The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1908-07-30
Some Geographical
14lisinformation.

w.
The country lies in the temperate
zone, but may yet become too hot to
hold Leopold. South of Belgium lies
France. The Frenchman, as everyone
knows, is a light, frivolous creature,
given to batrachian diet, and wild,
mad can-cans after supper. Paris is
a large city, thronged with the departed
spirits of good Americans, who are
doubtless responsible for the recent
Improvements of its moral tone. For
real French wickedness of the good,
old-fashioned kind, it is necessary to
visit provincial town. Take for in
stance, day from the life of q French
lawyer at Bordeaux or Toulo use. He
rises at seven, eats his sybarltic break
fast of coffee and rolls, proceeds to
his depraved business from eight to
six, and has the audacious, unblushing
effrontery to return to his wife and
family for the evening. I shall not
sully my page with the unbridled
orgies of cribbage, chess and patience
in which he wastes his leisure hours;
a charitable veil should be drawn over
them-he is fellow-mortal.
Spain is now q safe country thru
which to travel. With good rife and
q couple of regiments of soldiers, it is
now possible to visit any part of the
Peninsula without losing anything
more than your money or clothes.
The naughty pride of the Spanisrd is
his principal industry, but give him to
understand that You are an American,
and he will welcome you to his bosom.
Beyond the Alps lies Italy" inhab-
tied by cheerful race who hold a
hand-organ in one hand, stick of
garlic in the other, and q stilett0 up
their sleeve. The Italians are race
of artists, and prefer the stiletto to the
bomb. A nice study of character can
be obtained by visiting an Italian po-
iitical meeting and casually observing
that Garibaldi was a liar, a thief and
a rascal. Venice is an elegant town,
nearly as pretty as Mississippi village
in f1ood-time. For consideration, a
comic-opera boatman will row you
about in leaky hearse. enabling you
to recapture thrill of the old romance
and q touch of the old rheumatism.
Aud now, ladies and gentlemen,
shall misguide you to the gem of our
collection.
1.-The isles of Greece! The isles of Greece!
Where burning SapphO loved and sung,
Where grew the arts of war and peace,
Where Delos rose and rhoebus sprung!
I'll show you all the isles of Greece,
For fifty paltry plunks apiece"
Considerations Of space, however,
forbid complete analysis of the gi-
gantic art-movement which COM
menced with Homer and the Parthe-
non, and has eliminated in George
AIDE and the skyscraper; suffice it to
say that the Greeks did considerable
on artistic lines, considering that they
had to write in dead language.
Turkey is chiefly remarkable because
the Turks have several wives at the
same time, instead of having them one
after the other in the civilized manner.
The Turk is q very brave man. Then
too there is Constantinop!e, Of which
the proverb says, "Smell Constanti-
nopIe aud die suddenly" Other Euro
pean nations of some moment are
Austria, where the "Merry Widow"
waltz was hatched (an armed coalition
against Austria is IN process of form
ation,, the Scandinavian countries,
where they raise butter, eggs and prob
lem-plays, and Switzerland, where the
scenery comes from and where the
hotel-keepers will get you II you don't
watch out.
Then there is Russia. Russia, until
recently, filed about half the map of
Europe. This theory, along with q
few Grand Dukes, is now exploded.
Russia is also deeply marked with
those class-distinctiOns which have SO
happily disappeared from more enlight-
ei.ed countries. The Russian peasant,
too, is very conservative and conteDted
with his lot. His is the. simple life.
Ha rises early, kills sheep and q couple
of Jews for breakfast, puts in the