The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-10-19
CORRESP NCE.
Letter from France.
YoRroL. FRANCE, Sept. 18th, s.

YoRToL, FRANCE, Sept. 18th, 81.
Messrs. Editors, THE sinuous course
of the Seine, (the ancient Sequana), COM
bined with the hilly, picturesque land
scape of the left bank and the rich low
land scenery of the right, render river
trip from Honaeur to Rouen one of pc
culiar enjoyment. The river Loire, with
its romantic banks bounded by heights,
and covered with vineyards, castles, and
villages-has been extolled by the poets
above measure, yet hard by these pro
ductive banks large heaths and desert
plains may be observed, discovering the
fact that a region apparently so rich,
which supplies France and other coun-
tries with different fruits, does not FUR
nish sufficient grain for the consumption
Of its own inhabitants. The rich banks
of the Loire resemble in this respect one
of those magnificent frames which de-
ceive the ignorant and enhance in their
opinion the value of an otherwise worth.
less picture. Not so, however, the Seine,
which flows for more than hundred
leagues through lands which grow the
heaviest harvests, and nourish the fattest
kline In France. Cotton and other man
uidCCOllSS are W US SSeuj anu
altogether we would regard Normandy
an ideal province in the commixture of
its agriculture and trade, condition of
political economy so vital to the pros
perity of any region.
Leaving the river Seine at Caudebec,
formerly the capital of Caux, and very
fourishing town before the revocation OF
the Edict of Nantes, we journey over land
through district in which agriculture
has attained the highest degree Of per-
fection we have ever witnessed, and
where the chateaux, surrounded by trees
of different sorts, adorn with indescrib-
able beauty every elevated site in the
region. We are bound for
Yortol, Immortalized by the Poem of
Beranger
under the form of bewitching song, en-
titled lie Roi d. YortoJ. The petty court
of this small seignory in the middle ages
was distinguished for its gallantry, and
troubadours, and poesy-many legends
of which still linger in the minds Of the
inhabitants. Surely it were fit scene
for an Elfsh court in this quaint, retired
region, hidden away from the constant
alarms of those ancient wars, and en-
powered amid natures softest and most
enhancing beauties Drawing near to
the village, glistening in the evening sun.
we were reluctant to end the Journey
and ramble about in the early twilight.
" Here hills and vales the woodland and the
plain,
Here earth and water seem to strive again,
Not chaos-like, together crushed and bruised,
But as the world harmoniously confused;
Where order in variety we see,
And where though all things differ, all agree.
Here waving groves a chequered scene display,
And part admit and part exclude the day;
There interspersed in lawns and open gades,
Thin trees arise that shun each others shades,
Here in sunset light the russet plains extend,
There wrapped in clouds, the blush hills as
cend."
Leaving the country, we enter the
picturesque town. bearing on every hand
witness to its ancient and peculiar his
tory. In brief, that history is that in
572, Clothair caused the seigneur of Yor-
tol to be assassinated because he gave an
asylum to Prince Chranme, the Kings re-
bellious son. Pope John III no sooner
learned that this crime had been com
mitted on Good Friday, than he excom-
municated Clotbair, and the bull of ex-
communication was not suspended until
Clothair consented to erect Yortol into a
separate and sovereign kingdom What
was more singular, however, this petty
royalty was respected and maintained
down to the time OF Louis XI. We have
often wished to hear the tale of the sup
preston of this puny sovereignty and its
incorporation with the French monarchy,
and after being comfortably esconced for
the night in one Of those typical village
inns of France-so like stone barn on
the ground floor, but so comfortable
witha1-we invited our genial host to re-