The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1901-03-21

hind it is a great marble fountain, al
ways surrounded by women and dom
keys who are equal beasts of burden in
/ Corsica. A little farther on is the mar
/ ket-place, and in it you find another
/ Napoleon-this time in bronze, which is
! about the color of the average Corsi-
can. On 1t you read: His native city
to the Emperor Napoleon, on the 5th
of May, 1850, the second year of the
presidency of Louis Napoleon" A city
had long been endeavoring to raise one
to its hero; but money was too scarce
1t happened that a distant relative of
the Bonaparts, residing in France, sent
to an Ajacco cousin. Signor Ramoino
the figure of a Ganymede, for his gar
den When the statue was unloaded
from the vessel some wharf loungers
nistook the eagle of Ganymede for the
imperial eagle, and Of course took it for
granted that the figure was Napoleon.
Thereupon a mob collected, which de-
manded the statue from it's rightful
owner, to set it up in the market-place,
where all might do it honor; and so in
earnest were they that to have refused
would have created a fierce vendetta.
Happily, it is one of those accommoda-
ting works of art which answers equal
ly well for a Napoleon, George Wash
ingtor or John Smith.
Perhaps the best effigy Of the first
emperor is that in the Place du Dia-
mant, which was erected a few years
later. mainly by public subscription
and ''inaugurated" by Prince Napole-
on. 1t is a colossal equestrian statue
mounted on a lofty pedestal; and be-
low, at the corners stand Napoleons
four brothers. all wearing togas.
To get a general idea Of Ajacco, 1t is
a good plan, when first arrived, to as
cend San Giovanni hill. as the land
ward end of the little peninsula on
which the city is built. IT looks a diff
ficult climb, but proves comparatively
easy. if you follow q guide through
certain dirty alleys and zig-zag paths
of gentle slope There are only two
streets Of account in Aiacco-the wide
and handsome Cours Napoleon and Rue
Fesch, running parallel the whole
length Of the tongue of land. These are
crossed by numerous lanes, where filth,
disease, prowling ours and naked chill
dren seem to justify the unfriendly
criticism of the F'rench--who dislike
Corsicans as much as the Corsicans dis
like them-that the island people are
the dirtiest in the world
Nothing more delightful can be mag
ined than a sunny afternoon an top of
San Giovanni. Not cloud in the eky,
not a ripple in the shining surface Of
the Mediterranean; the singing Of birds,
the cheerful hum Of human life, the de-
licious odor of fruits and flowers; an at
mosphere warm without sultriness,
balmy and serene All around blooms
luxuriant Italian vegetation-citron and
lemon, orange and myrtle, almond,
chestnut and olive; and in the midst
lies the peaceful idyllc little city and
half hidden under it's ancient elms.
The houses are large and high, but of !
no architectural merit. Their grey jail
Ousies are characteristic of Corsica, |
where grey paint is as common as green |
in Italy, blue in France and, white in !
Spain. Whatever the Ajaccans may
lack, they can truthfully boast some of |
the finest promenades in Europe Be |
sides the elm shaded Cours Napoleon, |
The Strand the Esplanaue, the Corso, |
there are numerous small parks; and,
most beautiful of all, the famous Place |
III Diamant, stretching along the shore
ill merged in the tree-fringed Strand. !
It's water-side is faced by a broad |
stone breast-work, from which may be
1ad a charming view Of the gulf, sur
'ounded by groves and gardens; while
IN the other side rises a stately church
md a great military hospital backed by
/ green hill
Toward evening all these deserted
suddenly grow lively, when
bands play and people gather
n groups to gossip and listen to the
music They are a peculiar race--these
Jorsicans-generally gaunt of visage,