Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-12-19
The HQski,1 Letter . .sz as:s;.
ROYAL EXILES.

, your invasion Of Spain no Englishman
could put any confidence in your most
solemn engagements"
As long as he lived at st. Helena,
Napoleon was great object of inter-
est. The population Of the island
doubled during his stay there, partly
because ships stopped there more fire.
quently. Officials came to see and
report on the prisoners condition, and
dispatches came and went.
St. Helena prospered then. But
since Napoleon's time, it has become
more and more isolated. Steamers
rarely find it necessary to stop, and in
consequence residents become dissatis-
fled and leave the island. Then, too,
rats and pests have laid seige to the
island SO that it is more desolate today
than when Napoleon rallied against its
gloominess.
Charles will also undoubtedly attract
business to his island. He will prob
ably become guidebook sight for tour
ists-a trial Napoleon never had to
stand in his remote, then Inaccessible
refuge. From reports of Charles first
days in his new home, he will not like
the gaze of the curious any better than
Napoleon did. Napoleon scarcely went
anywhere because of the staring groups
that gathered to see him pass. Charles
is said to be taciturn and unwilling to
enter the social life of Funchal.
A Healthy Prison
1t is rather strange that both St
Helena and Madeira should be well
known for their health giving climates
Both have been long regarded as ex-
cellent places for tuberculosis patients
because Of the dry. balmy air, never
very hot nor very cold.
Madeira, especially, has attracted a
good many invalids, though now it en-
joys more widespread popularity with
healthy people who are sufficiently af-
fluent to 20 in search of congenial
climate in mid-winter.
There is an interesting story of
proposed sanatorium for Madeira
Nearly 20 years ago officials of a Ger
man syndicate appeared on the island
and set forth plan to build sana-'
forum with q number of free beds set
aside for poor consumptives of Madeira
Portugal agreed and the building was
erected Arrangements were made to
bring in large quantities of furniture
duty free because of the philanthropic
character of the project.
But after the furniture was landed
and the building was nearly ready for
business, the sanatorium in some way
became hotel with an annex to be
used as a sanatorium. The project
took on distinctly commercial as
pect. An investigation was ordered
and the building was found to have gun
emplacements concealed in the walls
1t was further revealed that nearly o
mile of land along the sea front had
been bought by the syndicate.
The promoters whoshad been SO pop
ular until then in Funchal were sent
away at once And the sanatorium-
hotel fort lay vacant 1t has been said
that a part Of this building may be
used by ex-Emperor Charles as his
permanent residence.
Wherever he lives in Madeira
Charles will be surrounded by flowers.
The luxuriant foliage and gorgeous
blooms of the island are famous. Red
poinsettias that we have as dollhouse
plants at Christmas are profuse in
Madeira. Purple wistaria, lilies. camel
las, and violets are only few of the
scent laden flowers which make great
masses of color on the island land
scape.
Pine woods add to the charms Of
Madeira, and there are fruits in abund
ance-the custard apple, pineapple
oranges, figs, not to mention the grapes
for which Madeira is most famous.
Altogether, considering his prospects
and surroundings, many people would
say that Charles is fallen monarch
to be envied rather than pitied.