Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1901-08-01
LaBelle France.
GAvARN1E. FRANCE, June 10. 1901.

GAvARNIE, FRANCE, June 10, 1901.
Dear Frse'ads:-I have enjoyed very
much the beauty of Nature in varied
phases the last few days. We had a
warm, dusty ride on Thursday, an ex-
cursion from Angouleme to Loches,
where there is very interesting ruin
of ah old chateau, built a thousand
years ago. The cathedrals and
chatea1s are cool the dungeons are
cold, we take our jackets down to es-
cape chill. We get delicious cher
ries to eat on the train, and observe
many things in passing. One large
district this side of Bordeaux, had ex-
tensive pine forests. The trees were
cut, and little pals were hanging on
them to catch the pitch. There were
number of turpentine manufactures
along the road. We have not seen q
wooden house or shanty in all this
journey across France. In few in
stances there have been sheds where
buildings were being erected, to shell
ter men or materials. The interior of
the country is much more prosperous
than the north or mountain region.
This last is picturesque beyond de-
scription.
TOULoN, July 4, 1901.
We had six o'clock dinner in Mar
settles. and arrived here between nine
and ten. We start for Nice to-mor-
row about s A. NJ, and have the pleas
ant drive along the Reviera in the af-
ternoon. Yesterday 1 climbed 14O
steps in an old tower on an eminence
in Mines, and had a fine view of the
surrounding country. The Roman am
phitheater, best preserved of any, was
across the street from our hotel, Wis.,
ible in the moonlight from our room
window. We went to Pout du Garde,
bridge which is q part of Roman
acqueduct, 253 miles long, which sup
piled Mines with water. It was built
in the time of Agrippa, son-in-law of
Augustus, 19 B. G. 1t is $50 feet long,
160 feet high, and is composed of three
series of arches, 6 and II arches of
equal span the two lower tiers,
and 55 smaller arches span the upper
tier. The passage for water is about
8 feet wide, by 81 feet deep. There
are huge rocks about; over one climbs
an English Ivy. We saw beautiful
scarlet pomegranate flowers on the
way. The flower most in evidence in
this part Of the country is the olean-
der, in various colors, sometimes whole
hedges. The olives, abundant the last
two or three days, remind me in shape
(though more twisty), of our ounce
trees. Many olives are. of course,
large. The leaves are willow like,
but OF dingy green, dusty sage green
might describe it. The glimpses we
caught of the sea on our journey about
sunset to-day were enhancing.
At Avignon, where we spent last
night, was beautifully shaded by great
sycamores. There are long rows of
this tree in the streets. Here We saw
the Palace of the Popes, fine tomb of
John 22d, stores of beautiful ecclesias-
tical garments of cloth of gold and sill
er, velvet brocade, etc., presented by
various monarchs, and worn on great
occasions. 1t was at Avignon that
Petrarch saw Laura. In the museum,
various pictures and busts of them are
shown. The only Fourth" we have
had was to salute the flag of an Amer
ican dentist, as we went to the muse
um. The weather is delightful-clear
with cool breeze. E. F. MAY.