Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1922-04-05

existed In this island paradise were a
few birds. Through colonization Ma
deira and Porto Santo were soon
peOp.ed and today the former has a
density 81 population nearly three
times that OF the mother country,
Portugal. Then began the pouring into
Madeira ~ the floral good things OF
the earth. a procedure which has
made Il a wonderland for hotanists. OF
primary economic Importance was the
Introduction 81 sughr-cane from Sicily.
soon a very important sugar industry
had been built up. Grapes were
brought In from Crete. and by the time
~ the American Revolution the IA
nous Madeira wine had shouldered
sugar from its place OF importance.
Not a Prosperous People.
In spite ~ the wonderful climate
and soil 81 Madeira. its inhabitants
arr not very prosperous. This fact Is
probably chiefly due 10 the marked
density OF the population. 10 the lack
~ an adequate educational system,
and 20 the brake applied 10 initiative
by some ~ the governmental and is
cal regulations. Because 81 the pres
sure ~ population many OF the young
people have emigrated during the past
few decades. Illiteracy Is widespread.
The people 81 Madeira have many
strains in their blood. Italians. Jews,
Moors. negro slaves. ard English have
all contributed elements, but the
Portuguese have always been incOm-
narably the most important factor.
and the resulting men and women are
undeniably dark. swarthy sons and
daughters II Portugal. Members OF
the upper classes are courtesy itself.
After wine production. Madeirat
most important industry Is its tour.
Isl traffic. For more than half a cen
fury the island has been the sun-parlor
81 the English. the white officials from
the African colonies. and numerous
Europeans. But to most Of the tour
lists Madeira Is Funchal, the little city
OF $4,000 population which nestles.
cleaning white. In a big amphithea-
ter on the south side 81 the island and
which has many of the modern facili-
ties which the outside world expects.
Funchars harbor Is only a roadstead.
but Il Is never deserted. for the city
lies az an ocean crossroads Of the
routes that lead between the Strait OF
Gibraltar and the West Indies and
South America. and between South
Africa and England. And IL had In
pre-war days lines that piled directly
10 England. the Canar1es, the Azores
and Portugal.
The PERCEPTIONS streets OF Funchal
compelled the use Of sledges instead
81 wheeled vehicles In the early days,
and these quaint and primitive We
hIcles are still Ia use. The motive pow
or is usually supplied by oxen aud
some of the sledges are luxuriously
fitted out with elaborate canopies. A
thrill can be gotten from Funchafs
primitive vehicles not surpassed by
that from the racing automobile. Tor
II IS customary I'm descending from
the hills 70 coast down over the cob
blestones on small sleds with creased
runners. one OF the regular excur-
SfuuS Tor tWMElNAN W AANAaAs NfNA
though they stay In the island but
Few hours. Is n trip 20 an elevation or
200 feet above the harbor by n cog
railroad and an exciting slide down.
walkers climbing the hills about the
city regularly arrange 70 have livery
sleds- meet them NJ certain points on
the heights that they may coast back
90 the lower levels.
Funchal's cog railroad gives access
70 several level roads which wind
about the faces Of the hiss back or
the city afrording excellent views OF
the city and roadstead below. Open
ing upon these and farther up near the
terminus OF the railroad are the show
places Of the city. In some Of these
villa estates are 20 be found gardens
~ flowers and shrubs and trees whose
beauty i probably unsurpassed any
where IN the world.