The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1914-06-19
THINGS AS THEY SEEMED TO BE
For to behold and for to see
The wonders of this world so wide

when we turned in after our night in
Monte Carlo, and five in the morning
when we turned out and breakfasted
on rolls and coffee, as we wanted an
early start to see Nice, which lies to
the westward of Vile Frauche. The
ride in the early morning out along
the Cornish road, along the bluff over
looking the sea, and under the cliffs
on which were built chateaux and
villas, all surrounded with park-like
gardens. The houses were of a sort
of stucco, with red-tiled roofs, and
looked very pleasant and cool.
Nice is a pretty little town, with
it's little shops and it's large gardens
and parks. Beautiful statues stand
IN different parts of the park, while
a large monument stands in the cen
ter of the square. The Casino which
is not as large or imposing as the
one at Monte Carlo, is situated by the
edge of the water, and built out over
it. 1t was too early in the morning
for it to be in operataion, besides the
season had hardly opened yet. Nice
is a winter resort, and does not get
much under way before the middle of
November. From the ship, as we
drew away, the little village of Vile
Frauche looked like the drop curtain
of a comic theater.. At eleven we
drew of and were soon sitting around
watching the 120 new shipmates get
settled and adjust themselves to our
already settled ways. AS go of them
are Germans, it takes considerable
gutteral and gesticulating converse
ton to get them fixed. In the after
noon we steamed past Corsica and
Elbe, so closely associated with the
last years of Napoleon's sad life's
history-spent so near oFrance and
Italy, ans yet restrained from going
to them. Sardinia was passed later.
A gorgeous sunset pointed sea and
sky in colors impossible to the brush
of an artist.
November 4th-At six this morning
we moved our watches forward seven
ty-one minutes. We are truly max
ing time these days, only, alas! to lose
it later when we will fall back into
our former lazy gait. We are just off
Naples, but too far away to see even
the glow from Mount Vesuvius. At
four we came in sight of Stromboi, a
volcanic island belonging to the Ii
parean group. This group covers a
space of some forty-five square miles,
two of the islands being volcanic. The
steam was issuing from the crater of
Stromboli, and hung like cap over
the top of the island, which is cone
shaped. The island is inhabited, and
a pleasant little village nestled at
the base of this slumbering monster.
Grapes, figs and currants are raised
here. While we passed the evening
lights were kindled in the little ham,
let. One lady said: "Oh, my, would
not want to live there; one could not
SCI CNCA luC @dulSo JUL oA'
When we had finished dinner we
found ourselves in the Straits of Mes
sina. The straits, guarded by Scylla
and Charybdis, where more vessels
have been wrecked than on any other
spot on the Atlantic, for in escaping
the one they frequently ran afoul of
the other, on account of the strong
current that sets in from the one
point to the other. The two towns
of Reggie and Messina, the first in
Italy and the other in Sicily, lie eth
came familiar names to us on account
of the frightful earthquake about two
years ago, which destroyed Messina
almost entirely, and wrecked Reggie
very badly. The towns are rebuilding
rapidly and were brilliantly lighted.
The barracks of the soldiers in both
cities, with their regularly laid-out
streets and lines of light, presented
a fine appearance, and, with a bril-
liant light from the moon, made a
picture long to be remembered.
November 5th-Sabbath morning
broke clear and calm. We attended
services and found we were travelling
over some of the course that Paul
took from Caesarea to Rome on his
memorable trip when he had appeal
ed his case to the highest earthly
tribunal. We were between Fairha-
ven and Miletus, but unlike Paul no
contrary wind drove our good ship
Cleveland from her course upon the
rugged shores, but instead calm seas
and clear skies accompanied us upon
our way. A few ships and small boats