The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1898-02-03
The q" TRAMP ABROAD "
Continued from First page.)

Continued from First page.)
carefully titled. We passed Caen, town
OF some 40 900, and Rhemes, where the
king OF France was crowned by Joan OF
Arc before the battle of Orleans. |
changed cars five times in 800 miles, and
had possessed trunk or been ignorant
OF French | must have stayed by the
way. Hardly any information is afforded
passengers regarding changing, and in
this case the situation was aggravated by
the return from furlough Of the garrisons
Of st. Malo and Lamballe, a neighboring
town. 1t was their last day of grace, and
every little station afforded its contin-
gent, until there must have been at least
800 soldiers on board the train. They
were mostly small men, dressed in red
breeches of the most outrageous cut
imaginable, blue blouses and caps of
varied designs. They were very polite,
offering to cease smoking on a stranger
entering even a smoker occupied by them.
At the last station We stopped at before
getting to st. Malo there was change of
cars and mad rush for compartments,
there not being room for all of us. | was
armed with heavy valise, yclept "teles-
cope" and it was valuable aid in clear
ing way through the press, for when
ever would bring the gable end thereof
in violent contact with some dimin-
utive defender of France he would double
mp like jackknife, only to assure me
of his regret at the collision IN a tone
which admitted no doubt of his sim
cerity.
1t WAS late when we arrived at st.
Malo, and l saw but little of the town
until morning. 1t ia astrongly garrisoned
place of some IL 900 inhabitants and is
surrounded by wall ten feet thick and
twenty feet high, still in very good re
pair. Three gates afford entrance to the
interior, the streets of which are very
narrow and crooked. found prices quite
high for most things, but especially so in
the case of articles of consumption.
Cigars and tobacco, as well as beer and
liquors, are about the same as in Amer
lea. | found the customs officers much
more severe than at lie Havre. When
the boat from Southampton was locked
the passengers were corralled and strict
personal search was instituted. One tall
individual, against whom the officers
seemed to have grudge, was Obliged to
doff coat and vest. while female searcher
caused lady passenger to let down her
hair. They did not bother with my hair
at lie Havre. After day spent in look
ing about took passage for Jersey, and
found my recent experiences on the Gas
cony of great service to me, as the chan
mel was very rough. In three hours
was on British soil and glad to be at my
journeys end.
| find little change, considering the
length of my absence. l am spending
my time visiting and looking up acquant-
ances and places of interest. There are
many things here, as well as persons,
that have passed their first youth.
Yesterday went to see y church that
was built in A. ID. 800, which is still ~
good preservation, being used as u Sun
day school. Close by is the church in
present use, dedicated in iii. The pas
tor who otiicisted when | was boy il
still Lying, at the age of 90.
The roads are splendid and the entire
country is IN a high state Of cultivation
The island has an area of foftyrfour
square miles and population OF $1,000
One ia seldom out of sight of house,
and | am informed that it would be hard
t. establish a presumption claim here
The holdings are small and they culti !
vate land that seems TO me to be stand |
ing on end, but the entire island shows
unmstakable sigma nf wealth, and it is
seldom indeed that one sees farm house
that is not in itself an evidence OF thrift, |
and devotion to appearances. The cul-
ture OF potatoes 10y the London market is |
an important factor in the prosperity Of |
the island, fancy prices being often real. |
ized. 1 find some things remarkably
cheap here, although clothing, -four and |
coal are about the same as with us; fresh !