The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1902-02-06
ing tint of pink, eyes bright, but not
with fever, and cough forgotten.

ing tint of pink, eyes bright, but not
with fever, and cough forgotten
Hammock riding is carried to perfec-
ton in Funchal. You may hire one,
with its bearers, anywhere on the street,
as you would hire hack in a northern
city. The hammock is covered at one
end with a conopy Of pink or blue cam
brlc, with broad land very becoming
frill of the same depending from the
two edges, concealing, or partially con-
cealing, the recumbelit form of the oc-
cupant. Each hammock has its mat
tress and pillows, and you may be sure
that the novel carry-all is in great de-
mand in this land of laziness, not only
for ladies and invalids, but for great.
stout, slx-footers of the stronger sex
One often sees robust business men re
turning to their late dinners, luxurious
ly reclining in hammocks, reading their
mail, or evening paper as they &C, and
leaving trail of smoke behind them
from their cigars. The native ladies
make their calls in hammocks, and do
their shopping in the same manner.
those OF the aristocracy having ser
wants of their own as bearers. For
eign women fight clear of them for
a time. except for mountain travelling,
until they have learned to roll in and
ont OF them without displaying too
much hoslery-a trick which comes to
perfection only with long practice
1t Is pleasant to go out before break
fast for a stroll in the market-place.
Entering the walled and Well-shaded
enclosure through great stone gate
way, You see men standing behind tiny
stalls, and women squatted on the
pavement beside enormous shallow
baskets of home-woven cane. while an
army OF itinerant merchants, male and
female, clamor to sell you lace-work.
carvings, shells and coralS and mon
strosities in the line of feather flowers
OF native manufacture, The most
noticeable thing in the market is the
abundance of fruit of all zones and
seasons; grapes of every kind and color,
figs, pomegranates, mangoes, apples,
peaches, guavas, nectarines and even
straWberrles,-picked today in the is
lands, bushels of them, bigger and bet
ter than California's very best.
Inside the market place is queer in
stltution, very highly valued in Funchal,
VIA circular building which looks like
Spanish plaza de toros, but is in re-
atty a circus, where men, instead of
bulls, are the principal performers.
There is no theatre on the island but
any fifth-rate show that comes along and
calls itself an american circus is
warmly welcomed and universally pat
ronlzed, Last year one that consisted
only of half a dozen Indifferent aero
bats and three trained bears ''held the
boards for months and reaped an as
tonishlng rich harvest-considerin it's
demerits
After our recent experiences in Spain
and Africa, the immaculate cleanliness
of this place and its people is the more
refreshing. This may be owing to the
efficiency of the city government, which
consists of board of seven aldermen
and president, all of whom are elect
ed by popular votes; but Judging from
other Portuguese communities which
are similarly governed, we are inclined
to think that the immaculateness of
Madeira is largely due to the influence
of the wealthy foreigners who flock here
in search of health and naturally de-
mands its first essential, cleanliness.
The Governor of the Madeiras is an
pointed by the King Of Portugal and
resides in Funchal, in a so called
palace which is built like military
barrack, with turrets and bastions and
mullioned windows. The interior is
gloomy as prison-all except the
tiowery court yard, which is indeed "a
thing of beauty and a joy forever"
The Governor and his gracious lady are
renowned for hospitality, which is al
ways extended to reputable strangers,
whether their stay in the city be long or
short.
One thing that strikes you in this
land of dolce far niente is the perpetual
silence. Even in the heart of the
modern city, there is no rattle of wheels.
no buzz of machinery, or hum or
whistle of factories. About the only
noises you hear are the jingling of
church-bells, the soft-vowelled idioma
OF idlers in the Praca, the barking of
! innumerable dogs, and the occasional
cries of the sledge-d drivers, which sound