The record-union., 1892-03-12

cordlngly one of the most magnificent
Turkish armaments ever known, consist
ing of lo0 war vessels and 10000 select
troops, began the investment on May Is,
l565. Jean Parisot de la Valetta, the
Grand Master, with but 500 knights and
S00 Maltese militia, for four months sus-
tanned, with unparalleled heroism, the
most savage and persistent siege since the
siege of Troy. 1thas been fifty said that
only Homer was lacking TO render this
historic event as memorial and its he
roes, Christian. and Moslem, as immor
tai.
The decline of Moslem power really
dates from this great Turkish defeat at
Malta. Ali the Christian Powers. though
failing to aid the knights in their eXtrem-
lty, now that they were victorious, in
dulged in delirious rejoicings, and royal,
prineely and private gifts poured in upon
Malta's heroic defenders. The city and
tortihcationS, named Ealctta in honor OF
the glorious defender, We're entirely re-
built as you will find them now. The
great Church OF st. John, the Westmin-
ster Abbey Of Malta, was erected. Palaces
termed "auberges,' for the entertain
ment of the visiting languages, arose
on every hand, and it seemed that new
and even more luStrouS era of Splendor
and power had begun.
But the success of the French Revolu-
tion was the death blow to the knights Of
Malta. All their property in France was
annexed to the republics demeSDeS, and
French members OF the order were de-
prived of citizenship. Bonaparte on his
way TO Egypt seized the islands through
treachery, piliaged Valetta's treasures
and garTisoned the fortress with 1000
men. These finally surrendered 10 the
Maltese and their English allies, hav-
ing been literally starved out, on
September 4, 1900. By this time the ia
NOUS order was distracted and almost
destroyed. 1t was proposed to restore ii
at Malta by the treaty of Amiens. The
Maltese people strenuously opposed this.
The order was never re-estab bliShed, and
thus faded from existence the most he
roic band of knighthood, bulwark Of
Christianity to the limit of its need, that
ever made respondent the most glorious
days of chivalry. The seventh article Of
the treaty of Paris, signed May 80, 1911,
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 Gov
ernor.
The three islands contained popula-
ton OF about 10000 souls, of which fully
100000 are found in the city and suburbs
of Valetta. ArchitecturalIy Naletta is
place of extraordinary interest. The
shore fortificationS and landward lines
are in themselves worthy of months
study. Their tremendousness, intricacy
and beauty constantly provide new and
impressive surprises. Nothing approach
ing their remarkable proportions can be
found in Christendom. Then the old
palaces, or auberges, and the great
Church of st. John, with countless pub
lie and private structures of minor i'm
pOrtlnce, are massive and princely in
character. The treasures OF medieval
Europe were open to their knightly
builders. And l doubt if there is an
other 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 pro-
portions, extent. maSsiYeness and rich
ness of this single stone monument to the
ambitions of regal chivalry, the mind
cOnstantlysgropeS for equal examples of
lavish utilization Of wealth and labor, and
as constantly recalls the great pyramid
at JeeZah.
The city proper lies along the tongue
before alluded to, with most beautiful
harbors 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 interior of the island.
The tongue" or peninsula, on which
was built the original city is about two
thirds of mile in length and 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 it's splendid
lighthouse confront the Maltese Chan
mel in northeasterly direction toward
Sicily.
Eight splendid streets, the chief of
which is Strada Reale at the summit, ex-
tend the whole length from ST. Elmo to
the inner lines at the great Royal Gate.
the eleven shorter SfrpntS iIltnrSn.Nt
reaching the waterside at the east and
west beneath tremendous fortified arch
ways. All these streets comprise series
of stairways ascending and descending to
and from the highest level of Strada
Reale, hewn out of the solid rock, and it
was these massive and beautiful adjuncts
to the picturesqueness of Valetta which
secured from Byron, to whose unfortu-
nate crippled feet many other of his bit
ter lines may be attributed, the pardona-
bic profanity Of
Adieu, ye joys of La Valette
Adieu, slrocco, sun and sweat:
Adieu, ye cursed streets of stairs
Sure every one who mounts you swears.
Splendid rows of buildings face the
works along the entire shore of Valetta,
with carriage-way between, forming one
OF the most characterful and interesting
thoroughtare of the city, while the
views from the countless angles of the
bastion-over 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
brow, provide as quaint groupings as can
be found at Venice; upon the fair villas
of distant Sliema where the rich of Eu-
rope pass their winters in oriental luxu-
rance; or over the blue Mediterranean
toward Sicily, where often old A1tna's
glittering crests may be seen-stir and
thrill the stranger wondrcusly.
All houses of 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 embellishments have resulted In
deed Naletta, in all of its most massive or
fragile aspects, seems to have been hewn
and chiseied from one immoyable solid
rock. The lower stories of most Struct-
ures are inhabited by the less wealthy
classes, or are used for shops and stores.
Between the first and second floors is a
middle floor called here ''mezzanlno."
1t IS low, and is used generally for Offices,
alcobaS or small cafes and private or
household eating apartments, the main
suites OF apartments being on the first
floor.
But every house in some portion pos
SeSseS the charming MoreSque-SpaniSh
patio or court. This is supplied with
tank, well or fountain, often in most Gu
rious and costly patterns, While baIus-
trades, galleries, 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 judgment, the most
beautiful and dream prompting street in
the world. 1t is as though Your eyes
rested upon broad stairs, half shut i'll and
shaded by films of lace which mar
rowed in their feecy distance, where
you might step at last over upon the mys-
terry Of blue Calabrian sky.