Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1878-07-20
OUR CORRESPONDENCE.
Our Foreign Letter.
FLORENCE, ITALY,
June 27, 1878.

commence at Orleans, which is a quiet
city, but its people are full Of gayety
and amusement. This was the first
city taken by the famous Joan of Arc
and from which she received the appel
latlon of Maid of Orleans. The city
has two statues erected to commence
rate her to posterity, if this We're
needed, but it is not, for her picture
is to be found in every house of the
city. One is the gift of Louis
Phillippe's daughter in l841, and the
other was erected on the Sth of MAY,
1855, the 425th anniversary of the de-
liverance Of the city. On the street
we saw fresh sardines, caught IN the
Loire on which the city is situated.
1t contains a magnificent church built
during the reign of Henry ". The
soldiers of the war of 1870 used it
as hospital and were compelled by
the severity Of the weather to build
fle in it, which injured it somewhat.
1t is now, however, completely re-
paired.
Before leaving the city we partook
of regular French breakfast. The
French dine only twice day at
eleven and SIX. The breakfast, con-
sequently, seems to Americans more
like dinner or lunch. At breakfast
| 1t IS customary to have dessert like a
dinner. Coffee is taken with brandy
without cream at the end of meal,
and fnger-bowls are also used. Leav-
ing Orleans, June 18th, for Bordeaux,
we passed through very pretty
country called by some the Garden
OF France ~ On our route are situat-
ed several very old and historical
places. Among them are Blois with
its castle in which Louis XII was born,
and Amboise, with another castle in
which the Arab, Abdul Kaedar, was
imprisoned and released by Napoleon
III in 1855. Tours, whore the de-
cisive battle for Christianity against
Mohamedanism was fought in 732,
when 100000 men were left dead
upon the field, also lies along this
route.
Poiters, the scene of the great
battle between the French and Eng
lish, was also passed. The next city
at which we stopped was Bordeaux,
situated on the Garonne and famous
for its wines, which are the principal
,ticles of trade. It's quay is in the
form of q crescent and is one of the
best in Europe. The largest vessels
can anchor at it and it has also line
Of vessels to the United States.
From Bordeaux we went to Pau
Along the whole route from Bordeaux
to DaX there was nothing but a sue
cession Of pine forests which were
! planted to recuperate the land, it
being worn out entirely. At Dax,
| however, we changed cars and passed
through a country covered with vine
yards and gardens. The morning
after our arrival we visited the fam
Gus castle in which "Le bon Roi, u
Henry ", was born. 1t dates as fa1
back as 1868 and its situation COM
mands fine view Of the town. There
are many curiosities in this old castle
but the mention of a few must suffice
for all. Everything is in the grandest
style and is exceedingly rich. The
dining hall used by the sovereigns il
| Just as it was used, and the reception
room would compare with any of oul
own day, 1t contains two very hand
some tables, one marble and the other
done in mosaic. They are presents tt
the city from Bernadotte, King o
| Sweden, also a native of this place
| He left Pau in 1880 as a drumme,
boy and rose TO the exalted position
named All the royal furniture wa
in the different chambers. The bee
rooms Of Henry ~, his mother anl
| Queen, are just as they occupied them
In one of the chambers was the tabl
used by Francis |, and in another tn
crib of Henry ". 1t is a curiosity
for it is only huge tortoise shell
This little village lies at the foot q
the "Lower Pyrenees" which can b
seen from every side. There are her
several very fine hotels which ar
only opened during the winter,
being a fashionable winter resort 70
English and Americans. On the sam
day, Sunday, 10th, we arrived d
Lourdes after few hours ride fror