The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1901-04-03

are all whito-probably stone and white
washed and are grouped together in viii
lsses and cities of several thousand peo-
pie. Two OF these cities we were close
enough to to see the buildings very
distinctly. Churches, known by their
spires, were very frequent along every
| island.
The climate is delightful ranging from
| 500 to 75o the year round aud all kinds of
fruits and grains are produced. Ah,avy
mist hung over the Islands concealing
the tops of some of them entirely from
view, and fr, quent summer showers fell
all the afternoon, Just as darkness set
tied down we had passed all but one
which was passed late at night.
Now just word about the personnel OF
our party, 1.-THE Interiors Pilgrimage to
the Orient" 1t is made up of people
/ from Cal, Texas, Mo-, Tenn, Iowa, H.,
Ind, Ohio, Pa. and n. Y. a cosmopolitan
but homogeneous lat. There are eight
preachers -one Baptist, two Methodist
and five Presbyterian, four laymen, and
fourteen women. Only one preacher has
his wife wl'h him. OF the rest OF the
party, male and female, many of us are,
/ for obvious reasons, travelling Uuaccom-
/ panied. 1t would be only natural to eX-
pect that party of this KIND would be
intellectual aud somewhat literary, am
sure of tins last for already l have seen
several of them contributing articles to
the Atlantic" They were doubtless
honest but poor, for they looked relieved
when the article was accepted and a check
came.
Our ship has been in service tor about
/ fifteen years and is stanch vessel. We
seldom feel tie action of the machinery
except when near the engines or when
passing over wave the propeller is lined
/ out of the water. She is so II. long aud
5S feet at her widest point. She is man
| ned by a crew of go men and las room
for 45O cabin and 1900 steerage passengers.
| At present there are about 100 cabin and
% or 80 steerage passengers. She is kept
in perfect condition and the ventilation is
ideal. The cuisine is all in variety and
service any one could desire. A fine
! band discourses sweet music every day
on the deck, and an orchestra in the mu-
sic room just over our dining room enliv-
ems the dinner hour with the most beau
! tiiul music l ever heard which comes
down to us through open sky light We
are awakened every morning by two
members of the orchestra who go thro'
the long halls playing a duet on the clar-
ionet. 1t is beautiful little tune they
play and fills the newly awakened minds
with sweet. pleasant thoughts. On Sab
bath morning they play Luther's battle
hymn-Ein JeSte berg. Words could not
describe my feelings on that first sabbath
morning when the sweet liquid notes of
that familiar strain tell on my ears. 1t
was fitting preparation for a Sabbath
days thoughts and meditations when
not permitted TO engage in the sctive
service usual on that day.
We are now within a very short dis
tance of Gibralter, sailing under fair
winds and asomewhat murky sky, which
is rapidly clearing up. So / think we
will have a good view of that world re-
nowned fortress. After few hours there
we sail for Naples which we will reach ON
Thursday. The latter part of our voyage
has been a dream. As DR.. Leeper re-
marked, tone has time TO enjoy himself
after his seasickness on voyage of this
length" He was speaking out of the
fullness of his heart, for it had its own
bitterness. Very sincerely,
j. V. MCANINCH.
Gibrditer, Monday, March Is. 1901.