The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-09-29
THE fsLAND orMAIirA.
''cc Consul liascll III. Dick Tells of
Visit to Interesting Place.


enroute from Marseilles to Port SAID
tells Of his visit to the Island of Malta
Il. & o. s. N. Co.,
y. =. Kaisar Hind, Aug. 25. 1915.
won't ashore for the day at Valetta
Malta. and despite the brilliant sun.
shine had a most enjoyable day.
We arrived at daylight and tied np
alongside the pier. After breakfast
mad my passport viscd. Joined party
and weAt ashore about nine in a
venetian like row boat After passing
the customs. military authorities we
started up town" Yea, verify II is
mp town too. for we had to take an
elevator to the top of the cliff. Steps
cut IN the sand stone led up. but the
eleyator was handler.
Atthe top n magnificent view OF
Malta Was obtained. AT our feet Law
the harbor. spreading into many coves.
and dotted with few warships and
merchaptmen. Across the harbor rose
sandstone cliffs with houses hewn
from their sides and others built of
sandstone blocks Beyond lay rolling
hillsywnich were bare except for scat
tered houses and many fences. Behind
MS lay the town for which we were
heading,
Psssing into the street we found
ourselves on u public square covered
with concrete blocks and at regular in
tervals were manhofes tightly cement
cd. found out that this was one of
the frmaries. This method of stor-
Ing grain Is employed In preference to
BUILDING warehouses. which require SO
much space. and is more efficient.
In walking around the streets II was
noticed that all the buildings were Of
sandstone. that all the streets were
cut into the cliff and. in the business
section. all OF them were straight.
Advertisements were printed In
English and in Maltese. On n movie
sign L saw advertised a reel I'm five
parts showing the destruction of the
American ship Victory" didn't
Know we had such vessel, but there
must have been one. II the movies had
n.
AT small shop we stopped to watch
n little girl make Maltese lace. The
facility and ease with which she work
ed was wonderful. Lace Is made on a
patterned pillow. and IL seemed to me
IN juIuble OF pins and thread attached
to lituc pencil like sticks OF wood, and
he lutle girl seems to be throwing
these -stisSs-aC0und In a very careless
manner. Yet she vas turning out the
lace,an right.
From this shop we went to see the
Altar OF Bones. We first went into q
cathedral, prepared as usual for
masses. and passed on through several
gates, down a flight ofistairs into a
courtyard. which we traversed, then
down another flight into a cavern dug
Into tho earth. Going into this place
we found the bones OF about 5000
men ALI soldiers who had fought for
the Independence OF Malta. The grue-
someness of the scene was forgotten
upon beholding and noting the careful
arrangement OF the various bones and
the beautiful designs into which they
had been made. In two inches, one
on each side of the altar. were the
skeletons Of the Maltese generals com
mandng the troops. On a little stand
at one side were Ave skulls. each with
n bullet hole. OF five Maltese rebels
against the French. Taking last
glance around We departed full of ad-
miradon at this means of the Maltese
of prcservlng the memory of the gal
liant soldlcrs of 1866.
Hcreupon we visited pub" to par
take tOf n small libation and feeling
fullygrcfreshed we hired two carriages
at two bob" per hour for n ride I'm
the country. Quaint vehicles these
carriages. short coupled. with small
seats for four. high wheels. canopy
covers and side curtains of khaki. For
tunatcly We had horses hitched to
ours Most of the other vehicles were
lsht two wheel cars pulled by donr-
eys.
90 tho way out to the gardens my
heart was delighted to hear familiar
sounds. and looking around. what do
you Think ] saw Nothing else but n
couple OF Ford automobiles chugging
aloTg tho excellent road. Now and
then we passed herds of mamie goats
with long grown shaggy hair. long
Hopping ears and uddcrs almost touch
Ing the ground. They were on their
usual round To be MIXED at the Gus
toners door. Well, I guess Dr. China =