National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-02-05
BOUND FOR BOMBAY.
ON THE ROUTE FROM MARsEILLEs.
Stopping at Naples and 4lexandria-The Peasant
Women OF France and Other Matters ofIn-
terest from the COntinent-SOme-
thing About Wines.

| SUEz jan 3, 1SSl-Leaving Paris, with It's light
brightness, and glitter we are whirled on BIZ lhs
/ steam-cars through the wine country Of Frame
Picturesque little villages nestle at the foot OF thu
hills, which are clad with the vines from who-a
/ fruit gushes the juice which makes the red a;pe
or the UiR 0TdfRaire. Anon we pass an old cburcb
or cathedral, gray with the weight Of years, but ~
whose moldering wall the ivy still elings and then
| a cemetery, whose wreaths of black and wbi-a
/ beads, browning the tombs, look ike sDecf-os
reckoning US to the shadOwy land Everv station,
which We pass is piled with wine casks in great
tiers. The agricultural lands of France are fertile
/ and productive, and owing to the extreme lnj,l-
ness of the winter, the fields are still green aud
beautiful. Many of the houses of the peasants s~
simply covered with turf The majority Of Inc
peasants are neat industrious, and intellfgcr-
! The dress of the women is modest and
| graceful, as well as durable and useful Their
heads are invariably covered with a Snowy can OF
| linen or muslin, which gives them a peculiarly
pleasant and attractive appearance. France al tr,
close of this year seems to be the most prosperous
of all the European nations. Everything has p,o.
| pered with her. Her commerce and manGfac;r-es
have increased, and the report of the Niuistsro-
Finance shows during the year 1880 All increase OF
exports 20 the amount of three millions and q
half pounds sterling. Yet there are III spite OF all
I the peace, comfort, and afluence which Franc.
now enjoys, violent BOnapartists in the country
who would gladly dispense with all these blessings
| and make France again monarchy When Ne.
/ reached the seaport town of 9larselles II wss
| yelled in midst and rain. Here we took passare
for Alexandria in the good ship Peluse. ofDcs
| Messagirus Maritimes Company. The passengers
were motley collection and embraced Frenchmen.
/ Spaniards, Italians. Englishmen, Americans. and
native Indian servants. The food upon these sbfrS
is served in strictly French style: bread and COZ
! fee at nine a. M; breakfast which incufeg
! several courses, at twelve n, and dinner
| at seven p. m. Vegetables are not served
with the meats, and each vegetable consti-
| tutes separate course. At six a. m on the
morning of our second day we were up on deck
| and in full view Of the Island of Corsica The
island rises abruptly from the sea, and looks ike
many sugar-loaves piled upon each other. L IS
barren of trees, but looks quite green and IS doJed
| with little villages, settled on the peaks OF the
| highest hills. The houses are very pretty and
| mostly built of stone. On the left, directly o.
pOsite Corsica, is the Island of Coperoza on Tie
right, Pinozo and Monte Christie. We were in fgI
sight ofthe coast of Italy, and, had the day been
further advanced. would have had fine view
| of Rome.
| NAPLES
| When We entered the Bayou Naples the water
was as calm and placid as an inland lake. the
/ bay is bOrlered with hills white houses AID
rocks. Over the rocks are climbing vines wind
ing and festOoning themselves into graceful caves
and picturesque disorder In the early spring and
summer the fisherman from Pansilppe build thc.r
cabins on the rocks and throw their nets from tie
sandy beach. Sometimes they sail their boats avsy
for two three leagues, near the shores Of Ischa
Capri or Procida. Often at night they carry with
them rOSin torches to attract the fish and the fish
installing the luTid glare of the torches 70. tie
light of day, swim to the surface and are caught.
The Italian skies are blue, but the waters OF the
bay are bluer than the sky and fecksd with -ca-
foam and in It's quiet condition gives il the appear
ance of antique marble. Vessels do not land al 30
wharf in Naples, but all passengers are taken
off in boats or lighters. Before we were
anchored the ship was surrounded by
boats manned by greaSy-lOOking natives Some Gf
them came for passengers and some for freight.
