Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-02-28
MILDRED RuSSELL'S LETTER.
4 CHARMING DRYING TOUR

Alona the Riviera In wiutsr-A curious
| village The Freush fleet-A Home OF W
Iumhpk's.
I,snee,.I eorrespopdence OF the Dispatch.l
FLORENCE, Feb. -, 1856.
A drive along the Riviera in winter
has the advantage Of an absence OF
dnst and long hours Of binding sun
shine. two elements that are very nn-
pleasant in the warmer months. The
DAYS. too, being short, no temptation
arises TO take such long distances as
TO weary out the travellers beyond
any possibility Of enjoyment and to
! make them lose courage and take TO
TIE railway. 1t is true that IN
choosing the month we did there Is
risk of encountering wet days, but as
we did not have any we pity the peo-
pie born less lucky than we were, and
DO not let the objection count. We went
the first part Of the way IN Ian
dau as afternoon drives, and started
from Nice. AS soon as we LETT the
town third horse was added to help
ms Nd the hill, which at first we hardly
realized as the only one and comprising
nearly half the distance to Monte carlo
The two driving routes between Nice
and Mentone are called respectively
the old and new Corniche roads. The
old Cornichs, which we chose, was
made by Napoleon l., and is very
striking. 1t is broad and well-made'
and on the whole safe-loOking, which
is saying a good deal when its extreme
ly winding character is taken into con-
sideratlon. The ascent is surprisingly
well-graded and uniform, and nowhere
does 1t come under the definition OF
very steep.
BEAUTIFUL VIEWS.
The views along it have a worldwide
celebrity for beauty, and we were lucky
in having perfect weather to enjoy them.
AS we mounted we saw the whole plan
of Nice and the advantage Of position OF
| its ancient castle, once strongly fortl-
/ fed, now turned into pleasure resort.
IL is situated on detached hill with
steep rocks towards the sea, and mar
row, sharply.sloping sides inland.
The tops OF the snow-covered Alps and
an expanse of sea formed our next view.
Then we came to the heart of the noun
tains, and gradually winding reached
the observatory. Then, higher and
higher. we came on the Ladelt Fort, and
then further on to the Paeanaille. These
forts are at the summit Of the pass and
command the road on both inclina-
tons; and they are kept in effective
condition. Though nothing could be
wilder than this part yet occasionally
a little nook sheltered to the north and
exposed to the full south, was cultiva-
ted with vegetables.
After the forts we passed for some
time along the barren. steep side of
mountain Of solid rock, aud then we
began the descent, and soou came on an
exquisite peep OF the Mediterranean far
below US, aud softly blue, but not the
magic blue Of the spring. Ahead of
US We saw some perpendicular rocks
with ianciful resemblance to ruined
and deserted city dropped down from
! the clouds.
A CURIOUS VILLAGE.
Soon we disputed over them, and one
Of our party argued they might be in
habited dwellings, without, however,
convincing the rest. \ mile or two
further brought us to less precipitous
side Of them, and we discovered they
/ formed veIitable village at the top of
a mound-like hill, and approached by
a perilously- steep and winding road.
At the same time that we saw this
curious village of Eza, we had an al
most limitless view Of the sea and its
deeply-waved coast. After awhile we
came to La Turbie," village at the
summit of the ridge connecting Mount
Agel and the Tete de Cnien. This is
favorable point for pedestrian excur-
sions from Mopte Carlo for those who
can accomplish the feat Of climbing up
a mountain side nearly as steep as
house wall and who can
also tear themselves away from
the Casino. La Turbie is Immediately
above Monte Carlo, though entirely hid
den from it with the exception Of the
top Of its old Roman tower. This vii
lage came on us unexpectedly, as none
OF us dreamed Of finding one so high
up. 1t has a magnificent view, and was
decidedly the most Italian-looking place
we had seen, some Of the houses being
built with the true Italian loggta or We
randall on the roof, either open through
or formed by having a recess rallied OIL
in the front ofthe house, instead of hav-
ing continuous straight wall. The
round tower, a Roman construction,
with one side sliced off by age or misfor-
tune, is supposed to have been built I'M
der Augustus to commemorate the final
subiugation of the native tribes, and 20
have been used for hanging up me tro-
plies of victory. From .als point the
road continues to Descend steadily, and
almost iT.mediately after leaving la
TTurb16 We caught sight Of the domeS OF
the Casino. We skirted the barren and
rocky, PERCEPTIONS side of the range Of
mountains with tingliDg sensation in
the soles Of our boots. Not that there
was any danger, but looking down at
the sea, almost l,600 feet beneath, did
not impress us with a sense of security,
in spite Of the goodness Of the road.
However, we pretended We did not
mind it in the least.
We trotted along at good pace for
, some time high up above Monte Carlo
and then we left it behind us till we
came to our last village, Roquebrune,
and in sight Of Mentone. There we
made a sudden turn backwards and
came down nearly to the edge of the
:, sea. We forget it is winter. The Or
, namental trees in the gardens.are beau
tifully green, and though the roses are
/ but scattered, the walls are still cover
, ed with heliotrope in blossom, and the
, morning glories are rampant.
!, THE FRENCH FLEET.
, The next morning we threw open the
,, windows to let in the soft, balmy air :;
we exchange summer clothing, and soon
; sally out to enjoy a stroll round. The
Erannh flaat vere off the hay with the