Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-04-20

/ this high land journey from which.
] with a glass. you may have panoNm-
/ &c view Of the whole island OF Corsica
| nearby Sardinia, and away over the
! glittering Mediterranean to the Tuscan
! cities ON the edge OF ltaly-the white
! peaks bordering the northern lakes, ana
! the entire coast from Nice TO Rome
! And then the lovely valleys OF Corsica
! set Ike little pockets In the hllls, fer-
! tillzed by short but rapid mountain tor
/ rents and blooming az the rose, There
! are plantations OF olives ana
almonds. figs grapes lemons and
| oranges. ana fields Of wheat, corn and
barley. which are said to Yield forty per
cent. Yet agriculture Is in a woeful-
! Is backward state-as much because
| Of the shiftIcss habits OF the people, as
on account OF that ancient grievance,
| the minute subdivision OF land, All
| the lower hill-sopes are carpeted with
myrtle and arbutus; while thorn and
| laurel, sprnging in dense thickets, can
| only be subducd by repeated burnings.
| Poor, old hroken-down Corsical Even
| the landscape looks sullen and hopeless,
| except when stirred 20 fierce storms by
some vendetta OF the elements-when
rains come crashing down with such
force as to rend the branches from the
trees, killing birds by thousands and
scattering wreck and desolation. Then
suddenly the sun shines out the for
ests steam with moisture and birds
chant as merrily In the denuded trees.
as IL their tiny relatives were not
LYING DEAD
In the jungle, with broken wings and
legs. The mountains are said TO be
rich in iron, lead, copper, black man
ganese, etc. but II So the minerals
are wasted here, being all unworked.
One can see for himselfthat the quarries
OF periphery, serpentine and red granite
are exhaustless. There are no manu-
facturies Of account in Corsica A lit
tie coarse wooden cloth Is made. rough
glass, bricks and leather. Olive oil
Is exported In considerable amount, and
some wne--of poor quality. and mostly
In It's raw state, sent to France 10 be
used In the manufacture Of liquors.. |
Cattle raising Is carried on to some ex-
tent, and every family numbers a goat |
or two and litter Of black pigs among |
Its intimate members. There IL a |
strange species of mountain sheep. |
called mufilons. found-I belleve--.no- |
where but in Corsica. They are hand |
some, stronglimbed creatures, with |
long, silky brownish-black hair, ana |
each has four sometimes six spiral |
horns. The mutton prefers the loftiest |
heights mounting higher and higher as
the sun melts the snow from the hills
II has to come down to the borders OF |
streams for pasturage, but scampers
back 70 the region OF eternal SHOWS at
niehtfall, Like the channels, II posts
sentinels 10 watch over the herds while
FEEDING and has other curious habits
worth observing. Sometimes. In UNI
Usually severe winters when the pas
ture grounds are deep under snow. the
Wild herds are driven by hunger down
into the valleys and by and by they
affiliate with the
TAME GOATS
and Craze TRANQUILITY with the flocks OF
the shepherds, The mutton affords the
best hunting in Corsica; and when
shots are heard, re.echolng from crag
TO orag, people remark that somebody Is
stalking the brothers OF the noun
talns"-wlld goats and bandits--both
being lawful game.
Never was town more plcturesquely
situated than Corte. near the center OF
the Island, at the confluence of two
mountain torrents that descend from
Monte Rodondo through a series of
magnificent gorges There Is an old
town, rich in historic associations, and
newer French town Of little interest.
ana perohed high both Is the citadel
winch IN all ages has decided the
course Of events in war. This fortress
Is the Acropolls Of Corsica. a thousand
times stormed and defended. II stands
on preciptous and Jagged rock. which
rises straight up from the river Tav-
ignano, and can be reached only by
drawbridge It's walls and towers. nov
crumblng with age and battered by
lncessant strife, look perfectly black.
The View from its ramparts must be
glorious; but as the citadel Is now
included within the modern French
fort strangers are not allowed TO visit
1t. All around It are haphazard streets.
or rather alleys. winding steeply up
hill and down and reeking with filth.
Corte was the ancient feudal capital
or the Island, the seat OF
the Moorish kings in earliest
times, the capital Of Gen Paolis short
lived revolutionary government, (be-
tween the years 1855 and 'G9) and the
headquarters Of the British government,
under Sir George Elliott during the
two years that England held possession
OF the island, The little city. OF less
than SIX thousand inhabitants, has only
one street Of consequence ambitlously
called the Corso, and beautiAed by nm
avenue OF magnificent elms. But II Il
venerable with memories OF stirring
times. The so-caled palace" is easily
az Il has the only lmpos-
Ing entrance In the place; and In front
OF IL Is fine bronze statue Of Paoli.
raised by popular subscription in the
Island. The best monument to his men,
DRY, however Is the school which he es-
tablished In his own humble home and
with all his property for It's
permanent support. Another house Of
absorbing interest Ia that OF the patriot
leader, Gafforl, rlddled with cannon
bali and peppered with
BULLET-HoLEs.
from roof to foundation. The Genoese
once availed themselves OF Gafforrs alb
sence 20 assault his house and get his
wife into their power according to their
policy Of using the families OF
rebels rs hostages. But this true daugh-
ter OF Corsica, barricaded the doors and
windows OF her house and defended her.
self for days gun in hand. with the help
of few friends who had rushed 10 her
aid. The house was overwhelmed with |
a perfect rain OF bullets and as the
need grew pressing, her friends advised
her 20 capitulate. Instead. Madame |
Gaffori brought keg Of powder into
ower room and siezing a match. swore
10 blow up the whole business II they
ceased firing upon the foe. Inspired by