Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-10
FROM OMAHA TO PALESTINE
Scenes and Incidents of q Midwinter Tour
Along the Mediterranean.
MARVELLOUS ZEAL OF ORIENTAL GUIDES
Old and New civilization Fringe the
Great Sea - Glimpse of Italy,
Egypt, Turkey and N
Holy Land.

MUNICH, April 19.-To the Editor OF The
Bee: II you can give me a little space 1
will tell your readers some of the interest
ing things l have seen during the past two
months and a half since leaving Omaha for
a tour Of the Mediterranean and a trip
across Europe.
We left Omaha February 2, right in the
midst of the worst blizzard Of the season,
and then sailed from New York toward the
beautiful island Of Madeira, and from two
days out until now we have been in almost
constant delightful spring. Funchal, the
capital Of Madeira, is a pretty little city
where Columbus lived, and the house where
he dwelt was left standing until a short
time ago, when 1t was torn down. This is
the famous place, too. where the boys and
men dive into the sea for the coins which
are thrown to them by tourists.
Our ship had no sooner anchored than we
we're at once surrounded by small boats
filled with these boys, who were anxious to
show their skill. They were almost naked
and the moment a dime touched the water
one or more OF them would dive for it and
some one of them would quickly come up
to the surface with it in his hand or be-
tween his toes and climb into the boat,
ready for another. Some Of them would
climb over the ship to the captains deck
and dive into the water fifty or sixty feet
below and catch the coin Just as easily as
In any other way. l never saw them fail
to get the money, though at times they had
to go down very deep for it.
The Oriental Guide.
Here we had a sample Of the oriental
guide, who is always anxious to show the
traveller whatever he wants to see and is
almost always sure he knows just where to
take the visitor. It was one of these guides
who was taking a small party Of Americans
around last year and when they asked to
be shown the house Of Columbus, said, 20,
yes, he know where 1t was" and started OF
In eager zest to show them the house. He
took them up one street and down another
and went in here and there to inquire, but
came and went again in another direction,
until finally they stopped in front Of an
old, dilapidated building and while the
party waited he went in to make inquiries.
He was gone for some time and finally
came out with sad countenance and in evil
dent dread to break the news to his party;
but finally mustered up courage and said,
Colombo no live here now, he dead" and
then wondered why the people all laughed
when they heard Of the death Of their
friend.
ArOunu UhIDEbttuEs
We visited the wonderful galleries in the
Qualifications of Gibraltar and saw why
these are said to be the strongest in the
world and can Ion readily believe that
England here is lmpregnable and nothing
but a mighty earthquake can ever disturb
It's rocky foundations.
The railroad trip OF 225 miles from here
up to Granada, in the very heart OF Spain,
| - III -,l-- ao,,u n RtohIu npIttynfnd
garden, for 1t was . succession Of orchards,
vineyards and small fields, most fertile and
productive, from the lowest point in the
valleys to the tops Of the mountains. The
Alhambra, in the city Of Granada, was
perhaps the greatest disappointment Of any
thing on our trip. These are the ruins OF
the old Moorish palace, temple and fortih-
cations. And while they were interesting
as showing the style Of their architecture
and the magnificent plan upon which they
were built, still 1t was not SO grand nor
beautiful as the pictures would lead one
to suppose.
Our next stop was at Algiers, a splendid
city Of 100, 900 inhabitants, with e fine har-
Dor, and built Of stone. rising terrace above
terrace, from the very waters edge to
the top of the mountain. We visited the
island Of Malta and saw the worry place
where the Apostle Paul lanoeo Wnen ne
was shipwrecked. The capital OF this
island Is Valetta and is a fine city with
stone buildings. We visited the governors
palace, and there saw in the museum many
interesting relics OF the wars of former
times, as well as some Of the most ex-
quisite tapestry we have seen anywhere.
They showed Us the old carriage that Ma
poleon rode in when he was there. and
this is most carefully preserved. The old
st. Johns hospital is now used by England
as a military hospital. for It owns the
island and has q military force here OF
1000 men, besides a navy OF 1000 men,
This hospital has one long ward In 1t,
said to be the longest in the world, and
has now 100 beds in It. The ceiling Il
thirty fet high and the windows are near
the top Of the wall. Although 80 old. ]
was pleased to see Il 80 well kept, and
inside It was clean and showed evidence
Of good care.
Athens and COnsthntinOpIe.
From there we went to Athens and en-
joyed seeing the splendid ruins there. We
were delighted to see a modern Athens OF
$1,000 people, prosperous and well-to-do.
From here we went to Constantinople