Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-08-21
VIII.
Special Correspondence of the Nashville Union and
American.

CONsTANTINOPLR, -, 1870.-0ur yes
sci belonged to the Austrian Lloyd Co.
one of the best Companies owning line
in the Mediterranean. The sea was il
excellent humor and gave us good sailing
In twelve hours we cast anchor near thu
spot at which Venus first showed herself
After coming up from the foam of tn,
sea it was quite natural that the GOODIES,
should prove to be tickle For my use
l would not give a certain other article
which comes from the foam of the seS
for dozen Venuses. The Cyprians dom
appear to have inherited much of theil
patroness' beauty. A mud fence would
suit them better for a patron on the
score of good looks. The goddess moi
only played them a scurvy trick in keep,
ing all her beauty to herself, but her in.
genuity also, if these wagon wheels are
the best they can do. The hub of the
wheel seems to have jumped TO its place,
and instead of stopping where it should
have done, went about three feet too far.
a modern soup bowl is more like the
wheel in question than any thing | can
think of. Tarnika is the chief town OF
Cyprus. Some of our party bought some
wine claimed by its seller to be so veneer
able as to have heard it thunder for fifty
years. The intention was to take it home
for the Joy of beloved friends, but impa-
thence combined with other passions
obtained the mastery and it was preached.
The cheat was too bold, for twas neither
good nor aged. / am teetotaler, except
occasionally, so have no such Affections.
The water of the sea here is of a most re-
markable blue. There must be bank of
indigo somewhere in the neighbOrhOod.
OthellO, who at first showed such good
taste and afterwards bad blood, is said to
have had palace here. Next we sailed
by Rhodes, but as it was passed in the
night did not get to see the remains of the
large man given as a sample for good
boys. Quite large museum of antiquities
discovered in the neighborhood is shown
by the U. S. Consul He has had an offer
from the British museum but not large
enough to induce him to part with his
treasure.
Our route ran through the Archipelago,
taking us by many interesting islands, all
noted in ancient history, and several in
modern. Patmos, ON which st. John
wrote the book of Revelations, barely
shows its head, being concealed by anoth-
er. Then Samos, where that naughty
and jealous old goddess, Juno, first saw
light Pythagoras and Heredotus, the
father of historians, lived here; some of
his sons are unworthy so noble father.
Next comes PRO, ON which is a beautiful
town of same name. | hope its interior
is not like that of so many other Eastern
towns. At this place / bought some
truck for the hair, which is intended for
a fair friend, and to be used at such times
as cosmopolitan dresses are worn. A
shawl from Damascus, a scarf and slip
pers from ConstantiDople; the remainder
she must get up as best she can; but hair
oil from PRO will not be bad to tell rivals
of.
A considerable turn from the direct line
has to be made to enter the Bay OF
Smyrna, which is well shut out from the
sea. Smyrna has the advantage of good
looks, when seen at a distance, and full
quota of filthy denominations, when en-
tered. There is little to be seen. The
bowling DerVishes were to have given a
specimen of their lungs while we were in
town, but there were too many strangers.
They are better than the Pharisees even,
for they do not like to make a display in
public. ! expected to have lively time
seeing them. intended imparting theiI
style of doing things in the bowling line
to you, but was disappointed. We were
told that a caravan from Persia had Just
arrived, and had many wonderful things
to show; but, when the given spot was
reached, the caravan had just reversed the
thing and departed. There is an old cas-
tie on the hill above the city, which ena.
bles one to get good idea of the cOUn,
try. The Genoese built the castle.
SMYRNA is celebrated for its figs il
which | INDUCED rather more freely thai
the custom house men in New York vii
want to 60 free, / fear. The figs arr
exceedingly cheap and as good as cheap
From Smyrna is a railway which passe
near the ruins of Ephesus. The accoun
In the Bible of the sharp fellow who hal
no idea of being deprived of his means o
making dimes ont of the Ephesians, an,
the childish fancy for Diana with he
troop of handsome boys aud pretty girl
singing and enjoying life along the greer
banks of shaded streams, caused me &
wish TO see Ephesus with its greattemplC
But that temple-though / didn't know
then, had long since Crumbled to the cart
and the images and worship Of Dian
were become the property only of history
The country to Ephesus is fair to bchol
and fruitful TO cultivate. Only a fey
ruins are to be seen where tn
mighty city once stood. But the
give an idea of its former magnif
cence. The city was situated o.
three sides of hill. There seems to hav
been an immense use of columns, as q
Samaria, running around it. Many tent
are to be seen. On one of the saTcOphal
are still to be seen the bones of one Q
the grandees of the Ephesians. The bes
preserved ruin is the theater in whic
Paul fought with beasts. The rows c
seats are distinct, and the maIbl
steps, worn by the feet of tn
theateT-g Oers, are TO be seen. The matt
rial of the building is very fine marble
The site of the temple of Diana has bee
iu dispute until recently. What is left
il does not give any evidence of its hi
torical grandeur. Most of the best pr,
served statues, bustS etc, are in Il
British Museum, which contains more
the ancient works of art Of the East this
the East itself. The sea once extend,
up 70 Ephesus, but has lost ground IN
it is some distance away. Lunch W
eaten in the building where more tbs
l,SOO years ago st. Paul found out t
turbulent disposition of the idolatro
Ephesians
Hard by runs the Meander, as crook
and dirty as anything. l must say /
Crookeness is nothing worthy of bra