Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1872-04-16


beauty and tastsiulness OF design. We
passed from avenue to avenue, from mar
row foot path to elevated square, and at
each step were more and more charmed
with the riotous wealth Of blossoms and
beautiful pieces of statuary. One would
readily be forgiven for flirting with The
graceful Floras and a host oil other CHS.
eled beauties of NEUROLOGICAL renown.
who would coqueit through the intersticss
of the trees, and with look Of sweet
archness play hide-and go-ssek with you
When ever you went. Evergreen and de-
ciduous trees were classed in order. Full
box hedges were arti,tically cut SO as 10
form urns, baskets and other pretty hg'
ures. Entire squares were conhned 10
flowers Of single specie; here bed Of
nlume.like blossoms nodded hithsr and
thither in shades Of red and orange; then
a vast patch Of pure white flowers. not
less than an acre. which we were told
were regarded in the Papal country. as
belonging to the Virgin Mary, and which
were used in rich festal occasions to dec
crate her shrines. Olcander trees OF nam.
moth size were in the embrace Of the
honeysuckls or other climbing plants, and
.howered wealth Of pink.tintcd leaves
on the clear cut turf beneath. The rar'
est and costliest of tropical flowers Hour
ish here in their nativs beauty by means
of artificial heat. and MOSES, like lichens.
that were born under the SHOWS OF lee
land, are iostered by favorable degree
of cold. The Passion flower Interested
Us from the associations connected with
it. | think that | have heard that this
plant was first discovered in one OF our
southern States. The Catholics consider
it sacred. The leaves represent the
twelve apostles, and drop that oozes
from the centre OF the flower and glistens
there. 10 looked upon rs an emblem oil
our Redeemer's sorrow. Our guide leu
ms through subterranean passages which
were half lighted and rseking with dank'
fetid odors; but even here. tender, con-
fiding vines and soft. green livsrworts
beiriended the mou dy wall. and now and
then we noticed the familiar scarlet &c.
ranlum growing with wonderful rank.
ness and mstchless beauty from out The
rock crevices. as il satisfied with her
neghborhood, and proud to DO queen oil
such n realm. A bower of feshy-leaved
cryptogamous plants and ill-scented
weeds, looked "a if it might be retreat
for arrant toads and lizards, and we did
not examine it very closely. We ascend
cd the sunken. irregular stone steps and
emerged into tho genial sunlight. glad 10
breathe purer and sweeter air. We were
conducted through groves OF acacia and
orange trees. to what resembled n coun'
try hear.e house; my husband stepped
upon the platform. and simultaneously
the doors flew open and horrible look.
ing automatic figure OF the older stamp
threw powerful wstor jet, showering
| him numercifully. retreatod in mo-
m.n,arv terror while the guide. who
was alone in the enjoyment =. 'a' JoA''
| bubbled over with laughter. One eau
bear impotence ftom roguish parrot.
or see an in.olent crow take valuable
piece OF pie from his plate with commen-
dable equanimity and composure. Tut
man OF the most excellent sect and per.
suasion will become incohercnt at this
wholesale violation oil the law of COM
mon courtesy, and will never be blamed
for threatening to plunge his guide in
waters of higher temperature.
Now we will 60 into the great Cathe-
dral and then home. This building was
commenced in the thirteenth century, and
completed late in the fourteenth. being
nearly hundred years in construction.
1t was built On the site OF temple OF
Diana, and is about three hundred feet
high. 1t is fine example OF rich arch
lecture. Rude csricatures which were
cut from mammoth blocks OF stone. adorn
the exterior, while the interior is deco
rated with pictures by the old masters,
who employed mulberry juice in the col
oring OF tho drspery of the saints.
Valencia is time worn. It's churches
are crumbling and UNCOVERED, and its
palaces, which possess the most peculiar
style of Egyptian architecture. are fast
decaying. In fact, it conveys n melan-
choly idea of depopulation.
Our guide directed our attention to q
chain of weirdly peaked mountains on
our left, at the same time informing us
that hundreds OF robbers have their
haunts around them. We listened TO
several heart-thrillDg stories, till We
trembled with real fear and approaching
night. shadows warned us to seok moro
secure quarters. NJ. +. +.