The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-27
THE NEW CRIsrEA.
Made Picturesque and Beautiful In the Past
Flftecn Years.

| LONDON. Dec. 1V.-Wnen the Illness OF frfnct
| George Of Wnles was In its acute stage
| creating deem and sincere sympathy through
| out the land. his mother was tclegraphed for
and 1t was reported that she had started or
her homeward journey with all possible do
spatch. The Princess came from Livadia
| to Marlborough House as fast as rail ant
| steam could carry her. yet not a few per
| sons fanccd that with all the facilities attend
| ing her progress she had been too long on the
| road. In these days OF marvellously quick
| travelling one is likely to miscalculate the dis
| tanco which really separates the Crimea from
England. The southern part OF the peninsula
has been called o little Russian Italy and II
certainly has many Just claims to the title
Bathed in sunshine. surrounded by sea oil
tho deepest blue the Crimea hangs like a
ieweled lockct from tho broad eSpanse Of the
Moscovite stcppes. 1t is the realization OF the
cherished dreams OF all northerners who are
ever In quest Of long. balmy springs and sun
lit hills. 1t Is to the Russian OF Petersburg or
Moscow something similar to glimpse of the
warm, distant, gorgeous East IL has inspired
the greatest of their modern poets. Pushkine.
and after him many others sought its shores
in quest OF similar picturesque impressions.
For tho Engishman and tho Frenchman the
namo OF Crimea has sterner meaning: 1t
evokes memories OF siege. strife. and blood
shed; OF hard-contested battles. Of heroic feats
OF arms. and dearly bought victories: to the
traveller coming from the countries that
fought side by side in tho Turco-Russian war
1t is an ever fresh surprise when he lands on
the sandy beach OF Eupatoria to find the real-
ity different from his sombre visions. The
Crimcan coast closely resembles the shores OF
Greece. 1t has tho same limo Of straight cliffs
streaked with amber and crimson. The
Monastery of st. George rises abruptly on the
summit OF a crac. like that Of Athos and pro-
files tho silhouette OF its church the brilliant
azure OF the sky. It stands on tho promontory
OF the Parthenon. on the same spot where once
rose the Temple Of Diana. as II the Christian
and tho pagan had found no filter locality for
worship-a coincidence by no means unique.
On the sinuous route leading from the Rus
sian convent to the interior or along the coast
every name is strangely familiar. There Is
the wide Bay Of Balaclava. almost q sea In it.
self. and little further the Corniche road.
which the Russians proclaim proudly to be
unrivalled by the Italian one bearing the same
denomination. 1t begins ut the Baidar Gate.
and is at the onset wild and deserted. but
presently 1t winds through pretty woods. trail
ing vines. and on all sides are seen elegant
villas and stately palaces among the trees.
Every inch Of the little peninsula is historic
ground. There is hardly o nation. living or ex-
tinct that has not trodden on its soil and left
the traces Of departed footsteps on its rocks
and coasts. There Herodotus halted to ascer-
tain what should be his further route: there
Marco. Polo established a counter whence he
East. RubruaIis landed in Crimea to seek
information respecting, Tartary and found
among the Goths settled in the mountains
the land Later It e IN turns Under the Ya $.
for supremacy until the great Catherine an
nGXed It province tS Sr her vast empire
tho Crimea what it IS now. He took q strong strong
became passionately fond Of it. and con.
ssanty; inn improved, it. He planned the post
FGad q the the cqSs
Of .Aoupka, and pointed out the most favor
able localities for the erection Of dwelling
example Of the Emperor. and the Crmea soon
grew Indispensable to the world OF fashion:
esaac saa Was but Il Was
caused general ruin and flight Within the
sebsstopol railway. Alexander II. gave a
Ing that Gs preiorred his residenee Of Iivaaia
to ether Sf his palaces The
fortune Of that part Of the sesboard
e9 e the
ssS % the a farmn sma aa
ity. They keep up their swift. swinging can
ter. as rapid as any gallop, for hours at
and climbing vines. At the close 81 tho sum.
mer the want Of rain is somewhat severely felt.
briliancy 81 the wonderful vesetatien TN Il
Of Yoursouf nestIes in the curve Of a small bay
additionally picturesque from the curtain Of
the et Adjacent hs The VINE made at Yourso o
fs9 a coaas y a. @ into
plants from Hunsary. Turkey. France s and
Sicily and II them
ties took kindly to the new soil,
aoats So and; slngulnpriy enough preserved
taned even the foresn ahSyueS
somewhat altered in the .Tatarlc pronuncIa-
ton. The grapes offered for sale in the Yalta
as those seen in any European capital. and the
C ri VINE growers proudly enumerate the
equal number OF wines they produce from
them. The red is inferior to the white. which
Is unreservedly excellent; Both can be obs
in Russia. Where the the duties arc exorbitant
but fashion is SO strongly in fnyor OF
tho imported ones that the bottles OF
the native product are INCREASINGLY labelled
Bourgogne. Chateau Lailtte DC. with the saw
ing addition OF from Crimea" printed in mi
mute letters to protect them against. prosecu-
tion As q commercial matter that is u great
error. as the really good native wines are mis-;
not priced as they deserve to be- and as u fact
the good who esome Crimean wines are virtu-
ally unrecognizeh by the exporting trade.
Where the range Of hills merges. gradually
into the isvel plain the vineyards OF Yoursouf
cease and an an immense private park com;
the, peninsula. itself vast garden and an
orchard. nor in the most famous botanical
nally e the Duke 90 kichelieu.. but Il passed
Moscow merchant. who has the colossal wealth
that can be won In the Muscoyte commerce:
He is q civilian General" but no has retained
the habits and classical costume Of his cor
porntion. Clothed in the national kaftan. this
happy nabob can roam ut will in forests Of OK:
otto trees. Expresses. olennders: shrubs OF
flower. mingling their aroma with tho strong
breath Of the sea. which almost bathes. their
roots. Tho horticuturist Il charmed and
the botanist dismayed ut finding side by side
the plants Of tho tropics and the northern lnti-