Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-18

hat of white, soft wool, like a thin feit,
bound with strip of blue cotton ard en-
tirely without trimming, which looked for
all the world like a neat white candle
snuffer! He and L held many animated con-
versations, he knowing no language but
Russian, and I no Russian, but when L
pointed out an article and raised my eye
brows interrogatively, he at once told IRE
its name in Russian, and followed by CIV
ing him the English of it.
Beautiful Scenery.
Our first stop, Sebastopol, was interest
ing, principally in it's natural scenery, ard
the bay within a bay is said to be one of
the finest ports in the world. The town It
self, all modern, lies in amid the brown,
burnt-up hills; no trees or green of any
description. and except for its historic in
terest we found it a very ugly and COM
monplace and for all the world like a
small town in Arizona or Mexican Cali
fornia. AS We passed Baladava we tried
vainly to see into the inner bay, SO fatal
to the English flee, but as the mountains,
which here were high and rugged, over
Tapped each other and completely incosed
the field of that dreadful tragedy, we
could only imagine it lying o'uely there
in the brilliant afternoon light.
As we approached Ialta, the tzar's favor
lite summer resort, which is nestled snug
" in the well wooded mountains, and has
its long esplanade lined with shops. which
hang out over the very blue bay, the lit
tie old Caucasian gentleman, by Signs and
looks of intelligence, in some way made us
understand that he would like to take
us ashore to see the sights. We accepted
gladly, and he led us to the puol:c gardens,
which are shut off from the street by
for hour, watching the different types
of people and listening to the music of
very good marine band.
A Taste of "Kwoss."
Later on the little old man led us with
dgnified air to a cafe on the esplanada,
and looking at me in a delightfully."- ami
mated manner said "Kwoss?" We de-
liberated a moment, not having the faint
est idea of what the world might mean,
and then decided to risk it at all hazards,
so we said yes with enthusid sm-' Ia,
da as the Russians say. He at once or
dered bottle of some pale magenta liquid,
which looked quite deadly, and tasted,
alas, even more so! And then he watched
US with interest while we quaffed the brm-
ming cup. l succeeded in putting on the
semblanCe of a surprised and delighted
smile, for l would rather have died than
disappoint the nice little old gentleman,
but may fate preserve me from ever tast
ing kwoss again! 1t seemed a little like
very stale beer, sweetened and favored
with the essence which for some unknown
reason always suggests hair oil.
Ialta is lovely. woodsy and green, and
with such betting crags. q am not sure
that l know what beetling means but 1t
quite describes those craggy mountdirS)
and such a blue bay to cool the days and
nights. We wondered that English and
American inValids had not found It out. for
in spite of the length of time required 10
reach it. the whole journey can be made in
great comfort by taking the Orient OK
press to Constantnople, then the Mes
Sageries to Odessa, and the Russian boat to
Ialta. which saves the dreadful Russian
frontier, Woloczyska. nightmare TO con-
template, and also the two ngn1s Of hard
and uncomfortable travel from Vienna to
Odessa.
The tar comes to Ialta in his Yacht about
the end of August, accompanied by part
of the Black sea fleet and remains usually
six weeks, We're tod, so that the Ialta
summer season is short, but the winter
season for invalids begins in November
and lasts until March.
MARGARET STIRLING.