stone head of one of the figures. Friends dared him to go to the churchyard at dead of night and dig up the head, but he accepted the challenge, unearthed the head, and took it home in triumph.
This helmeted head of William Huett adorned a cottage porch in the village until quite recently.
Prentice Pillars: the Architect and his Pupil.
(vol. xxix. p. 219).
I have lately had sent me the collection of folk-tales done by Politis for the Marasli library (Mελέται περὶ τοῦ βίου καί τῆς γλώσσης τοῦ Ἑλληνικοῦ Λαοῦ Παραδόσεις, 1904, I, II.—a third volume is still promised). The story of the “Master and Apprentice” is told in connection with the church of B.V. the Consoler—Our Lady of Consolation sounds better—on p. 119 of the first volume, with reference in the notes (II. 804) to Travlantonis in an Athenian weekly paper (Ἑστία, 1895, 116f) probably not to be had in London: but Politis simply reprints (he still works hard), and the Παραδόσεις is standard. The story was evidently unknown to Politis in other Greek or Graeco-Turkish localities. I give a summary, as there are some curious variations from the ordinary scheme.
Thousands of years ago a great architect of those times drew out the plans for the church. When he had done so, before the work began, he was called away to another job, and went away, leaving his pupil, who was also his adopted child, in charge. During his absence the pupil completed the church, introducing perfections not in the plans. The master, finding this on his return, was filled with jealousy. He said to the pupil “Yes, you have certainly done better than the plan, but surely you have got it a bit askew there [I think a dome is meant, the word is κιόχη—for κόγχη?—and the Arta church has five domes]. Come up and I’ll show you.” So they went up, and the master said to the boy, “Bend down and you’ll see it’s askew.” The boy did so, and the master took advantage to
