Serene Egotist

Greatest of living Greeks is Eleutherios Venizelos, a nimble old man of ready wit. Recently he emerged from self imposed retirement on the Island of Crete (TIME, June 4), announcing with serene egotism: "I shall resume the Prime Ministry."

Last week this prophetic boast was made good. The nimble "Old Man of Crete" and his Liberals succeeded in upsetting the Cabinet of Alexander Zaimis, on a complex financial issue, and finally forced the appointment of Venizelos as Prime Minister.

Pleased was the venerable statesman's much younger wife, the onetime Miss Helena Schilizzi of London, ambitious, vivacious heiress of a rich Greek. She, rumors told, supplies the motivation for her husband's latest grasp at Power.

But, awful to behold, last week, was the indignation of M. Aristotle Tsiflakos, Editor of the Royalist news organ Apogevmotini ("Afternoon News"), who had believed, until last month, with other foes of Venizelos that the founder of the present Greek Republic was definitely retired and passe.