New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-16
THE KNIGHTS OF Ma LTA.
THEIR Inn A CLUBHOUSE AND THEIR
TREASURES SCATTERED.

THEIR Inn CLUBHOUSE AND THEIR
TREASURES SCATTERED.
rrRox AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.
MALTA, November 10.
The Union Club, at Malta, is probably one Of
the best clubs I'm Europe. "0nce member always a
member" causes its membership to exceed 10000. It
was established in 1926 for the pleasure and convent
Of the officers OF the Army and Navy, but Civil en-
ployes OF the Malta Government and gentlemen residing
i'm the island are admitted Tourists who are stopping
week In Malta likewise obtain admission being in
troduced by regular member The club occupies tho
fine old Auberge de Provence built by and the head
quarters Of the Knights Of Auvergne. The present
cupants give series Of enjoyable balls in the spacious
ballroom of the establishment every winter It's floor
being wood rarity in Malta for all other floors OF
Maltese stone and lack the spring that wood arOrsl,
dancing OH il ia grateful and not laborious pastme
II curious TO read OF the rules and regulations that
governed the conduct OF the knights who lived in this
Auberge literally INN during past centuries. One is
supposed to suppose that the Old Knights of the Order
of ST. John of Jerusalem were said stern and rather
solemn Of speech and movement betted members Of
the bulwsrk Of Christianity The Order being largely
religious In character il sounds strange TO hear that n
was necessary curb the members twho evidently had
their unruly mOmensl by checking rules like this ia
brother be guilty Of nsoenee or ndeeency in the inn
where he eats If he break the doors benches tables
anything Of the like nature, fling them away
ell Whoever shall strike the PLIERS he chiefs gov
errors of the aubeges servants slaves though
he draws blood shall be punished with the quarantine
forty fast days. confinement 10 quarters, attendance at
all church services bread and water on Wednesdays and
Fridays eaten on the ground in addition to lOggng in
a state OF nudity by pres with six months mpris0n-
ment for the second offence" The giving OF i'll language
In she Masters Palace punished with the loss OF
three seniority; IL Ia inD of two years senior
ity II they draw their sword, or give box or nck
they shall be expelled without possibility OF pardon.
The brothers shall bring any dogs with them de-
YOUR the bread that might else be left for the poor II
any dogs in they shall be driven out and II their
master offers oppose and complain of it, he shah
the punishment"
The ceilings and walls OF the ballroom sti bear good
specimens OF antique mural decorations; bold and
times startling IN abrupt contrasts and unexpected
mngng OF colOrs, but wthal harmonious and remark
able One Of the many fine pictures that belonged To
this inn fulength portrait OF La Valette the i'm
mortal Grand Master In command Of the knights and
Maltese during the famous siege Of the island in 1861
clad in full armor with hinge Maltese cross painted ON
thu breast Indeed, all the portraits OF the Grand Mas
tiers show them wearing this eght-pointed This
valuable picture of La Vsetc Is the walls OF the
banquet hall In the grim old palace OF the Grand Masters
and standing pedestal IL is the veritabe gold
inlald by this hero. Another suit OF
armor that OF Ia yallette, rich, too with gold
tracngs, stands nearly seven feet high. The helmet
alone weighs thrty-seven pounds The Grand Master
AoHo wgnaeourt who formerly 1t, been
q giant In stature
In ncosed court in this palace there standsa halo
of faded grandeur enveOpDg 1.-THE state carriage OF the
last Grand Master who ruled the Order The guides tell
one that Bonspaite used IL when he took possession of
Malta In 1898, hut better authority states that he de-
cHed s Use, and marched into the city fO Vallc at
the head OF his guards Acting the principle that 10
belong the spols, Bonaparte appropriated 10
himself the great majority OF movable found
In the island The churches especially were mines OF
wealth To him. From historic old St. Johns he fpiuoved
millions worth Of yauabes. the most highy treasured
and the most painfully mourned OF which the sacred
hand OF st. John the Baptis-the hand that bapzed the
Saviour From the Palace he took all its carefully
guarded treasures not the least being the sword and
dagger esented 10 Ia Naette by Philip H. OF SPAIN
The golden ht OF the sword set with aiamonds aud
both used 10 be carried I'm procession before
Master on september the anny ersary OF the defeat Of
the Turks by the Knights In the sixteenth century
record that the ic0nOcas.e Frcnchuian lad this
precious sword balanced 10 his own use.