The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1907-01-22
NOTES OF
TRAVEL.
Hon. Norman Fox Writes Of
Interesting Scenes and Incl
dents IN Foreign Countries.
THE AZORES AND GIBRALTAR

In earlier times a trip to Europe
was generally by Liverpool, but to-day
half a dozen lines send steamers to the
Mediterranean. AS England is of about
the same latitude as Labrador, the
route to Great Britain is to the north.
east, while New York being of the
latitude of Madrid and Naples, the
journey to the Mediterranean is di-
fectly east or only a little to the south
as Gibraltar is about on a line with
Wilmington, North Carolina. The
latter route avoids the fogs which pre-.
vail on the banks of Newfoundland
and also it may be expected to be lit
tie warmer. On our trip, October 9th
toNovember 5th, the weather was very
mild, indeed at times uncomfortably
warm. The southern route is more
lonely one and we sighted but two OF
three vessels on our entire trip.
The increased size of the vessels and
their various modern cOnveniences
make an ocean voyage much more
comfortable thing than it was in the
earlier time. The steamer of to-day
is simply large floating hotel and
when one has, as we did, SmoOthssea
for practically the whole distance, he
is a ''poor sailor" indeed who does
not have fairly good time. If he
does not find anything interesting in
the ships library he can gossip with
the crowd in the smoking room OF
chat with his friends in their steamer
chairs; the energetic play at shuttle
board and other games. One evening
there was a dance on deck and on Sun
day in the cabin religious service was
conducted by Bishop Foss Of the Meth
odiSt Church.
The Mediterranean route has an adj
ditional interest from its passing the
/ Azores Islands. 1t was about midday
that we reached them, sailing through
the archipelago all the afternoon and
evening. Rising in majestic mountain
peaks, with villages and cultivated
fields not only ON their lower slopes,
but also far up on their precipitous
sides, these islands present a scene OF
combined beauty and grandeur. AS
i we passed but mile or so from some
of the largest islands, we had a good
view of their noble scenery and when
: the night had closed in the lights on
their shores still kept up the pleasure
of the sight.
"And aye we sailed, and aye we sailed
Across the heaving sea
Until one morn the coast of Spain
| Rose grimly on our lee.
To be exact it was in the, latter part
! of the afternoon that we decried land,
but the other is better for the poetry.
/ T = Of Il arly xun nj
Gibraltar and from the steamer anch-
ored in the bay an uncomfortable lit G
( tender conveyed US to the wharf. From
the "Konigin Luise we took "stop
over ticket to pursue our journey to
/ Naples by the g KONG Albert two
weeks later.
The peninsular of Gibraltar is The
southern tip of Spain and is one of the
most noteworthy pieces of land on the
earth'S surface. 1t has belonged TIC
/ England for little more than hun.
dred wears and is one of Britain'S most
valued possessions. 1t is about three
miles long by half mile or more in
width and fourteen hundred feet in
4 height. Counting with compound in
| tereSt the money laid out upon 1T III
attack and defense, it would almost
| he found to compare in cost per acre
with a section of lower New York OF
the district about the Mansion House
in London. 1t is the key TO the Medi
terranean for the guns mounted on its
heights could sink any ship attempt
ing the passage of the straits so thai
| hostile European fleet intending tx
attack the British possessions In the
east would have to sail around the
Cape of Good Hope. The mountain il
scanned with tunnels for the moving
of troops and supplies back and fortf
the slopes of the hills are SmOOtheC
\ with cement to catch rain water for ;
time of need and in the magazines arr
laid away supplies of provisions TO
months and even years of siege. Th'
present garrison is about five thousanC
soldiers, while the dock yards emplO,
an army of civilian labOrerS, so large
multitude of them as to throng tn
streets when work closes at night.
The east side of the mountain is pre-
cipitous, while on the SlOping western
side Is built city OF some twenty-five
Thousand population. 1t is practicall
a Spanish town and even the waiter
in the hotels will often. be unable Il
speak English. II The cabs are Of pat
tern of their own and subjects for tn
camera are continually presented b
the very small, donkeys carrying yer
large loads. In the morning the mill
man comes around, not with tin cans
but bringing his wares in the o;igina
package, stopping at each home wit
The cows or a flock OF goats and milk
ing them at the door. An exceedingl
picturesque ele m ent in the stree
crowd is found in the numerous Moor
in turbanS and oriental gowns VIII
have come across the the STRAITS fror
North Africa. There also. are man
dark skinned Hindoos keeping shop
for the sale Of East Indian silver war
and other asiatic goods. The town
Gibraltar Is indeed cosmopolitan.
OF course most interesting ride
found in the drive along the flank {
the mountain, the Notifications on tn
one hand and the sea on the Othel
giving a series of magnificent views
} The cactus and other forms OF sem
| tropical vegetation give a rare beaut
to garden and road side. Gibraltar
a town which the tourist can harql
afford TO miss. N. r.