Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-05-20
SOUTHERN FRANCE|
Ralph Mahon Describes it's Pic
turesqueness in a Letter.
AyISIT TO IHEFAMOUS MONTE CARLO

A VISIT TO THE FAMOUS MONTE CARLO
Sees Genoa, the Royhood Home OIL
Christopher coIumbus-Will Prob
ably Visit England in June for the
Coronation of King Edward.
Southern France is one of the most
beautiful countries and as regards its
mild and pleasant climate cannot be
surpassed" says Ralph Mahon, who is
on the United States war vessel Alba
ny on a cruise through the Mediter.
ranean sea, in a letter written from
Villa Franche during the early part of
April to his father, A. w. Mahon, of
this city. He tells of his visit to Ge-
noa, at one time the home of Christie
pher Columbus. He tells of the beauty
and luxury to be seen in the city OF
Nice, in France, and of the exquisite
beauty and picturesqueness of the
scenery to be seen at various places in
that country. Monte Carlo is describ-
ed in a vivid manner and the let
ter speaks of the fascination of the
gaming fever which seems to strike all
those who visit this place and especial
ly OF the passion displayed by the wom-
en- for the gaming table when once
they have been entailed in its fascina.
Itions.
1t is expected that the ship on which
Ralph Mahon is serving will attend
the coronation of King Edward in June
after which they will probably make a
trip to the Baltic sea for the summer
and return to the milder and more
pleasant climate for the winter.
In Genoa's Harbor.
Mr.. Mahon writes from Genoa. italy
while aboard the United States Albany
as follows:
Genoa, italy, March 8, 1902.
Dear Father:-We arrived at this
port from Palermo, Sicily, this morn
ing. told you in my last letter of
our transfer to the Albany from the
Dixie. We all like our new ship much
better than the Dixie as it is a larger
and more modern ship with more and
bigger guns and better Accommodations.
This Is a regular lnan-of-war. of the
cruiser type. We hid very little work
to do on the Dixie and have less on
this ship. I used to think could
stand an unlimited amount of rest but
my experiences aboard ship have
changed these views. "calking off" all
day and sleeping all night becomes
monotonious after several months. BY
"calking off" is meant lying asleep
dnc1y drrr,i Jo,
ever, "calking off" comes very easy in
snch lovely climate as this. | have
not been ashore at Genoa and probab-
~ Will not be during this short stay
Tor we are even now due at Villa
Franche. This city seems from the
view we can get of it from this dis.
| tance. to be like most of the other sea.
port towns. we have visited in this part
| OF the world, beautifully situated in
the Nils which rise from the shore, and
make very picturesque scene from
our anchorage. The day is very clear
and bright and we are able to discern.
| from the mass of buildings, surround
ing 1t, the house where, it is claimed
| Columbus lived while in Genoa.
We leave here in a day or so for
Villa Franche and will then go to Nice,
where we will stay for some time. We
Will then return to Genoa for supplies.
| We left the cruiser, Chicago, at AL
4 giers. having her boilers repaired. af.
ter which she will then follow us. The
Nashville is with us and we are ex.
pecting the Illinois to arrive soon with
an admiral aboard to take the place OF
Admiral Cromwell, who retired and
left this station last month. At pres
ent Captain James Craig, of the All.
bany, Is the senior officer, and conse
quently this vessel is the flagship OF
| the squadron.
We will be present and take part in
the great naval review off Spithead
1 on June Z, the time of the coronation
/ OF King Edward. and after that there
4 is talk of our coming home This ship
was built in England during the time
| of the Spanish-American war and has
1 never been in American waters. But
if we do not go to the United States we
will go to the Baltic sea to spend the
summer where it is cool and return tc
the Mediterranean in the fall before
cold weather sets in. I have not ex
perienced any cold weather during the
past two years and nave not had an
4 ONSICOdL Ou LOT ludG length OF time
All on board are well and having 8
jolly good time. will close and write
again as soon as we drop anchor al
Villa Franche.
! In France.
villa Franche, April A, 1902.
Dear Father:-Here we are in friy
olous old France. We arrived at this
port several days ago but thought
would look around little before writ
ing. l received the I. o. O. f. care
you sent me but find the order here i:
the CID Manchester branch and so an
not much interested in it.
This is southern France and it is
the most beautiful spot have evel
seen. The climate is simply ideal ant
feel for you when / think of those
April drizzles with which you are prob
ably at present visited. never real
lied how beautiful Paradise may bt
until visited Nice. Nice is the mos
popular winter resort in Europe, a,
you know, and its people beat the
III world FOR ctvlo Tho Cd, go -.