Goldsboro weekly argus., 1909-03-11

We ride over cobblestones of very
small size, with which the streets are
paved, and it is surprising with what
speed and smoothness you can ride
Transportation of merchandise and
even casks of wine are carried
through the streets on bullock sledges
and the drivers seem quite expert in
keeping the casks from tumbling over
the runners, although they are not
fastened to the sledges.
AS we ride up the mountain on a
steam road we pass a great many
stone habitations and many in course
of construction, likewise many hand
some villas, summer resorts, hotels
and even churches on the higher
places. We took our lunch at the ter
minus, at Reid's Hotel, run by and
Englishman. The view is fine over
looking the shipping and the ocean.
The "Grosser Kurfurst, our steam
er, about 600 feet long, looks like a
toy boat from this elevation. But the
most novel experience was our ride
back to the lower end of town; it is
ride on sledges and nothing more
than a toboggan slide. The ladies
| don't take we'll to the idea OF riding
down Oh these sledges, but finally
gather courage when they see most
every one Of our company are pre-
| pairing for the trip. Three is the ca
pacity of a sledge. They are guided
! by two natives, who hold to ropes
attached to the sledge. We make the
descent in about five minutes, and it
would be astonishing to see with what
dexterity and speed they manage the
sledges, avoiding collisions, and espe-
cially how they can keep on their feet
and keep their breath at the rate of
speed they make. They land US safe
ly and without jar at our destination
and seem to be very grateful for the
we1l-deserved tips,
We have several hours left to do
the town, which surely is interesting.
The ladies Of our company you find
in every shop bargain and souvenir
hunting. If a great white goods sale
had been we'll advertised, 1 question
whether many of our lady friends
would not have been left behind. An
other interesting feature was the div
ing men and boys, which surround
every incoming steamer and furnish
good amusement for visitors. These
Iswimmers hold themselves poised il
their boats ready to dive for any sill
yer coin that may be thrown in the
water. They do not go to the bottom
for the coins, but catch them on theil
descent, and it seems incredulous how
many and how quickly they recover
them from the water.
| From a distance FunchaH looks
white and fair as a dream and loses
very little of its beauty and pictur
esqueness on nearer inspection. The
crowds Of gaily kerchiefed women
the Spanish banditti looking men, tht
scantily draped virgins, the house:
with stuccoes astonishing1y fresh ane
Of bright colors, the crowded shop:
and fruit markets. are full of pictur
esque effects. While not much Of ar
has contributed to its beauty, nature
atones for all shortcomings, the ter
| IIdCGu uSuS giving d SL1 SCI
ting to the quaint houses.
The climate is one of the charm,
of Madeira. This is evident from it!
temperature, the average summel
: heat being IA degrees and the aver
age winter 64 degrees. Frost is en-
> tirely unknown except on the highe1
attitudes.
Owing to these ideal conditions Ma
deira is a favorite resort for invalids
and especially consumptives and pull
monary troubles, all except in ex
treme cases, soon disappear.
The populations of the islands il
about 100000, of which nearly one
third live at Funchan and suburbs
The people, as a rule, are ignorant
Perhaps not over 20 per cent. can reae
or write, and their morals are not O
a high order. I learn that in regare
: to the urban population this seems tt
be even woefully worse.
At 6 o'clock we re-embark having
made accession to our passenger lis
by several groups Of Americans ant
Spaniards, and are now riding thu
= blue ocean on our way to Gibraltar
where we are due at o'clock tomor
row morning, and expect to stop fo1
: half a day to see the town and cita
> del.
l will now close this letter, as
want to join a party playing shuttle
board.
!, Should the spirit move me, ma.
write another letter later.
With best greetings to yourself ant
all our friends, I remain
Your friend,
HENRY WE'LL.