Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1914-04-22
A. C. BAKER WRITES
ABOUT TRIP ABROAD


kets. They will only dive for silver
and it is said that at this point has
been thrown over copper cents suffi-
Gent to make the Foundation for one
the worlds greatest copper mines
Our boat at eight is brought to an
Choir, the stairway is dropped down
its side and the Portugees official
(this island being owned by Portu-l
gall boards our ship; our papers arei
ing out to carry us to the landing.
(I wish to say here that our ship
drawing so much water, thirty-seven
feet, that but once on our cruise were
we able to dock, but anchored usu-
ally mile from dock)
Soon the American hog is in evil
dence crowding and respecting no
other rights than what he imagines
his. AS the writer stood on the up
per deck and witnessed this entire
disregard for others he blushed for
his country-men, why this rush, are
We not all finally to land.
Soon sufficient boats are present
and we are landed at Funchal. Here
great reception was in store. No
sooner than landed we are surround
ed with mob of beggars; as we
crowd our way past them we wonder
why all this poverty. Soon We Sre
at the center Of traffic. There are
no horses on the island of MADEIRA,
the OK being used for nearly all hea-
Wy transport, and the long sled botn
winter and summer. These sleds nave
canopy top and seat four persons
and are seen on dill sides. The streets
are paved with small stones, about
half the size of an egg, placed in ro-
settle shape and in varied colors and
very pretty, and over these pave
ments the oxen haul their burden.
A driver and footman are with each
yoke, and to make the sled slip "a
creased rag is carried which is drop
ped under the runner by the driver
and picked up by the footman, greas-
ing the tire ard relieving the fric-
ton on the stone. One would be
surprised to see how we'll these sleds
serve their purpose as they use
them
A number of automobiles have
come to the island, and as we looked
about, our first to view was Mitchell
and the second an Overland. We pre-
ferred an auto to the OK cart of our.
childhood, so took our first ride by
the more modern conveyance.
A cog railroad of four miles takes
you up to the top of the mountain
where fine view of the harbor may
be had; fair hotel will furnish you
a lunch and, should you desire, the
ever present OK sled will be detached
from its propeller, and with push
from the driver you will seem to sail
down the mountain. This novel ex-
perience is INDUCED in by many OF
our eXcursionists. Il
Finally the writer took five mile!
tramp through the narrow streets9
Our first visit was to the beautiful |
hosiery, Reeds Palace hotel Here
We found a homelike place not sur 4
passed by any of these in our home
resorts. Its beautiful tropical pa
ito and surrounding park attracted
my admiration and the writer felt /.
ii would be pleasant place to spend
a winter
As we wandered through the wind
ing streets we took the liberty of in I,
,ruding into many beautiful patios
and parks. We passed through their
well kept grave yards and it was
pleasure to see the respect they
showed their dead. We have seen
IN no yard of our country, in so
small a city, better kept grounds. We
wondered into their shops; in no
shop that we entered did we fail to
see the ever present Madeira wine;
t is their greatest article or expert
and used by all the islanders. The
writer tested some, said to be TWEEN
y years old, and it did not appeal
o me; our California wine is far ,
superior. /;
The grape season was over and in
many VINEYARDS squash and other
vegetables were planted, and hang
ng high in the trellis were the RI 4
pening squash. Irrigation is used
mere and wherever water can be sup
Piled tropical fruit and sugar cane
are grown, but little of
he mountain has either water or
soil and only small oasis are cult
waited We purchased bundle of
beautiful mogand bella which winds
is way over walls and buildings,
and are satisfied we have not found
lat better land than our own.
Or ship is to sail at six We stand
deck and awaiting its departure
witness the beggars, divers, peddlers