Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-03-15
VOLUME XVI.
SCENES In THE OLD WORLD,

TO THE CHILDREN OF ST STEPHENS S. s., WILKES
BARRE, PA.
My last letter | wrote to you from Paris
| where | have been staying TOR three weeks.
visiting its various objects of interest, and
feeling, az | took leave of it, that | had
much more to see at some more favorable
season of the year, when the gardens with
which its vicinity abOunds, are in their
prime. And now the scene has changed
| am now ill the south of France, at Nice,
looking out upon the great blue Mediterra-
mean, the same sea upon which ST Paul
SAILED, and suffered shipwreck on his way
to Rome and upon whose borders, 80 much
ut history has transpired. Its waters wash
the shores of the Holy Land ,as well as what
were once the kingdom of Greece and
| Rome l have travelled some six OF seven
hundred miles since last wrote you.
! first came to Marselles, where | rested a
day. Leaving Paris at night, at quarter
To eight, saw the next morning, the an
cient town of Avignon, for some time the
residence of the Popes, and reached Mar
SALES at half past twelve. Ali along my
journey this day, passed the olive groves
so common i'll the south of France There
are great quantities of olives raised here
on account of the oil expressed from thin,
which Is used Tor 30 many purposes. The
tree is also used for fuel here, and | am
now sitting by cheerful fire made of it,
listening, as write to you, to the gentle
| plash of the waves of the Mediterranean
as the moonlight OF this beautiful Decem-
her night shines upon them. | could hard
ly bear to think that that beautiful wood
of winch had already treasured up some
specimens in my study at home, we used
as common fuel.
Marseilles is the great commercial port
of France, as Liverpool is Of England, or
New York of our country. In fact, felt
nearer home when | walked around among
its shipping, than had since | left Liver
pool, where first landed / thought how
soon | might find vessel that would bear
me homeward, toward those love so well
had three hours walk that afternoon
about the city, climbing high hill. where
on is chapel to which sailors bring their
offerings on their safe return from sea-
From this hill | saw the sun set in the Med
iterranean, lighting up the distant hill with
delicate rose color The next morning
had fine ride out Of the city, hy drive
called the "Pradn," and through the bcauti-
ful grounds of chateau, which are thrown
open to the public, and around by the bor-
ders of the sea, into the city That same
Afternoon left fol Nice, about one hundred
| miles, which | reached between eight and
nine on Saturday night. Here | found
American friends who came over the ocean
III the same ship, and at whose huspitablC
house in Carbondale had often been enter
tanned.
On Sunday we attended together the En-
glish Church. which comes nearest to our
own, as the service is nearly the same and
the next day being Christmas, we went
again Services were held both morning
and afternoon, with the Communion in the
morning AZ with us 1t was day of min
gled emotions gratitude to God for the
gift of a Savior, and for his preserving
merces, with the pleasant thought that |
was still with American friends. But sad
ness was mingled when | thought of the
past, and Of some who were gone, with
whom that festival had formerly been spent;
and as | thought how far was from those
whose friendly greetings | had so long met
on that day, and from whom | had received
80 many tokens of regard In the evening
| had a very kind invitation to dine with
an American lady (the aunt of my friend }
1t was the most elegant dinner to which |
ever sat down. And thus my Christmas
was as happily spent as could have been
away from home. The church was trim
med with holly ard ivy, the red berries Of
the holly making a beautiful contrast will
the deep green leaves. In the chancel were
branches of the palm, which grows here,
and which made me think of that same tree
which they strewed in our Saviors path az
he rode into Jerusalem. The English
church is beautiful stone building smaller
than our own erected very recently, to ac-
commodate the many English people who
resort here in the winter to enjoy this fine
climate. Our own good Bishop Potter
stayed here, | think, for some time, when
he visited Europe on account of his failing
health. 1t is cool here at night with lit
tie frost, but 50 warm by day that people
often carry an umbrella to shield them from
the heat of the sun, which strikes down
with great power in this clear atmosphere.
| can look out of the window and see
groves Of orange trees laden with ripening
fruit while beyond the line OF the first
hills, ! can see the tips of the farther
mountains, which are clad with perpetual
snow. 1t is delightful to see the profusion
of roses, in full bloom, and often in the
house you meet with the most splendid bou-
quets of them | have had some walks
among the grandest scenery have ever
yet looked upon. They were enjoyed with
out the encumbrance Of an overcoat. Yes
terday walked with friend as much as
ten mics (cn tine whr!"). Tur scenery was
constantly changing. W a@ceudea one pi
TIN highest p'aks II ths urjghbpIhootl
-pnrct,m,s ~atkn& iy t;.e ",argc groyra,
ard then the terraces Of div. tres. We
walked a little way upon the celebrated
Corneche road, leading TO Genoa, which is
very hard and smooth ; and then we climb
ed the summit to our destination All the
way the view was changing, both in going
and re;urning. But the view from the sum
nit was magnificent beyond my power of
describe. Ou one side lay the great Med
iterranean with its indsnted coast, here
and there a bold promontory jutting out.
and then a lite bay, or larger one, like the
semicircular one upon which Nice il sitna-
ted Turning in the opposite direction, we
Ill 4 l. Al .I