Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-11-19
& ROUND THE WORLD N.. p
"A WITH PROF. PARKS Nsde'r'

the midst of the ocean, it's temperature
is equable, varying with uniform rsgu-
larity between SO and rs degrees. There
is no ice and no hot summer, but a
temperature varying only IL degrees
throughout the year. The city or
Fouchal has the most equable temper
allure in the northern hemisphere Such
conditions have made Madeira one of the
famous health resorts of the world at
tracing chiefly people from England
France Portugal and Spain
The island gives a suggestion of the
tropics without the tropical heat The
vegetation is semi-tropioal; massive
palm trees flourish on every side, while
grapes and fruits grow luxuriously 1
( saw oak trees, pine trees, chestnut
trees; bananas were growing, roSeaN
were in bloom, while heIiotropess fu-A
/ chias and geraniums were abundant
The sunny hills are cultivated to
their SUBMITS. the steep slopes being
reclaimed by rock walls. Some Of the
soil on the mountain sides was brought
on RATS from Sicily, and 1t is no won-l
der that land is dear and farms small.
] On such farms the natives cultivate the
grapes from which they make the fam
Gus Madeira mine.
At Madeira, most of the people are
poor, the laborers ordinarily receiving
about Is or 20 cents a day. The young
man who acted as a guide told me that
he expected some time to go to Ameri-
ca America good country" he said,
much money, Madeira no much mon
ey."
At the time this letter is writtenia
great steamship is lying in the Fouehal
harbor ready to take 1900 Portuguese
natives to Hawaii. where cheap labor
is needed, and Where the importation of
Z Io
strieted. :.
The poor women here have remarka-
Bile skill in needle work; though one
: dress requiring four months to make
was sold for only SIS. Even the little
girls and 5 years old are taught to
sew.
The greatest sport in Madeira is
riding on a SLED two or three miles
down the mountain side. The sleds
have comfortable cushioi.4c seats
placed on runners, and are guided down
the steep mountain by two native Por-
tuguese, who alternately run and ride
as the sled goes down. Sometimes a
speed Of nearly 20 miles an hour f.
maintained for a short distance. Many
Of the business men have sleds to
homes to the city below, but the sled
pleasure hunting tourists.
The start is made 1000 feet above
the sea- Below is the city and the har-
Dor dotted with boats and sails. The
silvery ocean lies spread out to the
farthest horizon, gTlstening in the
bright sunlight. The sled runs down
steep street, paved with cobble
stones, beautiruI at the sides with
vineclad hills and with picturesque
rsrsA
and mowers.
No doubt many readers VIII smile
at such a sport, but no visitor TO Ma
deira can AFFORD to miss the exhilarat-
| ing experience or the sled ride. II
is the fashion in Funchai, and far
more charming than a ride through
the dark and dismal tunnel under the
Hudson river in the PARKWAY United
states. 1t is far superior to the plain
mechanical toboggan slide in mod
ern city. The sled ride at Madeira Is
esthetic captivating, rejuvenating-it
is the poetry OF transportation
The houses at Madeira are built
stone and conglomerate, generally white,
with roofs of red tile They are built
close to the streets, rising in plain
straight lines at the edge Of the side
walks.
But inside OF the Detter nomess tHe dp-
pearance Is like fairyland. There are
courts and gardens. and fruit and flow
ers; flowers, flowers, such flowers! such
indescribable beauty! One man. in
burst of enthusiasm, said that he had
not seen anything so beautiful in all
his life.
Another New York citizen, long busy
with Office life, and long hedged about
by the artifcialities OF civilization, en-
joyed himself greatly; after the ox-sled
drive, after the sled-ride and after see
ing and tasting the choice things OF the
island, he declared that he had not
passed so happy a day since he was
boy.
1t is said that Columbus once lived on
this island, and that here he married.
One of the tourists looked up the locar
ton where the great discoverer Is re-
ported to have lived. An old man an
swered the questions asked, finally and
abruptly terminating the colloquy with
the statement:
christopher Colombo. he no i've here
row; he dead"