Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1913-11-08

lew Gays OF d le" NtthS VI
- few months in a warm country,
to escape the rigors OF our win
tiers. there is no more delightful
pace than Bermuda. The Bermuda Is
handsome big and many small ones
are in the sub-tropical belt, with the
temperature always warm and delight
ful in the winter months. One has
there practically all the delights of
tropical country, without the piping
hot temperatures.
The Bermudas lie about 700 miles
southeast of New York, are out in the
Atlantic. Men OF science tell US that
they are the remnants of the ancient
Atlantic coast of this continent-the
old sand dunes hardened by exposure
TO the elements, the infiltration of rain
and whatnot. 1t is an interesting fact
that most persons speak of them as
coral formations. There is an abund-
ance OF coral In Bermuda waters; in
fact, were it not for the wonderful
coral reefs which surround the islands
they might have been washed away
ages ago by the great storms of the
Atlantic. But as for the islands them
selves. it is said they are not coral at
all, but hardened sand 1t is also in
teresting to note that this hardened
sand provides the stone of which
nearly all Bermuda houses are built.
The quarries on the main island are
well worth examining. There the
stone is broken out with long crowbars
or sawed out by hand. The buildings
which are made of this stone are
whitewashed. All of them have green
blinds and ALL Of course, are sur
rounded by a profusion of sub-tropical
vegetation, with vari-colored blossoms
and foliage OF many shades of green
There is no more grateful sight in the
world to those on the incoming pas
senger steamships than the little vii
lagos and the scattered homes on the
northern slopes Of the Bermudas, nes-
tied among the beautiful green of the
islands the dark cedars and the light
er palms.
Many Things of interest.
One is within close view of the is
lands for several hours before the
Great Sound is entered and landing
place made at Hamilton. The~reason
for this is that the steamships have to
skirt along the coast southeastward
outside of the coral reefs. A turn Is
made not far from Saint Georges, the
old capital, and the vessel then turns
back along the main island inside of
the reefs, and eventually turns into
the Great Sound. Saint Georges con-
tains many things Of interest to visit
ors. This city is the oldest on the is
lands and was founded, it Is believed,
by Sir George Somers. 1t will be
noted by visitors that many of the
streets are very narrow, not permit
ting Of the passage of more than one
vehicle at time, and are lined with
high walls. 1t is said that they were
SO built so as to make 1t more easy
to repel attacks of buccaneers, who
were wont to use the beautiful Castle
harbor as an anchorage place for their
craft. Castle harbor also was a regu-
lar station for southern blockade run
ners during the Civil war, and there
was a good deal of sea fighting near
the Bermudas.
Hamilton. where the ships land. is a
more modern city, but is fully as de-
lightful in many ways as is Saint
Georges. North OF Hamilton are many
lovely homes and gardens. The drive
from Hamilton to Saint Georges, espe-
cially along the north shore, is a con-
slant delight, with its turns around the
little bays and indentations and hav-
ing the great Atlantic always In view.
About half way to Saint Georges one
crosses the beautiful inlet to Harring-
ton sound. Viewed in some lights this
stream Is like a great chain of many
colors.
Caves Are Wonderful
II one does not care to continue the
drive along the ocean, he can continue,
without crossing the inlet, around the
right side of Harrington sound, which