The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1908-11-10

Not the least interesting of all the
places at which the American fleet
Will touch in its sail round the earth
Will be the little island of Malta in
the Mediterranean sea, south Of Sic
lily. There the great fleet Of battle
ships will stop on its way home from
the Pacific to the Atlantic, via the
Suez canal. Outside of diplomatic,
naval and military circles, little is
known of this mere speck upon the
map of Europe.
Students of history will perhaps re-
call the presence there of Napoleon
l., who pillaged the churches, stripping
them Of their gold and silver, and
shipping the booty away, only to have
his vessel founder in a gale and los
ing all. To-day, in the churches are
solid silver gates and vessels that
were overlooked by Napoleons men
for the reason that they were painted
black to deceive the eye of the van
dals.
On the northwestern shore of this
island is st. Pauls bay, clearly identi-
fled with the apostles shipwreck and
made the subject of many famous
paintings, adjoining the walls of the
churches in Valletta, the principal city
of the island.
The stirring history of the Knights
of Malta is forcefully present in all
its romance, and the island is rich in
relics of these valiant men. To the
feminine mind, Maltese lace that ever
popular fabric, is suggested, although
this material is not directly connected
with the island of Malta, the lacema
kers living upon the adjoining island
of Coco.
Most important of all-England has
these islands, making Malta the base
of supplies. coaling station, garrison
and rendezvous of the Mediterranean
squadron. From the British, the Amer
lean admiral and his officers will re-
ceive attention. The sailors will view
the island in its simple life, explore
catacombs and visit the ancient Cit
ia Vecchia. At San Antoine the officers
will be entertained by the duke of
Connaught, who is at present COM
mander-in-chief of the military forces
of the Mediterranean.
On the fourth day after leaving Glib
raltar, the traveller to the east finds
himself in the Malta channel, strip
between Sicily and Malta Upon
bright days the snow-clad peak of
Etna makes itself visible. At the south
the rocky shore of Coco is outlined.
Eastward, bright in it's orange color,
lies Malta.
One is first impressed with it's
snow-white buildings, low and solid,
and with the spires of the churches.
In the distance the huge dome of Mus
ia church, The third largest in the
world, stands like a sentinel, guarding
the people of the old city in the cen
ter of the island. This church.. with
its huge dome, was built by natives
who worked only upon Sundays and
holidays and without wages, the labor
covering a period of q years. No
scaffolding was used in its construc-
ton.
The two great harbors spread their
arms invitingly and within there is
ample anchorage for the big 16" fleet
Of Uncle Sam. The huge breakwater,
poking its nose into the channel.
speaks of the enterprise of the Eng
fish in protecting this wee spot from
tempests.
The buildings skirt the shore of the
harbor. rising abruptly to the emin-
ence that forms the principal thor
oughfare of the city of Valletta.
Up through the narrow stone streets
you are driven to the hotel, passing
upon every hand men who wear the
uniform of King Edward. The bare
footed, or sandaled, native trudges
leisurely along. Here and there one
sees a group of Maltese women, their
faces half-hidden beneath the faldette.
This primitive race is deeply at
tached to their national usages for
which other nationalities sometimes
show lack of consideration. The fall
dette is a peculiar mantilla of black
silk worn by the women, 1t is some