The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1911-08-03
ALETTER FROM ACROSS
THE WIDE ATLANTIC.
THE OLD WORLD AS VIEWED
CLOSELY BY AN INTELLI-
GENT OBSERVER.
Editor County Record:

SOQlASs
To the American student a visit
to Europe is the realization of a life
time dream, for it really means a
Journey through classic lands. Juda-
ism and Christianity in their origin
and development are inseparably
connected with the lands and places
visited, Spain, Puteoli, Rome, Naples
Florence, Venice. etc, represent null
titude of interests from the early
dawn of. human history down to the
present time; but to many in our
party, mostly teachers. their charm
grows out of their relation to litera-
ture and history.
We sailed with party of seven
teen Texans and twenty'six from 9TH
er States, from New York on the
Berlin" the most elegant steamer
in the Mediterranean trade. TIE
voyage was a fine one-the finest
ship, excellent fare, good service. a
smooth sea, cool breezes. Some from
your State sailed on smaller steamers
and had a longer voyage on their
slow boats. On our voyage we
called at the Azores, which were a
welcome sight, with coast towns,
vine-clad hills and snow-capped
mountains. A few days later Portu-
gal and Spain, then stop at Glbral-
tar, the greatest fortress in the
world, forever linked with the name
of Nelson, argus-eyed with 365 can
non to stand guard over the narrow
strait through which so much of the
commerce and travel of the world
must pass. Paul in the Oath chapter
of Romans, and oath to 2Sth verses,
speaks of a journey to Spain. We
were here on Sunday and some of
our party visited the Spanish nation
al game, a bull fight" where four
bulls and five horses were killed and
one man seriously gored. Over
20. 900 people were present.
Algiers, the queen of North Afri-
ca, which, the Arab says. is a dia-
mond set in emeralds." the city be-
ing the diamond and the green hills
the emeralds. Here European cul-
ture has trampled over Moslem life,
as was evidenced by what was seen
in Gibraltar. AS we steamed toward
Naples, we passed between Sicily and
Sardinia, where we had a fine view
of houses on the Sandman coast es-
pecially. Early on Wednesday morn
ing we entered the far-famed Bay
of Naples, landing not very far from
Puteoli, where the great Apostle
Paul landed on his journey to Rome.
Apart from the charm and beauty OF
Naples is that wonder of wonders,
Vesuvius, and Pompeii. The proverb
will ever remain true: He who has
not been in Naples has not seen ita-
ly." The most characteristic street
scenes may be witnessed here. Street
cooks have set up stoves and carry
on a brisk trade in macaroni, fish,
potatoes, etc, while chatting, shout
ing, gesticulating crowds pass
through these streets from the early
morning till midnight. While vendors
of fruit, boiled tripe and sweet-meats
cry out their wares, quack doctors
extol their remedies, long professions
of fat priests or monks are seen in
contrast with the tattered and par
entless street-unchins who look out
with keen eyes for something to al
Law their hunger. Quarreling women,
deafening cries here and there and
fighting boys amused our party. Ma
pies is the noisiest city in the world.
Pompeii, with a population OF
10000 people, was buried during the
eruption of Vesuvius in 79 A D. A
few years ago it was discovered. The
excavated part is about half of the
CITY. Here the Forum, several tenn
ples and public buildings, two thea
tres many large dwelling houses and
the amphitheater are to be seen IN
+ba streets can be seen the deep ruts