The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-04-03

w au tnc knights IN tne1r extremity, now
that they were victorious INDUCED in de-
hrfous rcjoicings, and royal, princely and
private gifts poured in upon Malta's heroic
defenders The city and Notifications,
named Valetta in honor OF the glorious de
fender, were entirely rebuilt as you will
find them now The great church OF 81.
John, the Westminster abbey Of Malta,
was erected. Palaces termed "auberges,"
for the entertainment OF the visiting Ian
guages," arose on every hand, and 1T
seemed that a new and even more lustrous
era Of splendor and power had begun.
But the success of the French revolution
was the death blow TO the knights Of
Malta. An their property in France was
annexed to the republics demesnes and
French members Of the order were de-
prived of citizenship Boaaparte, on his
way 10 Egypt, seized the Islands through
treachery. pillaged Valetta's treasures and
rarrisoned the fortress with 1900 men.
These finally surrendered to the Maltese
and their English allies, having been liter
ally starved out, on sept 4, 1900 BY this
time the famous order was distracted and
almost DESTROYED 1t was proposed to re-
store il nj Malta by the treaty of Amiens.
Inc Maltese DlRPAN otAfluOurAN ODDlrtl
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 resplendcnt the most glorious
DAYS Of chivalry. The seventh article of
the treaty OF Paris signed May 30, 1914,
was as follows, THE island Of Malta. with
It's 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 contain population
Of about 10000 souls Of which fully 10000
are found in the city and suburbs of Va
letta. Alphabetically Naletta is place Of
extraordinary interest. The shore fOrtih
cations and landWard lines are in them.
selves worthy OF a months study. Their
tremendouSness, intricacy and even beauty
constantly provide new and impressive sur
prises. Nothing approaching their remark
able proportions can be found in Christen-
dom. Then the old palaces or auberges
and the great church Of st. John, with
countless public and private structures of
minor Importance, are massive and prince
ly In character. The treasures Of medi-
Bval Europe were open TO their knightly
builders And l doubt if there is another
spot accessible TO civilized man where there
is massed within the same area an equal
evidence Of outlay of labor and treasure.
In contemplating the proportions, extent,
massiveness and richness Of this single
stone monument TO the ambitions of regal
ohivalry. the mind constantly gropes for
equal examples Of lavish utilization Of
wealth and labor, and rs constantly recalls
the great pyramid at Jeezah.
The city proper lies along the tongue"
before alluded TO. with most beautiful har-
bors ut either side, each in turn faced by
the splendid Notifications and the magniii-
cent suburbs gently rising to the right and
left along the Mediterranean, and back to-
ward the interior of the island. The
tongue" or peninsula on which was built
the original city is about twO-thirds OF a
mile in length and a fourth of a mile
broad. It's central length line marks its
highest altitude, and the rock gradually
slopes to the side harbors and toward the
peninsula's point, where the great fort OF
St. Elmo, with its splendid lighthouse, con-
front the Maltese channel in "a northeast
erly direction toward Sicily.
Eight splendid streets, the chief of which
is Strada Reale at the summit, extend tho
whole length, from st. Elmo to the inner
lines at the great Royal Gate; and eleven
shorter streets intersect these, reaching the
waterside at the east and west beneath ire
mendous fortified archways All these
streets comprise series of stairways, as
scending and discerning 10 and from the
highest level of Strada Reale, hewn out Of
the solid rock; and it was these massive
and beautiful adjuncts to the picturesque
ness Of Valetta which secured from Byron,
to whose unfortunate crippled feet many
other Of his bitter lines may be attributed,
the pardonable profanity Of:
Adieu, ye joys Of La Nalette,
Adieu. siroccO. sun and sweat;
Adieu, ye cursed streets Of stairs,
Sure every one who mounts you swears.
Splendid Vows of buildings face the
works along the entire shore of Valetta,
with carriageway between, forming one
of the most characterful and interesting
thoroughfares of the city, while the views
from the countless angles Of the bastions-
over the city with its huge fiat roofs and
domes; over the shipping Of the harDors
beneath, where the flags OF all nations are
seen. and the waterside folk with boats of
high peaked stern and PROV provide IS
quaint groupings as can be found at Ven
ice: upon the fair villas of distant Sliema,
where the rich of Europe pass their win
ters in oriental luxuriance; or over the
blue Mediterranean toward Sicily, where
often old -Altna's glittering crest may be
seen-stir and thrill the stranger won
drously.
All houses in Valetta are Of solid stone.
Scarcely any wood has been employed in
construction or interior decoration. Mar
vels in stone in all adaptations of utility
and establishment have resulted. Indeed
Valetta, in all of its most massive or frag-
lie aspects, seems to have been hewn and
chiseled from one immoyable solid rock.
The lower stories Of most structures are
inhabited by the less wealthy classes, or
are used for shops and stores. Between
the first and second floors is a middle hoor
called here Il ''mezzanino." IL IS low, and
is used generally for Offices, alcooas or
small cafes and private or household eat
ing apartments, the main suites oil apart
ments being on the first iioOr
But every house in some portion pos
sesses the charming Moresque-Sp spanish
patio or court This is supplied with tank,
well or fountain, often in most curious ana
costly patterns, while balustrades, gal
leries, arches and stairways furnish the
most exquisite examples Of byzantine art
in stone. Strada Reale, looking upward
from near the walls of st. Elmo, is in my
ind t..t tfttl md