Thermopylae – we could see the people standing in queues to vote in the village schools and churches quite as calmly and as patiently as in the booths at election-time in England. Perfect calm has prevailed here all the week. Yesterday was a national holiday, and last night Athens was illuminated from end to end. The people thronged the main thoroughfares of Athens, happy, orderly, kindly as a London crowd. There was a new spirit in the air – a spirit of resolution and self-confidence. They had come at last to a great decision. To-day the Byron festivities have begun: and we find ourselves the centre of an impressive and solemn celebration commemorating a great act of personal sacrifice which has over since endeared the name and thought of England to this people. Byron here stands for England: Byron in his noblest and last phase: Byron, who gave his life to save Greece: Byron, who roused an indifferent Europe at her darkest hour. The Greek crowd which had just voted for a Republic assembled in front of the British Legation and sang “God save the King.” There is food for something deeper than laughter in that wonderful incident. It was their homage to England: to the land of the free: and, by the same token, to a kingship that stands for justice and freedom, as against a kingship which here has stood for oppression and disaster. Similarly at the Byron film, now being shown here, the whole audience rises and cheers when Byron offers his sword to Greece: and wherever the British flag is flown the Athenian crowds halt and cheer. “Not unto us” but to England is this overwhelming tribute given; the tribute of graciousness and kindliness evident at every turn in our reception here.

BRITISH REPRESENTATIVES.

The little band of Englishmen here who have come to speak for their country form a typical and representative group. The Government have sent to represent them a scholar and an Ambassador – Lord Ernle, better known as Mr. Rowland Prothero, the editor of Byron’s letters, and Sir Rennell Rodd, white in the service of his country, but still gay and debonair. Then there are the English friends of Greece who have come to receive the honours which the University of Athens will bestow on them at the University to-morrow morning. Among them are Mr. John Drinkwater, representative of our best and most serious English drama, who is here to express in poetry the imperishable tradition of the Byron sympathy for struggling peoples. Viscount Burnham, who is accompanied by Viscountess Burnham, may be taken as representing British public life, and my own presence is, if I may say so, a recognition of English journalism. Last night we were all entertained at dinner at the British Legation by the representative of our country and his wife – Sir Milne and Lady Cheetham. This morning a plaque was unveiled at the site of the house of Theresa Macri, the Maid of Athens in Byron’s exquisite and famous love lyric; and an eloquent address was delivered by Mr. Pember Reeves, the chairman of the Anglo-hellenic League, our veteran of the Empire, who has brought to the help of this hardpressed little land some of the robust and vigorous faith of the New World.

This afternoon we have been received at the Town Hall by the Mayor of Athena. To-night we are being banqueted by M. Papanastasiou, the Greek Prime Minister; after which we are all proceeding to the Acropolis in order to witness the matchless beauty of Europe’s greatest spot in the light of the full moon. To-morrow morning at 10.30 we receive our honorary degrees at the university, when Professor Andreades, our tireless organiser and cicerone, will deliver his disburse on Byron. To-morrow night there will be a gala performance at the National Theatre. On Friday afternoon we all embark for Missolonghi, escorted by British and Greek warships. On Saturday next there will take place at Missolonghi the actual celebration of Byron’s death-day.

It is an unforgettable experience. Athens glows in the most perfect moment of her glorious spring. The white marbles of the Acropolis shine and glitter all day against a sky of spotless blue. Faction for a moment is still. Athens is serene and calm. Byron’s dying message to the Greek people was – unity; unity in the face of the common enemy. Going round the refugee camps and listening to-day to the terrible stories of the Christian prisoners now returning from Turkish captivity in Asia Minor, I can but echo at the end of a century Byron’s solemn counsel.

INDIAN AFFAIRS. From our OWN CORRESPONDENT. ALLAHABAD, WEDNESDAY.

The failure of the satyagraha (passive resistance) of the “untouchables” of Travancore seems assured. Mr. Gandhi has refused the request of the local leaders to send prominent congress workers to take charge of the agitation, and has discouraged the adoption of hunger-strike methods. Now the High Court has issued a judicial pronouncement to the effect that, in Travancore there are two kinds of public roads, the King’s highway and the common highway or village thoroughfare. The former were thrown open to all classes of the Maharaja’s subjects forty-five years ago. The latter are open only to a limited class of the public, and include the roads inside the fort of Trivandrum, which is the property of the Government, and the streets surrounding Hindu temples. The approach roads to the Vycome Temple lead only to the temple compound and another place. The local public offices, the hospital, high school, and police station are all located outside the prohibited area, and are accessible by other roads. The Vycome Temple is an ancient pagoda maintained by the Government, which, as trustee, is compelled, in administering the trust, to see that the customs of the part are not disturbed.

This judgment clears up the position taken up by the State authorities, which cannot be held responsible for the evil inherent in the traditional organisation of the Hindus of Southern India. No effective action can be taken to remove the disabilities of the “untouchables” until caste Hindus are educated out of orthodox prejudices and induced to accept the change. It is useless to ignore the fact that the strongest feeling prevails among caste Hindus, not only in South India, but also in Bombay, against the emancipation of the “untouchables.” The undemocratic spirit and intolerant pharisaism of caste superiority is deeply ingrained in Hindus, notwithstanding the lip service of Congress leaders to democratic shibboleths. Hence the conviction, strongly held by the “untouchables” and expressed by innumerable deputations to Governors and high officials, that further constitutional advance and a more rapid Indianisation of the Services would place them at the mercy of their oppressors, and that fair play was only assured to them by the presence and controlling guidance of British officials.