The sun., 1893-07-16

through the middle ages as fortress.
Hard by are the remains OF Roman tho,
tro. not less remarkable, but by no means 1
such good condition.
There is here another most curious relic
antiquity-a cemetery. which has been occu
pied since $50 B. c., and was used as sue
from that time till the sixteenth century. III
way to It 10 lined by empty stone collins use
| now sometimes for watering trouRha.
| They are OF various dates. running back b
pagan times. and still showing pagan ant
Roman inscriptions. There lie singular uni
formity in the collins. and they bear curious
resem blnnce to the Egyptian sarcophagi. be
ing. in fact. the same thing little less elabor
ate In shape.
There are the foundations OF n chapel, which
ia alleged to be tho first Christian chapel II
Ghul, founded by disciple OF st. Paul.
At the old town OF Nismes. near Aries. are tc
he seen three things OF note: First. tho Mai
son Carree: second. the amphitheatre. and
third. the baths for women. constructed by the
Romans. Tho lattor nre interesting as show
ing how such things were done. In q hot ci-
mate baths are an Indispensable luxury. A
mountain stroam is here caught as 1t reaches
the foot Of tho heights, which descend quite
into the town. A level place Is scoopod out for
basin. and over 1t Is large csplanade or gar
den. rising some ten feet from the bottom.
Tho esplanade covers only q portion OF the
surface. the remainder being left for the water
In tho basin. In somo places the csplanade is
supported on arches. under which the water
crculates. You descend by steps to paved
level around tho basin. and again from this
level by steps into tho water. which is, per-
haps. four feet deep. and courses under some
OF the arches quite swiftly.
At one end OF this esplanade. which is OF an
fan Nvh oh lno
into the water.
A railing. supported by little ornamentod pil-
lars. protects the promenade OF tho esplanado
from thebasin.
Largo trees are growing on II and some old
statues still adorn it, It being kept as a public
garden. The running water finds its way be-
tween stone masonry through the town. part
Of the distance being used by washerwomen.
The Maison Cnrree. at this place. is classic.
but It is not imposing. The portico is about
% feet by 35 feet, and descends to the
ground by ten or twelve steps. The interior
IS only 30 feet by As feet.
1t is lighted from the roof. which is made OF
heavy semi-cylindrical tiles.
1t is. however. vastly interesting as an ed-
Ice which remains as 1t was built. after q
apse OF two thousand years.
Tho depth Of tho portico is about one third
he whole length OF the building.
The amphtheatre is in rare state OF
reservation, considering what 1t has passed
trough not only from years. but wars. and
rom deliberate efforts for its destruction,
treat sums have becn OF late expended in re-
toring the edilce. and tho work goes on.
1t is a trine smaller than tho amphitheatro
t Aries. but not to noticeable extent, while
10Th internally and externally it is in better
tate of preservation.
Charles Martel tried hard to destroy It by
tufling 1t with wood and firing 1t and then by
pplyng water to its heated state. This proc
IS would account for the chips In the stones |
nd the cracks in the arches.
Nismes Is the birthplace OF NJ. Guizot,
l6chier was formerly Bishop OF Nismes,
hose stntue Is one Of the four in the square
st. Sulpice at Paris.
From Aries to Marseilles the country Ia
lercilessly barren. First comes tho immense
ravel plain known as the Gran. noted by
schylus. 500 Is. c., and afterward by Pliny
nd Strabo. 1t is q level bed Of coarse gravel,
arren as Sahara, except where irrigation has
'duced a little grass through the stones, on
hich sheep are fed. .S.ts,
The resource of sheep feeding where land
'ems incorrgiblei is nike ad opted on the chalk
owns OF England. the heaths OF Holland. and
10 gravel plains OF the south Of France.
Tho magnitude Of this gravel plain has ex.
ted the wonder Of all agos for more than
70 thousand years.
The railroad crosses 1t for about twenty
lies. and it appears quito as wide as It is long.
ow 1t came here is one Of tho curious prob
ms OF the geologist. But away in the rear Is
chain OF barren hills or mountains afrording
significant hint.
In traversing the gravel plain. barren rocks
ing In huge masses. como to view.
some OF the scenes are picturesque in their
ISOLATION. showing huge perpendicular walls
rock. sometimes in the shape OF n vast am
At intervals are interspersed
lall tracts devoted to the grape and olive
'e, and proving emphatlcally that here. at
lst. the land OF the vine and olive is land
sterility and desolaton. But for irrigation
part OF the country about Marseilles would
oduce anything.
found at Aries that tho proverbal beauty
the native women Of that locality was not
aggerated The type Is very uniform. Tho
'uth Is small. the hair and eyes black, the
'chead small and symmetrical. and the nose
obtrusiye. The form tends to embonpoint,
1t is remarkable to see how such a face,
pported by good constitution. can grow
without losing its beauty !
MarseiIIes.
} top Of the observatory and gardens on the v
IN wall overlooking Marseilles and its har-
:. where the view Is most extensive. 4
iarseilles spreads out beneath the feot, u
lied In by great barron mountains which f.
,r neithertree nor shrub. They are OF dirty II
lite color and glow with aridity, even under q
'inter's sun. The city Is built OF a stone of n
'imilar color. and apparently OF the same g
ID as that used In Paris. =
ountry and city alike exhibit from this ele- =,
ion uniformity OF dreariness. There is h
ne cultivation In tho country seats on the :,
sides. shown in occasional patches Of poy- "
y. stricken pines and in little garden
ches. But the general aspect of the city
Its envlrons is that Of a vast brick kiln.
no rocks on every side rise in such rough -
ks and fall In such precipitous gorges that -
dangerous to attempt walking outside the
ular pathways. Barrenness and desolation
IN as far as the eye can reach. In summer, Ia
en tho sun pours down its vertical rays the 81