St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1895-10-18
A TRIP TO NICE 1.
Miss Gleason, n Former McIndoes Lady.
Tells of an Interesting Journey III
Turkey.

pie, to the ancient CITY q Nlciea, oue
saws: 81 never shall forget whata beau
tilul morning it was when we started
from Scutan' We had a carriage rde OF
an hour. to Haiclar Pasha, where we
were TO take the cars for Nicomedla.
Everything was so fresh and green, our
hearts free from care and overlooking
with delight in all the beauty OF the
spring morning. had only had one ride
in the cars since came back, four years
ago, so it was great pleasure to ind
ourselves once more rolling away to
Nicomcdia. The road winds along by
the sea OF Malmora and gull OF income
da, past charming villas, and country
homes surrounded by gardens, they be-
long to pashas and wealthy merchants
who occupy them in the summer
through beautiful gardens where fruit
and vegetables are grown Tor the city
market. The peach and cherry trees
were in full bloom. Then through fields
of grain, aad vineyards, with daisies aud
bright red peoples everywhere, the hill
sides Just covered with them. All this
made such a beautiful background for
the blue, blue water, and distant hills
Olympus, white-capped, towering above
them all. We reached Ncomeda about
noon. The city is built on steep hill sides
overlooking the gulf. Youwill remember
that under the Romans it was one OF the
largest cities in Asia Minor. DiocIetian
made it his residence, and one OF the capt
tails OF the Roman world, and here he
began his persecution OF the Christians.
1t was also alayor,te city of Constantine,
and he was buried near by; and Haunt
bal's tomb IS not far away. There are
some interesting ,uins, the remains OF
Byzantine walls ana towers, old Roman
aqueducts, and a cistern built by JUS
tnian.
We were met here by the Armenian
pastor and Others, who are very anxious
| should 60 there to open kindergarten,
have a training class and oversee the
kindergartcns in Bardezaga and Adabazar,
1t would be grand work, but have
not the strength to undertake so much
wish some one could be found to do it!
Next came our sail OF an hour across
the gull, to the opposite shore Here we
took horses, and went four miles, the
road winding up the mountain through
beautiful fields gay with flowers, many
Of them like the cultivated flowers you
have at homein the garden. "Bardezag'
means "litlle garden" 1t is called so
from the mulberry gardens which sur
round it and extend away up the noun
tain side. The village is nestled in a
valley among the hills, and most beautl-
lul for situation. We found Mrs. Par
sons delighted to see us. Her house is
little out from the village, i'll garden
the house covered with roses and wiste
ria, all in iull bloom. The place is SC
quiet and peace III, and she can STE iron
her windows the resting place OF hel
martyIcd husband. DO not wonder
she loves best OF all to be there. Sun ay
was communion, and it was the greats 81
privilege to 90 to church with dear Mrs
Parsons, to sit by her side, and SEE the
church filled with such an interesting, i'll
tcligcut congregation, to listen to their
whoIc-souled, and really fine. singing, t.
hear the earnest preaching, and see SC
many partaking of the communion, anC
to think it had all come about in Mrs
Parsons lifetime, and, with the blessing
OF God, largely through her efforts
They were the first missionaries there
and much prosecuted in the beginning
t Now, the better, he leading part OF tn
e town is Protestant, and Mr., Chamber
r has a tine school for boys there. How
wished you all could take in, with mI
q the wonderful object lesson it was TO INK
| am sureIt would have encouraged you
hearts to pray more earnestly tor you
, missionaries,
= Monday we made all our preparation
e for the Journey to Mecca. MIR, Chamber
l. two of his teachers, an Armenian gent
IS man. the cook and two soldiers were
NJ l. Ia, nt1 GrDt
/ Constantinople, and we were up brigt
and early, ready Tor a start Tuesda
morning The weather had been perlec
If and we hoped it would continue SO. I
~ our great disappointment, it began
-. rain; but we were not to be stopped b
that, so we mounted, most oil us on n
tive saddles, and away we went, tolloN
y ING one after another in single file. tt
IL path took us up the steep mountain
Ol some of the way so steep all our ate
e. ton had to be given to clinging on. 7
d. winter torrents had washed out the pat
" so that much OF the way it was Ii
,r riding in deep ditch. Sometimes '
-, could Just see over it, and the horse
-, every step put its leet into holes up
y. the knees, taking its foot out Of one he
~ to put it in another, These holes h
W been made by the horses, always stepDl
~ in the same place, and OF course were |
On work of years. Now they were Iull
err water. and YOU can imagine what