Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1884-03-07
our FRENCH LETTER.
A Mice letter from Hon. Asher
COolt.-it omcynrd Hound.

urenu TIE SHOWS oil Russia and Norway, M
well as OF the invalids of England aud
France, who gather here to cheat Time of
his dues, and to prolong precarious exis-
tence by breathing the bslmy breeses OF
the Mediterranean. This delightful winter
resort is situated on small bay of the
Mediterranean, between the gulf of Lyons
aud the gull Of Genoa. II is now on the
southeastern border Of France, but former
ly ii was the principal city Of ancient
Savoy. The climate is quite tropical'
though il is about two degrees farther
north than Perrysburg. Geographers us
ualy reckon degrees Of latitude from the
equator, but ii is more natural for one to
reckon from his place of residence. And
my home from boyhood, having been on
the Maumee river, ii is more easy for me
to reckon latitude from that point, and 10
reduce all degrees OF temperature to that
of my home. Perrysburg lies between Al
and AZ degrees north latitude, and Nice
between 43 and A. AT Perrysburg the
temperature is frequently 10 to IL degrees
below zero; here it never freezes. The
fruits and vegetables Of the gardens here
are MS green as with us in May and June
and many Of the fruit trees are in blossom.
The olive trees retain their verdure the
entire year, but the fruit which ripens
earlier in the season has been gathered.
The orange does not do we'll here, bit the
Mandarine is now ripe, nwl the yellow
fruit hanging among the green leaves lin
February is curious and interesting
| sight, to one raised where skating and ice
packing, at this time, are the amusement
and occupation OF the inhabitants.
Nice is protected against the North,
East and West winds by range OF noun
tains, which pnss entirely around it on the
land side, and form sort OF amphilheatre.
or acove in which the town is built To
the south 1t opens out TO the sea, which
gives it the benefit OF the soft, warm winds
of Africa during the winter, but which are
often very unpleasantly hot during the
summer. 1t is very agreeable to sit on
the sea shore, and bssk in the sunshine, in
the months of January and February, and
see men swimming and children PLAYING
in the sand on the beach, rs we see them
at Long Branch and Cape May in July
and August; but it IS very doubtful il our
country would gain anything by change
of climate with this, in am intellectual and
moral point OF view. The people here are
mo more intellectual, and less moral than
in Perrysburg and Toledo. The sharp
: fross of our winters cool and keep in sub
iugation the ungovernabe desires of men,
while the necessity of providing against
the inclemency of the weather sharpens the
intellectual faculties, and calls into action
the nsbler sentiments of our nature. The
, excellency Of our system OF government,
and the high position to which 1t has
arisen in the estimation OF mankind are
/. proofs OF this.
e j have said The climate here is tropical
so are the fruits and vegetables. There are
here the Olive, Orange, Lemon, Mandarin
and several varieties of Palm trees. Some
I of the trees are loaded with ripe and
= rpening fruit; others are in blossom. and
> the gardens are blooming with flowers
propitiots the hotel accommodations
0 abundant, though not cheap; the promon
0 AIDES along the shore are inviting and the
( drives ia the environs picturesque. Tnker
e altogether, Nice may, without exageration
1 be said TO be the finest winter resort il
& Europe.
r We left Paris the 2S,h of January, ant
Il are making our way slowly TO Rome. W.
n stopped day in Lyons, and one in Mar
Y seilles: and have been here three. A
II Lyons we visited the famous silk and vel
u vet factories. These fine fabrics, the fines
;. of their kind IN the world, are here mad
h by hand. No machinery Is used. Th
if weaving is done by men vino sit on OIL
1t fashioned looms and throw the shuttl
= with their hand.
The ride from Paris to Nice was YER
pleasant. There has been no snow or fros
south OF Paris this winter, and the gras
and wheat look us green rs with us IN May
1. Most OF the spring slowing is done, anC
where not completed we saw men at wOr
both plewing and spading. The mast q
X the spading, however, was being done b
Ell WON, II, as is usual here where both worl
W in the field, the men select the easiest
= The road from Lyons to Marseilles passe
down the valley of the Rhone. For SOM
distance below Lyons the valley is quit
re narrow, and the mountains by which, il
h lordered steep and craggy; hut Ms we pas
Il further down, the valley wdens and give
evidence of the great fertility for which
'e was, III its early history, renowned. w
y pass on this route the old cities OF AVG
e non and Aries. The former once tn
r seat of many OF the Pepes. The latte
- with its ancient memories, reaching b,cl
IL and loosing themselves in the tatulou
N stories Of Grecian history.
ID The sun was setting al we approache,
The station at Aries When We came on
Of the depot il had disappeared, and tn
| lyy,v N ill,
N brown from The horizon half way to til
,e zenith, which hung for long lime s,is
:, pended III the luminous azure, which fo
d" lows The sunsets in this climate. tn
m beauty of the scene was heightened by ih
E. new moon accompanied by Venus, VIII
n mingled their soft rlvery light with II,
=, golden rays OF the sitting sun. We gaze
v long and atteniively on this beantifG
- picture, and were sorry when the lig
u faded into darkness But we were not lei
u altogether disconsolate, for, AS we passe
n along the river and hay, the almost in
u Vulnerable number Of "lighls along til
~ shore" and from the crafts anchored i
the stream, reminded us of the fishermen
lights along our own beautiful river, tina
y are reflected by the murky clouds, o
q mirgle their light with the stars whc
g shine there so brightly in the clear, frost
~ nights OF spring.
l. RoME-ITs CAPITOL AND FORUM.
e Tie pbOve was written at Nice. TIL
e next morning we left foi Rome where "
2 arrived Friday evening, FEB. 8. We huv
visited few OF the places of interest her,
If such M the Capitol, the Forum, The Colos
d scum, the Temple Of Vesta aud Minerva
= the Pantheon and ST. Peters. Each q
IS these IL IA study; eacl, has history none
y however, more interesting To nankiu
h than that Of the Capitol and the Forum
', where The people assembled TO delermin
', their rights, and To deliberate on the des
tiny OF subjngated nations to whom the
?, usually awarded the most favorable term
4 aud the right to be governed by their owl
,l laws, administered however by Roman