The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-03-31

coin, and instantly plunge after it, and in
an incredibly short time come to the sur
face again with the money between their
teeth. They perform these feats, stripped
to the skin, but nobody seems to min it.
1t was Saturday afternoon when we
left Naples, and soon after our departure
something broke ia the engine which ar
rested our progress about eight hours. 1t
proved to be "a happy accident for us, for
IT was the means of our passing by day
instead of by night as we otherwise would
have done, some of the most interesting
places in the Mediterranean.
Sunday on the Mendoza
Never did morning more fair dawn
on this sea. All the passengers were on
deck at an early hour and the water was
too calm for sea-sickness. We then had
good opportunity of inspecting our com
panions Of the voyage. Between forty
and fifty Of them are found to be piLq5nas
from France bound for the Holy Land,
hoping to arrive in time for the Easter
CEREMONIES. There were, of course, a
number of priests among them and seve-
raj gentlemen whose appearance indicated
good position in society. There were
no mendicants in the party But what
surprised me most was the number of
young men, all of them bright gay fell
lows, full of song and tun | remarked
to one of the priests that I would not
have supposed that such merry young
men would care to go on aPilgrimage.9
"Oh, said he, 1t is because they have
all had good Christian education" At
ten o'clock in the forenoon the pilgrims
made elaborate preparations for the cele-
bration of Mass on the after deck of the
steamer. 1t was an admirable place, as
there was already an awning over that
part of the deck, one end of which they
closed by stretching flags across. Many
Of the passengers had brought bouquets of
flowers on board with them; these were
all carefully collected and arranged on
the altar among the lighted candles. A
priest then walked to the stern of the
vessel, and by the aid of an assistant, ar
rayed himself in his robes, and after
standing awhile engaged in prayer, came
forward and commenced the service in
which the other pilgrims united, young
men and all
At still earlier hour in the morning
| had made The acquaintance of the Rev
Mr.. Nj Green venerable clergyman of the
Church of England, who, with his two
daughters, is going first to Egypt and
then to Palestine. These three my two
friends from Richmond, gentleman from
Kansas, member of the Congregational
Church, and myself were all the Plotes-
tants on board. After the Mass it was
suggested that we too should hold SER
vice, and as we were too few to make
congregation on deck, | invited them to
come down into my state-room, which
small as it was, still was large enough to
hold seven persons. Spreading a shawl
over my steamer trunk, / made pew
Tor the two young ladies, the rest of us
disposed ourselves as we could on camp
stools, and the service was commenced by.
singing the hymn, " Welcome, sweet day
OF rest. | then read the IO3d Psalm and
the last chapter of Mark, after which
Mr.: Green offered one of the most tender
and affecting prayers | ever heard on
land or sea. Then after singing the
hymn, How sweet the name of Jesus
sounds, there was another prayer, with
the benediction, and so our delightful
and never to be forgotten little service on
the Mendoza ended
The Lipari Isles and Messina.
AS we approached the Straits of Mes
sina, we ran along by the celebrated Vol
came Islands, seven in number, of which
Stromboli is the chief and grandest. 1t
appears to greater advantage in conse-
quence of its isolated position, rising out
of the sea, and always capped with clouds
OF It's own smoke.
Next came the straits between Italv
and Sicily which takes it's name from the
ancient city which stands on the Silcian
shore. Messina presents fine appear
ance from the sea, its tall houses built of
a light colored stone rising in terraces
above each other, and contrasting finely
with the dark, vine-covered hills in their
rear. just at the opening of the straits
we pass the once formidable guardians Of
the entrance, Scylla and Charybds-the
former being a rock at the extremity of
the promontory on the Slician shore, and
the latter whirlpool Immediately oppo-
site, for which | looked in vain. There
is always astrong current flowing through
the straits and in stormy weather there
may. be whirlpool opposite to Scylla, but
on the calm day when / passed through.
there was not the slightest appearance Of
one
A little farther op coroos pI,,;,,r, .: