St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1893-08-03
In THE EAST.
The Journeyines of the Underclyfe
Party Pleasantly Told.
Correspondence OF the cAIEDoNiANl

Correspondence Of the CALIFORNIAN
SWITZERLAND, July 15.-A week on
the Mediterranean has a formidable
sound to bad sailors, but if all
tourists could have the charming
weather, comfortable steamer and
pleasant passengers enjoyed by the
Underclyffe party on their voyage
from Beyrout to Constantnople,
there would be fewer hard words
concerning the Mediterranean: FIRE.
quent calls at the ports along the
way gave variety and pleasure to all
on board. The first day was spent
at Alexandretta, where the Taurus
mountains hid from our sight the
battlefield of Issus. made famous by
Alexander the Great.
An Englishman, in the employ OF a
Connecticut firm, pointed out the
factory at this little port where he
dries and presses liquorice root
obtained in this region and sends to
New York annually 10000 tons
valued at 100000, to be used as
an ingredient in tobacco manu-
facture.
Early the next morning we were
at Mersina and were greeted by the
familiar voice Of Mrs. Montgomery,
so well remembered in St. Johnsbury
circles. Other missionary friends
were with her and took us to Tarsus
over the Cilician plain, where we
saw mounds which were the debris
of ancient cities, and long lines of
camels coming and going from
Antioch and Aleppo to the sea. The
snowy peaks of the Taurus range
cleaned in the sun, the lower noun
tains coming down to meet the plain
forming the Cilician gates through
which Alexander the Great marched
his army. We had thirty-hve
minutes In Tarsus, scarcely able now
to sustain PayPs estimate OF it as
no mean city" and returned to the
steamer twenty minutes before sail
ing time, rather close connection
in the East where delays on account
of passports ETC., are apt to occur, but
we had seen Tarsus and were the envy
OF all on board, One afternoon we
spent on the Island of Rhodes walk
ing up the deserted streets where the
arms Of the Knights Of St. John still
remain. The Colossus was nowhere
to be seen, nor were any fragments
to be found for the Museum.
With great excitement we watched
for the Isle of Patmos, having nearly
the same experience as that described
in the Charles Dudley Warmers I'm
the Levant," before discovering it.
Miletus and Samos were passed and
the morning Of April 22d we were
met by missionary friends at
Smyrna, with whom we had de-
lightful day. Sunday morning we
passed the islands and plain so
famous in the history of the Siege of
Troy and went through the
Dardanelles at noon. The Sea of
Marmosa treated us kindly and
Monday morning we came to
anchor in the Golden Horn and soon
caught sight of former St. Johns
bury Academy student, through
whose kindness and that of other
friends, we saw Constantinople very
thoroughly. A day up the Bos-
phorus, a visit to Robert College,
glimpse Of the American College for
girls in Scutari, mosques and bazaars
kept us busy each day.
Like the Pope in the Vatican, the
Sultan Of Turkey is a voluntary
prisoner, leaving his palace only
once week and then going but a
few yards to the mosques, where he
says his prayers. This ceremony,
termed the Selamlik, was a greater
occasion than usual on the Friday
we were in Constantinople, as a
Sultan from India and officers from
the French fleet lying outside the
Dardanelles were to be present.
Tickets were obtained through the
American legation for places in the
small building opposite the mosque
from which foreigners view the pro-
cession, and we were early in our
chairs at one of the open windows.
Very soon the two rooms were filled,
much to the disgust of Nine. Sarah
Bernnardt, who sailed in with her