Several of them pulled off all their clothes eXccpg
breach cloth, and dove into the water for SOUS,
which the passengers threw over to them. Nusi-
clans came on board and played and sang, and
traders covered the deck with their wares. For
several hours the ship presented the appearance
of 8 fancy bazaar and concert room. The city Cf
Naples is built around the bay in aeireular fashion
to the base of Mount Vesuvius. \ portion OF the
city crowns the hill tops. The smoke from Mount
Vesuvius was crawling lazily upward, as if from
large chimney, as we landed. Naples, the home Of
the great poet, Tasso is not as clearly and as Or
derby as might be imagined fromits romantic situ&-
ton and surroundings. Dirt reigns tTiumphant
everywhere. At every step We were met b. filthy
scantily-elothed, abiect wretches, begging for
sous. There are some very pretty places
in Naples, and some interesting old palaces. The
market, with its display Of tropical fruits, fgS,
prunes and olives is very attractive to strangers.
Palms and date trees grow in all their luXuriance
in the parks and gardens There is q famous IrU-
scum here containing relies in bronze sculptures,
marbles, and antique coins from the ruins OF Pom
| pei and Hereulaneum. Here the lover of artistic
and antique objects might probably spend days
of study but We were limited to only few hours.
In the evening we steamed out from the bay watch
! ing the lights from the palaces and the wharve5
and the column of fiery smoke glanciHg from the
crater of Vesuvius. The next day we passed the
island of Sicily, which recalls the dongs Of that
famous brigand, Fra DiavOlO. He was chief Of The
| brigands when Murat reigned. At this time MFG
Ferdinand fed to Sicily and was protected by IEo
| robbers. These robbers had then a political IS
well an infamous character.
| ALEXANDRIA.
| Alexandria has very peculiar lock to European
| eyes. The natives dress in Turkish costume
/ Withholding Arabs seize hold of travellers Bag
gage without waiting for permission, and the Only
way to protect yourself is % engage dfagonah
| and donkey boy. These two viii care iJI jac
baggage and fight OF the rest of The hertle. Inc
streets are full of vicious kicking mules. hed'us
laden QOl6eyS, ana colilctN- SdlEu i C''>%''-'
flying and great care must b. exercised 10 EeePi-
out of the eyes. On our way from the hoal We
pass Pompeys Pillar. The Arabs are inlilc.se',lh
rags dirt and filth. They are ayaricOIs. ueaehgi
| Gus, and thievish. Alexandria, tTTe 10 nc
ancient name of Egypt. is still gu
| grain market. IN the distance the Gag
! presents a very pretty appearance, WIN Is
| glittering TinaretS, its gardens Chimes tower,
and mosques. The country abounds II t'op''l
fruits oranges, figs olives, grapes. and dates nee
I you find the delicious Eastern sherbet. STty't'H
| with honey and scented with rose water ana i'
] proves most palatable to the thirsty aNd weary
traveller The architecture of the houses l. y! ~
euliar style. The balconies which Sug-ouile 'Ae1i
stretch far out into the street, thus aioitHs IA
agreeable shade from the heat of the sun "e"'i0
yisibly reminded of the Eastern haTeas by me "
easiOnal appearance of yelled woman III 'A'
| streets. We had only short time to ccIltiAPa'
| the beauties and wonders Of Egypt and were sy'-
| on the steam cars en- route for >uez l. nv
"Reminiscences of the High Church he-
| viVRi.
| By the side of the revival OF Catholicism '"..-
| was a corresponding phenomenon Of an oi9'z-r
and no less startling kind. HALF century ago a-s
! one who openly questioned the truth O. ,N..
| tianity was treated as public offender ana W.,
accommodated by society. NOw, while one
of men were bringing back ma'iiicyalisno' selel.S
and criticism were assailing with impui'! "
authority of the Bible; miracles were declared -
N1T