Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1904-04-14


There are Mosques. Cathedrals, and
Churches at many important points,
and the people seem to be very relig-
ious. Yelled women are here, too, who
have their faces covered, so that moth
ing but their eyes can be seen. The
| expression of these Eastern women S
aces is not happy one. 1t would be
interesting to write of all we saw in
;his old quarter of Algiers-of the
manner Of life, the occupations, the
narrow streets, the special charact-
eristics of the mixed multitudes, the
squalor. the sin, the ignorance and
superstition. but time and space will
not permit.
A drive around the city was most
delightful experience. In this way we
had abundant opportunity to see the
magnificent public gardens, military
forts and garrisons. hospitals, hotels,
medical college, the houses of the
wealthy. as we'll as the houses of the
poor; also the summer home of the
Governor. We drove through vine
yards and the most beautiful farming
country, where figs, bananas. oranges,
lemons and vegetables were in abund-
ance. The truck gardens would do
credit to some of our best at home.
Potatoes were being dug as we passed
by and other garden products Were
standing about ready to be sent to
market. The country round about
Algiers is unsurpassed for beauty and
the views from an altitude of many
hundreds OF feet, with the marvellous
city, the bay and surrounding country,
formed picture such as the writer
never before beheld.
A visit to the Governors palace and
gardens, also to one of the largest
Mosques, where we saw the worship
pers, and were compelled to cover our
shoes with large slippers before ell
tering, were experiences of our visit.
1t would be impossible to relate all
our experiences or to give descriptions
of people and places we saw and visit
ed-to do this would require many
months.
The port was a place of interest
Here were seagoing craft from all
countries, besides hundreds of small
boats, and there with workmen and
sailors. and donkeys and oxen and
divers, who we're engaged in bringing
up coal from sunken barge, were
things that engaged us for long
time.
There are schools and colleges, there
is also wealth and refinement, as well as
poverty and squalor. The roads and
streets are of the best and the great
palm trees, olive trees, cacti and
beautiful flowers. are a source of plea
sure. There are also many fine equip
ages and beautiful horses. Historical
ly the city dates back through many
centuries and many things might be
said OF it. This leave tor others to
tell. We left the place with impress
sions and information that we are sure
will serve US in days to come.
Our next landing place was Valetta,
Island OF Malta, seven miles from St.
Paul s Bay, the place where St. Paul
was shipwrecked. Through the kind
ness of the Captain of our ship, we ran
close to land in departing from the
Island and everybody was given an
opportunity to see the place of the
shipwreck, the place of landing of this
wonderful Bible hero and his crew,
and also the monument to ST. Paul,
which marks the spot. A goodly num-
Der drove TO the Bay and whilst there,
read the 27th chapter of Acts, which
contains the account of the shipwIeck
Of st. Paul. They also knelt in pray
er. After this they gathered sticks
and tried to start a fire. They were
unable. however, to make it bum, and
called to their assistance several of the
habiNoS anu hnollg Oy WIG aiu VI q iit-
tie girl, who kept off the high wind
by holding her dress around the sticks
as a protection, the fire was started.
Our landing place was Valetta. but on
reaching shore. which was accomplish
ed in small boats, we were driven to
the railroad station, and from here we
were conveyed by passenger railway
coaches. to Citta Vecchla. through a
most beautiful country, abounding in
high walls. stone fences, beautiful
gardens, green fields. and very thickly
populated with people, who till the
soil, as we'll as those who work in
many other ways.
The Island Of Malta is 174 miles
long and 81 miles in width. Here for
the first time we are on soil that has
specific mention in Apostolic History.
1t was in the winter of go that the
great Apostle was shipwrecked here
while ON his way TO Rome in grain
ship. The traditional date of the ship
wreck as celebrated on the Island is
Feb. 10th. On this date, in the year
1910, a square stone tower was erect
ed, which is still standing. Valetta is
the capital Of Malta, built upon
rocky promontory and is strongly for
titled. 1t is the key to the Eastern end
of the Mediterranean and stands guard
over the coasts OF Southern Europe and
Northern Africa and the Suez Canal.
The prevailing style Of architecture of
Valetta is a combination of the Moor
ish and Italian. 1t is named after its
founder. John LaValetta, Grand Mast
or of the Knights of st. John. at the
time of the last and most desperate
siege by the Turks in 1865.
The people.while Of mixed blood. are
principally of Arabian stock. There
are Italians, French, Moors and Arabs
in tho city, but English is the official