Mexico weekly ledger., 1904-08-11
TY. MISSOURI, THURSDAY. AUGUST II, 1904.
THE GREAT Sea AND
TEE HOLY LAND.
ARTICLE No. 8.
By John 7. MASON.

ARTICLE No. 3.
Leaving Algiers we steamed for six
hundred miles through the quiet
waters OF the Mediterranean to the
historic island Of Malta. 1t is fifteen
miles long, seven miles wide, and con-
tains an area OF one hundred square
miles. The soil Is fertile and produc-
tive, often producing two and some
times three crops year. The climate
is mild and delightful. 1t belongs to
England. This makes the British
navy supreme In the Mediterranean.
The entire population Of the island is
one hundred and eighty-five thousand,
principally Maltese. 1t Ihas received
worldwide fame from the apostle
Paul, and from the invincible Knights
Of St. John.
The apostle, near this island, was
shipwrecked; saved the entire COM
pany Of two hundred and seventy-six
men, lived three months In cave,
healed the afflicted people Of every
form OF disease, and left a Christian
influence permeating the hearts Of the
people. A deep indenture on the
northern coast is called Paul's bay.
On small island, Selmun, In the Gen.
ter of the bay, stands the colossal
statue Of the apostle. 1t is supposed
TO mark the space where Paul's YES
sci struck and foundered. In three
months Paul grew In the estimation Of
the people from a murderer to "a God.
This is rapid progress and enormous
accomplishment. He left his statue
in the bay and bis impress on the peo-
| pie. / Wish that all Christians left a
good and lasting influence.
In 1880 Emperor Charles V.gave the
island to the knights Of st. John.
For more than two hundred years
they held the island and drove back
the formidable Turks. These valiant
and magnanimous knights saved Eu-
rope from Mohamedanism and estab-
lished Christianity. They left their
flag, the Maltese cross, planted on
the island. 1t waves from every pub
lie building, from important places on
the streets, and from many palaces.
Many of them gave up their lives in
just and righteous cause. These
knights were noble, tried and true.
On the island are two important
cities Citta Vecchia and Valetta.
The former is located In the center of
Of the island, and the latter on the
eastern coast. We reached Cltta
vecchia by rail from Valetta. The
distance is eight miles; the railroad
accommodations are poor, but the trip
is delightful. Having reached our
destination, we passed through the
Catacombs, the beautiful church OF
st. Paul, the cathedral and the old
lodge room Of the Knights Of St.John.
The Catacombs were the retreats OF
the warriors in case Of defeat. The
church is built over the historic grot-
to, 10 which Paul is said to have lived
during his stay on the island. The ca
thedral is the seat Of the bishop.
He rules religion on the island. The
old lodge room is where the knights
Of St. John, centuries ago, held their
meetings. Citta Vecchia is an old
town, but a pleasant place to visit.
In Valetta we walked through the
principal streets, public parks, forts
and barracks. We saw the museum,
the chapel Of bones and the church Of
st. John. The museum is filed with
figures stan1ing along the walls
dressed like Knights of st. John, and
holding forth the sword Of war. Every
ancient implement of war which these
knights possessed are to be seen. The
rugs, the embroidery, the lace, the flags
and tapestry Of every description used
by this invincible order have their
places In the perfect arrangement.
The many oil paintings and statues Of
commanding officers are gems Of art
and beauty. The attendants are kind,
|obliging and accommodating. The
chapel OF bones is an old, yet beautiful
church. The walls are decorated with
endless number OF human skulls and
crossbones. 1t is sustained In honor
OF the knights who gave up their lives
In defSnce Of the Christian cause. The
church Of st. John is the most stupen-
dous and marvellous piece Of architect
ure and beauty that we were permit
ted to see In all the Orient. The stat
ues are perfect, the mammoth oil
paintings gorgeous, and the altars
superb, the ceiling and walls are
ornamented with pure gold. The
floor is laid with marble slabs. Be-
meath the foundation are buried seven
teen hundred knights. The building
is q grand memorial to them. The
museum, the chapel Of bones and the
church OF st. John are one grand ex-
hibltion Of esteem which the Maltese
have for the invincible Knights of
Malta, Valetta is the metropolis and
capital Of the island.
At six O'Clock In the evening we
raised anchor, moved out Of the har-
Dor Of Valetta, passed by Paul's bay
and steamed for ancient Greece.
Two nights and one day Of quiet
sailing brought us from Valetta to
Piraeus-the port of Athens
Piraeus is a modern Greek city. 1t
has population Of fifty thousand,
principally Greeks. The language Is
modern and not classic Greek. Dirt
and dogs are scattered throughout the
city. 1t is beautifully located on a
point of land across the harbor east of
the bay Of Salamis. In this water the
most gigantic naval engagement In the
history OF the world was fought be-
tween the Greeks and the Persians.
Xerxes sat in the rock-hewn chair on
the mountain, saw his stupendous navy
sink like lead into the bay, and sig
nailed bis retreat In hopeless despair.
This fact connects the site of the city
with the history of the ages. 1t was