The Press., 1889-01-31
CORRESPONDENTS.
Alger, Algeria, J an. 1st, 1889

AlgeF, Algeria an lst, 1889.
 We sailed from New York, Dec. 8th, in { h. good ship Bretague, and after very favorable voyage, for the winter season, we reached Havre on the 26th. Except for the cold we suffered on board, everything would have been very pleasant but in and crossing the banks of Newfoundland, we had too much of the Esquimaux ex- perience. Our trip to Paris, four and half hours, was pleasant one, with the constant view of the highly cultivated fields for which France is noted. Our eight days stay in Paris was one of con- tinued discomfort, with rain and fog, and damp chill unknown ip our country. A little fireplace, about thirty inches wide and twenty four inches deep, with a few sticks of wood in the back of it, is the only means ofFkeeping one from suffering, pro- vided that one seats himself directly in front of it and the heat nearly all goes up the chimney for the benefit of the atmos- phere of Paris. We saw the sun twice. during our stay. Those who visit Paris in May and June will find it delightful, but woe to the man who finds himself there in the winter. Part of the people are dissatisfied with the republican form of government and want an emperor.
 We then took our tickets for Marseilies, but after 8 ride of nine hours found our selves too tired to continue, and concluded to break our journey by stopping at Lyons. The country through which we passed is beautifully cultivated with vines, olives, dates, mulberry trees, vegetables, &c., the steep hill sides being in terraces, and cov- cred with grape vines, even to the very top, the more level portions being cnlti- vated in plots or patches, with no marks or divisions, giving to the eye the appear ance of carpet. The absence of fences might give one the idea that all France belonged to one owner. One feature of the landscape attracts the notice of the traveller, which consists in the inclined positions of the trees, all leaning to the southeast. This is in consequence of the strong northwest wind during many parts of the year, called the Mistr0l, which is mo- ticed all the way to Marsailles. Lyons is a city of much historic interest, having been founded, it is claimed, by the Greeks 590 years before Christ. It is the second city of France, and was an important Roman city during the residence ot Augustus and Serverus (B. 0. 4O), as is evident by the remains of the Amphitheater, and the Aqueduct built by Marc Anthony. Of its population about 240, ,OO0 are engaged in the manufacture of silk. The places of in- terest to the traveller are numerous, among which should be noted the church of Notre Dame de Fourviese on a high hill, and on the dome colossal statue of the Virgin. From thls point most magnificent view of the country may be: had, including Mount Blanc, about one hundred miles distant. Here the Saon6 unite with the Rhone, and the waters of the Swiss noun tains are thus urged on to the sea. As Lyons has been place of religious wars and martyrdom, the legends of those times are interesting. At the. church of St. Irenee, where the early christians met fol prayer, it is said that 19,Ooo were put to death and their bndies thrown into a well D. POP, until the we'll overfowed with their blood. You can believe as much oi this story as you please, as I was not there to vouch for it.
 After spending two days at Lyons (oul second visit, including Christmas, we pushed on to Marseilles This is the great seaport of France on the bay of Lyons Il
 has many points of interest, of which we saw only few, in consequence of the rain
 The valley we traversed from Lyons has
 much the same appearance as that nortl
 of Lyons, and covered with vines, dates
 olives, mulberry trees, &c. The churct at the Old Harbor, said to have been bull
 in the eleventh century, contains many
 noted remains in it's crypts. Among thu
 rest it is claimed that Lazarus was buried
 there. (Swallow that if you can.)
 We drove as far as we could up tho
 mountain towards the church of Notr,
 Dame de la Garde, on the east of Mar
 seilles, and then by an ascending grad'
 and 182 stone steps reached the church
 whose dome is surmounfed by colossa
 figure of the Virgin. From this point tn.
 view of the city, the surrounding hills O
 mountains, the blue Mediterranean, th'
 ships, and the busy city at your feet, truly grand. The chureh is surrounde'
 by a moat and portculB for defence il
 case of need. It is beautiful building 0
 white marble, and its walls and ceiling
 are literally covered with pictures and re
 ligious offerings to the Virgin. Thos
 whose faith enables them to believe tha
 the Virgin has saved them from shipwreck or recovered them from some fearful sick ' gratitude, and pray for further protection Here all the children of the city ar brought for christening.
 l Marseilies, being the greatest commel cial city of the Mediterranean, has severa 7 handsome docks or basins, and its mai
 protection from the boisterous gulf c Lyons consists in these and some sea walls ! As we learned from friends tha
 Niece, Mentone, Monte Carlo, and othe
 places on the French and Italian seaboar were subject to the severe winds of tn Mistral, and much cold, rainy weather, W r concluded to push on further south, an took steamer for this place. After bols
 terous passage of thirty six hours we land ed among as heterogeneous mass of hu I manity as can well be jmagined-French Arabs, negroes, and Spaniards.
 We were somewhat compensated b 7 beautiful views of the islands of Majore , and Menorea and the approach to AIgie1 f by daylight. The broken hills and mouI tains seen on the islands were so unique, an i, also the same here, as to impress them selves forever upon the memory. . Q You may ask me what think of A giers? Imust reply for the present. it Algiers. While we walk among the orane - and lemon trees loaded with fruit, we sti V suffer from the cold with all our winte t clothing of New England. Such is the @ 5 feet of this climate, while the thermomets
 may indicate only 16 degrees centrigrad h - .... ,a,.,-+... D. K.