Macedonia, a plea for the primitive . edaprons. From this all-too-brief description of the nativecostume one is inclined to picture the inhabitantas a shapeless mass of multi-coloured garments—an impression often correct. The fine em-broidery, however, with the strange magic ofsouthern light playing on already sun-bleachedtints lends a charm to a dress, which, though nodoubt grotesque in colour-scheme, is none the lessstriking and picturesque. Unfortunately, thoughcontrary to acknowledged principles of art anddesign, the native costume is giving way tounsuitable and often unsightly Western gar
Macedonia, a plea for the primitive . edaprons. From this all-too-brief description of the nativecostume one is inclined to picture the inhabitantas a shapeless mass of multi-coloured garments—an impression often correct. The fine em-broidery, however, with the strange magic ofsouthern light playing on already sun-bleachedtints lends a charm to a dress, which, though nodoubt grotesque in colour-scheme, is none the lessstriking and picturesque. Unfortunately, thoughcontrary to acknowledged principles of art anddesign, the native costume is giving way tounsuitable and often unsightly Western garments,thereby sacrificing both dignity and beauty. Doesnot the case of the Macedonian constitute anopportunity for one of the societies identified withthe preservation of antiquities to intervene andavert the disappearance of a national dress, whichseems to have changed so little since Biblicaldays ? A change of costume will not westernizethe Macedonian—it will merely produce a travestyof the original and undermine CHAPTER IVVILLAGES THE population of Macedonia is dis-tributed among one metropolitan city(Salonika), a few less important towns(such as Seres, Kavalla and Drama)and innumerable villages. The last-named arescattered indiscriminately about the land, onhillside and on plain, sometimes approached onlyby a narrow mountain path, at others lyingadjacent to an important main road. Each areaor district, such as a valley with natural boun-daries, seems to possess one or two major villageswhich have become market centres, aroundwhich cluster numerous other villages of compara-tive insignificance. A main road is usuallyresponsible for two or three populous villagesalong its route, while, on the other hand, a veryextensive hilly region often shelters in its fast-nesses only one larger hamlet or township with afew of superior size included in a radius of manymiles. Considered as a whole, however, Macedonia isonly sparsely populated. Many of the place-names whi
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