Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-12

great portion of these landward ramparts
have been formed by hewing the conforma-
tions of rock into the required shape. Malta
could not be taken by combined land and
sea forces, save by the aid of treachery and
famine
Death Blow to the knights.
But the success of the French Revolution
was the death blow to the knights of Malta
All their property ir Frapce was annexed
to the Republics demesnes, and French
members of the order were deprived of
citizenship. Bonaparte on his way to
Egypt seized the islands through treachery,
pillaged Valetta' treasures, and garrisoned
the fortress with 1000 men. These finally
surrendered to the Maltese and their En-
glish allies, having been literally starved
out, on September 4, 1900 By this time
the famous order was distracted and almost
DESTROYED. 1t was proposed to restore it at
Malta by the treaty of Amiens. The NAL
tese people strenuously opposed this. The
order was never re-established; and thus
faded from existence the most heroic band
of knighthood, bulwark of Christianity to
the limit of its need, that ever made re-
splendent the most glorious days of chivalry.
The seventh article of the treaty of Paris,
signed Nav 80, 1911, was as follows: 'The
Island of Malta, with its dependencies, will
appertain in full authority and sovereignty
to His Britannia Majesty" and Sir Thomas
Maitland was Malta's first English Governor.
The three islands contained a population
of about 100, 900 souls, of which fully 100,-
600 are found IN the city and suburbs of
Valetta.
The city proper lies along the ''tongue"
before alluded to, with most beautiful har-
bors at either side, each in turn faced by the
splendid Notifications and the magnificent
suburbs rising to the right and left along
the Mediterranean, and back toward the in
terror of the island
A Series of Stairways.
Eight splendid streets, the chief of which
is Strada Reale at the summit, extend the
whole length, from ST. Elmo to the inner
lines at the Great Royal Gate; the II
shorter streets intersect these, reaching the
waterside at the east and west beneath
tremendous fortified archways. All these
streets comprise series of stairways, ascend
ing and descending to and from the highest
level of Strads Reale, hewn out of the
solid rock.
Splendid rows of buildings face the works
along the entire shore of Valetta, with a
carriage way between, forming one of the
most characterful and interesting thorough
fares of the city; while the views from the
COuullSSS VI tuO pdSiiOHs-ONcI
the city with its huge fiat roofs
and domes; over the shipping of the
harbors beneath, where the flags of all
nations are seen and the waterside folk with
boats of high-peaked stern and prov provide
as quaint groupings as can be found at Ven
ice; upon the fair villas of distant Sliema
where the rich of Europe pass their winters
in oriental luxuriance; or over the blue
Mediterranean toward Sicily, where often
old Etna's glittering crests may be seem
stir and thrill the stranger wondrously.
All houses of Valetta are of solid stone.
Scarcely any wood has been employed In
or interior decoration. Mar
wells in stone in all adaptations of utility
and establishment have resulted. But
every one in some portion possesses the
Moresque-Spanish patio or court
This is supplied with tank, well or fountain,
often in most curious and costly patterns;
while balustrades, galleries, arches and
furnish the most exquisite exam
pies of Byzantine art in stone. Strada
Reale, looking upward from near the walls
of ST. Elmo, is in my Judgment the most
beautiful and dream prompting street in
the world. 1t is as though your eyes rested
upon broad stairs, half shut in and shaded
by films of lace which narrowed, in their
feecy distance, where you might step at last
over upon the mystery of blue Calabrian
sky. EDGAR L. WAKEMAN.