The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1910-02-24
From H. P. CARSCN
On board S. 5. Arabic, Cruising
the Mediterranean.

On board 5. ). Arabic, Cruising
the Mediterranean.
The visit to Madeira and its capital. (
Funchal, merits a chapter all to itself. |
So charming, 80 delightfully."- beautiful,
the scene of Funchal, with its bay sug
costing the famous hay Of Naples. SD
perlative adjectives were prevalent
alslong all the passengers during their
stay and since.
The island, the largest of the group
of five, first appeared like a mountain
rising OUT of the sea; then as we steam
ed along its southern shore it appeared
a mountain range with barren summit,
then white houses with yellow tiled
roofs amid fields terraced on the steep
mountain sides, and at the waters edge
occasionally a village. Our ship an
chored in front of Funchal, on the south
side of the island. The bright blue of
the southern sky above us, the green
mountain-side background and white
buildings terraced among the trees aud
flowers for two miles or more upwards
and along the gentler slopes of the shore
either way. At night the scene was all
brilliantly lighted with electric lights,
presenting a scene that called forth ex-
pr~essions of intense admiration and
pleasure.
To a landman on his first ship voy-
age the throng Of small boats and skiffs
that %thronged about our ship and the
diving of boys and men after the silver
coins thrown by some of the passengers
was another new scene The going
down two flights of stairway on the
side of the ship onto a launch and then
off it up another but stone stairway
without balustrade onto a stone pier,
woulaa not have seemed safe at first to
undertake; a few times doing it, how
ever, so perfectly accustoms n to it
that the performance is not much more
considered than going up and down
stairs on land.
Our passengers were divided into
parties, each with aguide whoconduct-
ed us along the narrow streets, not very
clean but paved with small pebble
stones, black and hard, houses or con-
crete walls on either side, to view the
scenes of most interest and importance.
Those who preferred rode in the sled
carriages drawn by small oxen, or in
an automobile. The sleds ran smooth
ly over the pavement, which is on ev-
cry street, the driver now and then
slipping a creased rag beneath each
runner. A boy before and a man
along side or behind the oxen prodding
and both man and boy shouting, be-
come the most familiar sound.
The event of the visit was the ride of
two miles up the mountain side on an
inclined railway and after visiting the
Church of the Lady of the Mount, q
600 feet above the city, and feasting the
eyes upon the enchanting view of the
city aud the bay from above, a view
not excelled for beauty and charm any
where, then the ride down in a basket
but cutter-like shaped toboggan going
ovel the pavement fast enough to make
smoke rise from the runners! Like 9th
ers / was at first fearful but ere the ride
wasended so enjoyed it I wished the stall
wart young fellows who had us in
charge would let us go faster. My COM
panions in that slide of my life wer a
doctor and his wife from Brooklyn, N.
Y.
AT night 1 attended the prayer meet
ing of the Methodist Mission and by
Invitation made greeting remarks as
did nine others of the twenty ministers
of our COMPANY, though we each had
to speak through al interpreter. Some
also afterwards visited the Casino, run
by Americans, and where a brilliant
ball was going on, with Monte Carlo
gambling on a small scale in a side
room, but open to those who cared 10
see women as well as men in such de
grading practice. The fairy-like, cleo
trio lighted gardens about the Casino
were a more enchanted scene.
Next day till noon more shopping
and sightseeing and study Of tie peo-
pie and we took n farewell, lingp'i' &
look on beautiful Madeira where the
struggle for life appears in that every
inch of soil is terraced III the mountain
side and irrigated tor cultivation. The
chief producer is sugar cane from which,
also are made rum and brandy lie
Roman Catholic is the state reli ion
and persecution awaits any who be
come connected will, any other denon,.
NATION. Famine sometimes occurs oi
the island. Most of the people are po"r
and beggars are on every hand, mostly
children though amongst them are
adults crippled or blind and those en-
feebled by age.
Our second stop was at Cadiz. in