408 



scmifCE. 



[Vol. IX., No. 221 



ATHENS LETTER. 



This has been an important day for American 

 students in Greece, and for the friends at home, 

 of the American school of archeology. The cor- 

 ner-stone of the permanent home of the school 

 has finally been laid, and, after five years of ex- 

 istence without a house of its own, the school will 

 in a few months be commodiously and perma- 

 nently accommodated. The building, in course of 

 erection under the supervision of Mr. Trowbridge, 

 was planned by Professor Ware of Columbia. It 

 occupies a charming site a short distance east of 

 the palace, on an eminence fronting Hymettus. 

 The land, which adjoins that of the English 

 school, is the gift of the King of Greece, and was 

 obtained chiefly through the exertions of minister 

 Fearn. The building will afford accommodations 

 for the director of the school and for the students, 

 as well as for the library and working-rooms. 



This afternoon most of the Americans in Athens 

 assembled about the new building, over which 

 floated the flags of the United States and of 

 Greece. Upon the platform were the United 

 States and British ministers, and representatives 

 of the Greek government, as well as of the Eng- 

 lish, French, and German schools in Athens. 

 U. S. Minister Fearn, in laying the corner-stone, 

 spoke in earnest words of the importance of the 

 school for classical studies, and congratulated his 

 countrymen that their school would now be on an 

 equal footing, so far as accommodation is con- 

 cerned, with its sister institutions of other nations. 

 Copies of the Athens daily papers, and a box of 

 Greek, English, and American coins, were put 

 in the stone, which was then formally placed in 

 position. 



Minister Fearn was followed by Professor 

 D'Ooge, the present director of the American 

 school, who described its sphere, and spoke of its 

 needs and its resources. M. Dragoumis, Greek 

 minister of foreign affaks, spoke cordially of the 

 work accomplished in Greece by the Americans, 

 saying that " Greece could not forget that the 

 first well-organized schools in Greece were estab- 

 lished by Americans." M. Foucart, director of 

 the French school, was unavoidably absent, as 

 was also the well-known architect, Mr. Penrose, 

 head of the English school, who, however, 

 watched the proceedings with hearty interest from 

 the window of the neighboring school, while his 

 part in the exercises was taken by Mr. Walter 

 Leaf of London, whose Homeric studies have 

 made his reputation. Dr. Petersen spoke for the 

 German school, and the proceedings came to an 

 end with a libation in which all the assembled 

 friends participated. The school is now fairly 

 well estabhshed, but too little is known of it at 



home. Unlike the other schools, which are well 

 supported by their respective governments, our 

 school depends entirely on voluntary contribu- 

 tions ; and the responses to its appeals have here- 

 tofore been in no wise adequate to its needs. 

 Little has been done by way of presenting its 

 claims, save by circulars issued to the various 

 alumni associations, and funds are urgently 

 needed for the successful carrying-on of this most 

 important work. 



A sufficient sum has been raised to erect this 

 new building, and nearly enough more to make 

 provision for the permanent director, but a fund 

 is needed for excavations. The school has just 

 decided on uncovering some important ruins north 

 of Corinth, but the money to prosecute the work 

 is not at hand. Friends of classical study should 

 contribute liberally to place this American school 

 on a suitable basis, and enable it to go on unem- 

 barrassed with its work. Hitherto the various 

 colleges have taken turns in sending out a Greek 

 professor to till the post of director for a year. 

 But it is found that considerable time is needed 

 for each new director to become acquainted with 

 his work, and thus much of his year is spent to 

 no advantage to the school. Charles Waldstein, 

 a graduate of Columbia, and more recently director 

 of the Fitz William museum of the University of 

 Cambridge, has signified his willingness to accept 

 the permanent directorship, and will assume con- 

 trol in 1888. The students, of whom there are at 

 present nine, assume all of their own expenses, 

 and all that is now asked for is an amount suffi- 

 cient to defray the cost of excavations and the 

 annual running expenses. R. A. 



Athens, March 12. 



EXPLORATION AND TRAVEL. 



The Stanley Falls Station, 



During the past few months the Stanley Falls 

 Station has been attracting considerable attention . 

 According toO. Baumann, member of Dr. O. Lenz's 

 African expedition, who staid several months there 

 (MittJieil. Vienna geogr. soc), the station is situated 

 on the west point of a long island which is sepa- 

 rated from the mainland by a branch of the river, 

 about sixty feet in width. A path leads from the 

 station to the numerous huts of Singi Singi's vil- 

 lage. The island rises gradually from the river ; 

 but the right bank of the Kongo is formed by a 

 steep wall like cliff of red sandstone, the strata of 

 which lie horizontally. Its top is covered with 

 luxuriant vegetation, which surrounds Nsaki's 

 village. Tippo-Tip's village is established on two 

 islands above the seventh cataract, the houses be- 

 ing scattered over his extensive plantations. Be- 



