The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-10-25
Ghe Graueler.
c0rs.pondsaso qF tAe Nsr Y@l os.os.y
OONsTANTIN0pLE.

Il Is delightful sail from the Pirnns
over the smooth see, to Constantinople
The Archipelago Il usually very ouiet ii
the spring and summer. Different Islands
are always in view, generally rising up 10
rocky heights, with village at the base
which sometimes extends high up the
steep sides Of the mountain. These VII
lages, built Of white stone, are seen Al 4
great distance, and stand out from among
the green groves with picturesque effect
A few miles before we arrive AZ tbe en-.
trance Of the Hellespont the blue tor of
Mount Ida appears, and soon the plains Of
Troy are before us on our right. and the
Island Of Tenedos, the great rendezvous
Of the Greeks in the Trojan war, on our
left. These plains are q magnificent thea.
tire for the maneuvering Of large armies
and here 1t was that the great prodigies Of
yalor between the Trojan and Grecian he
roes were enacted, of which the blind old
man sings, and which we read in our col.
lege days. Standing on the deck Of our
ship, we can almost see the famous story
of the old poet enacted before our ewes
the landing of the Grecian hosts the
shock Of the contending armies the hand.
to hand contests of the great heroes, Hector
Paris, Achilles, Patroclus, and Ajax their
prodigies of strength while geds ond aoJ
desses lowered near in the dim air: tbeir
struggles, fall and death the shouts of
the victors, the waiIing of the CONQUERED !.
the chariot Of Achilles dragging his con.
quered enemy, Hector. in savage fury
around the walls Of the city in tRe sight
Of his agonized old father, wife and chill.
dren; the stealthy Ulysses mounting tho
wooden horse /; the fiery serpents rushing
from the foaming sea, LAGOON and M
sons struggling in their scaly folds---all
these pictures rise up before you like
moving panorama, and you would faiu
believe them all. Near the shore there
rise large, conical mounds, evidently arti.
fetal. For ages one has been regarded as
the tomb Of Achilles and Patroclus. where
Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar
have done honors to the dead heroes. Far
ther inland, near the ancient city, is an
other large mound called the tomb Of Hec-
tor. Troy was situated about seven miles
from the shore Of the sea, on an eminence
overlooking beautiful plain watered by
the scamander. Its site is very well au-
thenticated.
A sail Of Eve miles brings you to the
Hsllespont, which Is about five miles wide.
On either side stand immense forts--one
in Europe and one in Asia---to guard the.
entrance, armed with guns Of the largest
calibre and of the most approved models.
The narrowest part Of this classic stream
is very near the southern entrance. The
shores on either hand slope back to lofty,
rounded hills covered with the greenest
yerdure and trees. The Asiatic shore is
the most beautiful, having the greatest
variety Of bold mountain scenery.
1t was at this narrowest part Of the Hell
lespont, between Cestus in Asia and Aby-
dos in Europe, that Xerxes built his bridge
Of boats when he invaded Greece, and
which saved his retreating army from de-
struction after the battle Of Salamis.
Here Alexander the Great crossed when
he carried the war into Asia. II was here.
too, that the heroic Leander perished in
his attempts to seek his Hero through the
angry waters, and where Byron, in after
years, succeeded more fortunately in per-
forming the same feat, escaping with only
cold and fever. At this place the Dar-
danelles, measuring from long point at
Cestus, on the Asiatic side, across to
Abydos, is about one mile wide. Scatter
ed along on either side of the Hellespont
are towns looking well in the distance.
All the high points are surmounted by inn
mense wind-mills for grinding -four. which
gives all these villages very picturesque
effect. We approached ConstantinopIe
from the Sea of Marmora Just before sun
rise, and came abreast the city as the sun
was gliding her lofty minarets and domes.
shining with dazzling brightness on
thousand windows Standing on the deck
of our ship, as she came up proudly from
the sea around the Point Seraglio, nothing
could be more grand than the picture he
fore us. At our right rises Stamboul,
on triangle Of land Aanked by the Mar
mora and Golden Horn on two sides, and
the green Seraglio Point for its apex, its
houses rising by easy ascent from the water
on each side, rank above rank, to a gentle
eminence surmounted by hundred domes
and minarets; while towering above them
all, aud crowning the picture, rises the
magnificent dome Of St. Sophia, surround
ID by gilded minarets stretching almost
into the blue sky.