The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-03-12

Sptcidl Correspondence Of ihe Entcligenccr.
VALETrA, MALTA, Feb. 10, lS02,-The
scholastic, that superior being who
moves forward in tho world with his
shabby back towards progress, sneering
Mt tho paucity OF dcad.agc lore on the
part Of those who arc occupied in maxi
ing tho glorious present glow, has no
patience with us common folk who wish
to know, when wc read or write OF the
ancient places, Il bit about what gave
them olden fame and present interest.
Being all tho way through COM
lnonor myself, and rather liking TO be
dislikcd by tho scli.appointed bashaws
OF didactic knowledge, often find and
perhaps give some profit and pleasure
in beginning theme. as it were, ut
"the beginning OF tho world" as did
dear old Knickerbockor in his wonder
full History OF New York, and by pleas.
ant and by no means drcary stages
reaching The thing TO be considered or
bcs described in that comprehensive
way which will leave it all distant and
compact entity in the recollection.
That is ut least my own habits OF chi oy-
ing travel and observation and | have
abundant reason to believe that those
who follow my wanderings find genial
enjoyment in travelling in just that sort
OF ruminati:e, lettering aud altogether
pleasant way.
Malta is such very little place that
something like 4 personal explanation
is pardonable when ono refers to its
history. And yet in that history lies
nearly all that makes it worth talking
about Mt all. Over 1900 years before
the birth OF Christ, Malta was taken
possession OF by the Phnnicians, and
they held it for nearly 800 years. The
Greeks, who had founded the important
colony at Syracuse, then made them"
selves masters OF the island and gave it
the name OF Melitd, on account OF tho
delicious honey obtained there; and
Maltese honeyis q noted dclicacyat this
very time. During the Punic wars the
Barthaginians took Malta and the two
contiguous islets of Coco and Comino
from the Greeks. During the domina-
ton OF the Carthagenians the islands
were SO thoroughly colonized by the
Berber and Arab races thattc them can
undoubtedly DO traced tho ancestors OF
the Maltese OF our own time.
The Romans now secured dominion OF
the islands; lost it for time ;,but about
200 years before the Christian era they
regained possession which lasted up
wards OF six centuries. In all this
record OF barbaric and semi-barbariC
conquest there is nothing OF greater in
terest than dreary tale OF pillage, rapine,
slavery and blood. Then suddenly,
shortly after the beginning OF tho Chris
tian era, one shipwreck makes Malta
eternally famous. Ii you will read the
last two chapters OF the Acts OF the
Apostles, YOU will know the wholestorv;
How Paul, after his defence before
Agrippa, when in charge OF the centu-
rion, Julius, was proceeding by sea to
the court OF Cesar at Romo, was ship
wrecked upon Malta, where he was
kindly entertained by the barbarians,
among whom he healed Paulus, "tho
cllici man OF the island' and many
others that were sick, and finally pro-
cecdcd in a ship OF Alexandria" via
Syracuse, on his way.to Rome.
The Arab races gained dominion Of
Nal 4 in S32. About zoo years later the
Sicilians drove out the Saracen rulers
and annexed the islands to Sicily, under
the government OF Roger. the youngest
son OF Tancred, hero OF the Crusadcs
Then, in ll04 Franco took both Malta
and Sicily from the Normans; when, at
the massacre OF the Sicilian Yespers in
1888, French supremacy in all these
islands was at an end. They were seized
by Pedro OF Arragon and made 4 de-
pendency OF Spain for nearly $50 years.
The only career OF real glory and indie
pendenco which ever camo to the
Maltese island opened in 1880.
GROWTH OF THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA.
After the famous siege OF Rhodes by
Sulicman the Magnificent, III 1922, when
the knights lIospitallcrs were expelled
from their shattered towers, though
with fadclcss honor and glory, they re-
tired first to Crete, and then to Sicily.
The Emperor Charles ", moved by
their rcnown and homelessncss. rs well
as by strategic considerations. finally
coded to them Malta, with Coco and
Comino, tho only conditions OF the
came being that the Knights should re-
press the. audacity OF the African cor
sairs, and in token OF homage, every
year present 4 single falcon to the vice
roy OF Sicily.
Twenty-cight grand masters exercised
the chief authority during the 267 years
in which the now Knights OF Malta held
sway over the island and the various
branches OF the order which acquired
riches and power in every portion OF
Christian Europe. No order on earth
ever attained tho Same wealth and in
1uence. The latter was secretly courted
by monarchs and their aid IN all cru.
Bades against Moslem countries was in
vokcd. The order was divided into
threc classes: the Knights OF Justice,
the Chaplains, and the Serving Brothers
OF Arms. There were besides persons
called Brathcrs dc Stage OF Donats,
given distinction by the demi-cross for
having served well in subaltern posi-,
tions.
Conceived in the purest and most in.
tense emulation OF Christian chivalry,
the order, admitting only those OF noble
blood, and at q period when nobility
meant something more than title ind
inherited possessions, drew into the
Communicates OF its eight "languages''
the very cream of tho men and means
OF the entire Christian world. The
chivalrous spirit OF tile age everywhere
lent wealth, lusIre and power to tho or.
der. Kings and emperors sent splendid
embassies to its courts. The properties
Of its Communicates in various coun.
tries became enormous. The votivc
offerings at Malta were OF incaiculablu
Nalue. And the grand mastor Of the