Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-06-22

Carolina, though nearly 1000 miles away
from it and only about $50 from the west
coast of Africa. The city of Funchal is the
capital of the group. and is on the southern
coast OF Madeira in latitude 81 degrees, 81
minutes, 10 seconds north. This island is
about 3ps statute miles in length, and in
its widest part about II miles.
The character of its formation shows it
to be the result of volcanic action, and it
projects itself with steep sides from the
ocean to a maximum height of g. 100 feet
At a distance the island is noted for its
resemblance to a dense blue cloud resting
upon the water. Its rocky character is
Partially concealed and softened by the
abundant growth of vegetation and as one
approaches close to it the hills present
luxuriant and gay appearance.
There are several legends connected with
its early history. the most interesting of
which is that Christopher Columbus used
to visit it, and a few years ago the house
was still standing in FunchaJ where the
great man was said to have stayed The
islands belong to Portugal, and the inhabi-
tants are Portuguese, though the dark
compilations of some of the peasants gives
reason to Relieve there Is a slight admix-
ture of African blood in their veins.
The trade of the town of Funchal is ma
terialy assisted by the foreign winter resi-
derts, who are generally people of means.
Tney are principally English. but there are
also Russians. Germans and French among
them.
Very few Americans ever get so far as
Madeira We have regions somewhat SINH
lar to 1t In the way of climate such as
Florida and southern California, and our
invalids do not have to undergo the dis
comforts OF sea voyage to reach these
places The curative powers of the air in
Madeira are well known, and more than
one poor sufferer as gone there to die and
has completely recovered his supposed lost
health The very first aspect of the island
from the ship Is soothing to one, and on
landing one Is at once pervaded by the
quiet of the old streets and by the absence
nf MOI vnrts In b. Jo,, .,
pie. One feels that one is really in bit of
old Portugal-listless, sood-natured Portu-
gal.
The buildings are of stucco, and nearly
all of them are whitewashed. The dwell
ing houses are in general two stories high,
plain and square. and have green shutters,
behind which the black-eyed Portuguese
girls sit farming themselves and peeping
out into the streets. Many of the houses
have little balconies on the second story,
and . the evening the passer-by in the
narrow streets may often hear above him
the gay talk and laughter of Portuguese
ladies and gentlemen.
In Restful FupehnI.
Funchal Is N size a city, and is said to
have, together With it's suburbs, a popula-
ton Of $1,000. But the noises and the
sights of a modern city are rot there
There Is no hum whistle OF the factory.
nor is the rattle of wheeled vehicles heard
in the streets of that lazy old Portuguese
place. The principal noises there are the
convers atoms of the idlers, the jangling
the nlurmurinS of church bells the bark
ings of dogs and the echoing cries of men
on foot driving their builocks harnessed to
sieds over the smooth cobblestones Who
has not heard of the polished cobblestone
streets of Madeira, and OF the only vehicle
there Except the hammock), the sled on
wooden runners? More than half the
streets are hills, AMI are in many places so
steep and slippery as to make walking
slightly difficult The native ladies do not
lose the opportunity of adding the natural
piquancy of the Portuguese feminine tour
nure by carrying 'all canes made of ebony
Three of the streets extend cut of the
thickly settled portion of the town far up
the mountain side. They run, for most of
the way, between high. white garden walls
which are frequently overriding with fow-
ers and also, during the season, with
luscious punches of grapes. In the town
the scenes of the streets reproduce some
OF the features peculiar to Latin cities in
southern Europe. There is the same crowd
of funny little tcddling children. who talk
rapidly and gesticulate with an air far
beyond their years. MIngling with than
and sharing their gay spirits is the same
crowd of knowing, snucy dogs-Latin dogs
But feature distinctive Of Madeira