The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-07-28

session OF It, and later on the Nor
mans came In and ruled 1t under one
form or other for hundreds of years.
The knights OF Malta.
1t was in 1880 that Charles v. Of.
Spain gave MALTA to the order Of tho
knights of st. john OF Jerusalem,
who thereupon took the title Of tho
Knights OF Malta and fortified It. At
this time they had not only Malta, but
also Coco and Tripoli. They took upon
therns elves the defense OF the Mediter-
ranean. They made war upon the
Barbary pirates. attacked the Turks
again and again. and defeated the
sultan when he attacked them They
waged war with the Moslems for gem
erations; and 1t was not until Napoleon
Bonaparte. on his way to Egypt, be-
sieged them that they surrendered
their fortresses. Altogether they held
the island for 26s years. and when the
French took 1t they agreed to give
the grand master OF the knights an
annual pension OF about 100000 and
to every French knight resident In
Malta yearly allowance of S14o
The FRENCH siege was followed 81 BY !
fleets, which lasted two years. During
part OF this time there was fam,
inc in Malta. Fresh pork sold for ~
pound, dogs anu Cuts WIZ 6SISidiy
eaten and even rats brought an ex-
While the knights had possession OF
the island they lived in grand style.
ticular post assigned them In case of
attack. and there were also palaces or
inns. where all the members ate anu
asseinbsd together to transact ~ b " y :
was surrounded by the four principal
streets. It still stands and Is now oc-
cupied by the officers Of the British
garrison. This building. covers more
land two Courtyards. one of which is
now used as an amusement court ror
the British officers. The interior 1;a, r. q !
land apartments being embellished with
paintings COMMUNICATING the battles
Of the order. One OF the most Inter
armory. It Is a great hall running
the whole length Of the structure and
containing many warlike weapons ana
trophies which belonged to the Knights
complete coats of armor for mounted
knights, ard a large number Of wea,-
pons used by the infantry OF the past;
among the muskets Of the garrison
looking like sentinels and giving the
whole a sombre appearance. In , one
may be seen: They were caused by
shooting at 1t with musket at 1870
feet The bullets failed to penetrate
or break the STEEL
Citn vccchin.
Tho old capital Of Malta Is six miles
from Valletta. and one can reach \
the grand masters had their summer
residences and there they were inaug
urat ted. They left Valletta early in the
morning, escorted by a bodyguard ane
bands Of music. When the grand mas
ter came near the, city he was salutet
| by musketry, and one Of, the, chiel
bunch Of artificial flowers, making az
Inappropriate speech and kissing hi!
hands. When the grand master ar
rived at the. gates he knelt down be.
fore cross which had been erected
and the keys Of the city We're glver
that he would respect the privilege!
and franchises Of the city. After thi
The went to the cathedral to mass. ant
i then on back to Valletta.
i Cita Vecchia is In the centre of tht
Island and about on the top Of 1t. 1t !!
so high up that on a clear day thu
coasts Of both Sicily and Africa ma,
be seen from its walls.
Where st. Paul Stayed.