New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-30
MOUNTAINS AND Il MAID.
Erperiences of Summer Journey
in al garUe.

SUNSHINE AND SENTIMENT ~ PoRT TUG. b.
BY Gilbert Watson With eight iiustf ATOMS -
Gilbert James. svo. PIP. viii. go Lonsinais'
Green & Co.
This book is sn account OF e visit made several
FEARS ago TO the province of Agarve ior me
purpose OF digging for the bones OF prehistoric
animals in some limestone caverns In the 0ieEiA
de MISUNDERSTANDING. with very IN
.atssfao>Ury results The main object Of the
5ourney Interested the author not in the least
The paleontologist of the little expedition was
,,s friend Professor Hadow an indefatisible
Anclo-Gerrrran investigator. Mr.. Watson joined
the party and shared the expenses simply lor
the opportunity OF travelling in a little known
land and meeting with new experiences
Whether all the incidents the author describes
occurred exactly as he relates them, it is, of
course. impossible TO judge and is in fact, quite
inlmaterial TO know. The essential thing is that
the atmosphere is there. and from the almost
diaryike minuteness of his entertaining descrip-
tions and his humorous comments on trivial but
typical occurrences the reader arrives at per-
feet understanding Of the country and the peo
pie. Jobs turkey was more poverty
stricken than the Portuguese of Algarve, or
strutted more proudly or bore himself with
greater dignity amid ignoble surroundings The
sneanest inhabitant yields whit in gentlehood
TO the highest, and consistently lives up to the
letter and spirit of nobIesse oblige, with cour-
tesy that finds its expression in a true hospi-
teIity freely offering 10 the stranger all. even
when all may be nothing. The Portuguese will
force his possessions you with the same in
sistence he uses in commanding you TO his table.
But there you must not take him at his word
His generosity expects equal courtesy. and
he who accepts is counted as without shame"
The only road out Of he dilemma is to assure
your host that you are utterly unworthy of such
do not espair; make Yourself ont to be a terrible
fellow, constituencies rascal, houSehreaker,
vincng him that it is for the best that he should
keep his own. You will lose his belongings, but
ter is the sounder investment.
When one has finished the story-for 1t is
story rather than as narrative Of travels that
one enjoys the book-it is astonishing to realize
how little time and territory it covers. From
Lisbon the party went by train to Mertola, on
the Guadiana, there picking UP the third MEM
Der. a young English mining engineer located in
the country and thence sailed the short dis
lance 10 Villa Real, at the mouth Of the
river. It only days journey mule
back to Louis. which was short but uneasy
5aunt uphill to the caverns where Hadow and
Warden prosecuted their unsuccessful hunt for
the remains of extinct animals. On their return
they made their way back TO Mertola across the
mountains, weeks trip. Yet in this brief ex-
cursion Portugal IS revealed The sunshine"
peryades the whole volume. The sentiment"
was incidental. The author caring more for the
former than for digging in q gloomy cavern,
spent his days in ideness outside and so became
acquainted with pretty Colombia, daughter Of
their landlord. Manuel da Silvas, for the caves
were on private. If hitherto unproductive. prop
erty. She came on her donkey with basket OF
provisions from her father, and entered the cave
10 rest at the authors invitation.
1 looked my visitor with approval Her face
was by means perfect, Yet slight defect was
charm. that the effect OF the whole delight
full. And her eyesi Had she dozen defects,
would have redeemed them all. Dreamy. Voluptuous,
soft fun of anguor u repose full OF fire in ANNA
ton. on one must ny TO the South for such eyes
these. the flame that elOWed in their dark
depths could have been born under Northern
sun. And her dgure2 But there-Messrs Webster.
NuttalI a. CO. makers Of dictionaries. must invent
ure with any chance OF success. II was too full
OF sweet curves and seductive undulations he
be seen. perched my table, TO be properly ap-
pTeciated Masculine eyes, bold enough TO start
TO the sNitcht ack OF admiration and heigh presto
off they went, up hill and down anOther-the
inclines were irresistible alluring up and enticng
dOwn-until the bold adNentUrer not only lost his
bresth, but his heart into the bargain. which. as
! tell him from personal experience
much more serious matter.
And as for Colombia? Well we must fear that
there another heart lost too. during those
hot, dreamy July weeks in the Sierra de Mon
Clique The two met but four or five times
and parted with the only kiss they ever ex-
changed. The incident. like all the authors
descriptions. is lightly touched. but deeply felt