The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-02-09

sorts for consumptives, were 1t better known1 On the little island of Corvo, there is another extinct crater, now filled With lake. It is on the island of St. Mfchaefs, however, on which Ponta Del gada is located, that one comes upon the most startling of the volcanic relics, Hero in the valley of the Furna~s es minia- ture Yellowstone park. Boiling water bubbles up out of the ground at the side of ice-cold water Iron water springs are only a step away from sulphur springs. The most remarkable of the geysers is the Pedro Botelho geyser, To- cated at the foot of a tall cliff with an opening about three feet in diameter. It throws out blue mud with such a con- stant rumble that the Azoreans have made it a legendary vent-hole of hell.
 The Furnas waters have very distinct medicinal value. and the district has been so ably laid out in parks and gar dens and wildly seulptured by the volcanic forces which formed the island. that it is one of the unique spots of the world. If it were better known, no resort would be more popular for wealthy Americans pr. Jsiah Muir of New York has analysed the waters and has called the carbon gaseous water found at Lom- badas. on the island of St Michaels. the sanitary water of the world.'
 COLUMBUS CHURCH
 There are nine islands in the archi- pelago; St. Michaers, St. Mary's, Ter ceira, St. George. Graciosa, Fayal, Pico, Flores and Corvo. Qt was on the island of St. Mary's or Santa Maria, that Co., lumbus touched on February IS, 149S. The church still stands at Anjos where part of his crew returned thanks in a semi nude condition, in fulfillment of VOW made during the storm which struck them on their return from America.) Ex- cept for Flamengos on the island of Fayal, valley where Flemish emigrants settled long ago. the inhabitants are of Latin origin. Their religion is the Ro- man Catholic The language is Portu- guese. Bull fighting, introduced centuries ago in the days of the Spanards. now has been outlawed except in the island of Terceira.
 The rich and middle classes do not diff fer materially from the continental stand ards. The peasant classes, however, still perpetate the typical customs of the islands. Their dress consists in the case of the men, of suit of homespun cot ton, flax or woolen stuff, and hat to match the balance of the attire. The outfit is spun at home and. coupled with bare feet, with the dazzling white build ings of Ponta Delgada for background leaves flavor never to be erased from the memory.
 The native amusements are strictly linn ited. They are confined chiefly to re- ligious festivals, for which distant rel atives and friends come together to dance, sing and renew their bonds. In some of the rural parishes, it is an ancient custom to present plays in the open air. stage is made and great numbers of the peasantry come to witness the spec tacle. Nearly every village has it's brass band and most of them are very good.
 On this foundation. lay down stra- tum of American naval officers and men, and you will have the modern semi Americanized town of Ponta Delgada. American officers are members of the Portuguese club American naval cars thread the winding, narrow streets There is American ragtime in the new United States restaurant run by an