The Lexington progress. (Lexington, Tenn.) 1884-current, 1922-12-01

exceedingly difficult for me to order
meals or do anything else except
watch omeon else do it. My room
overlooked the Rhine, a very impress
sive river, quite clear and swift, and
the traffic upon it impressed me very
much more thoroughly. Germany was
utilizing her waterways more than
any other country through which l
had passed. 1 understand France has
a greater number and a greater mile
Iage of waterways, but it does not
strike me as if they were utilized to
the extent that Germany utilities her
waterways. The banks of all its
streams seem to be in perfect order;
either grass to the waters edge, or
where the banks are inclined to slide,
rock walls. And the channel of wa
ter has been narrowed to the point
that it will CORY some craft, and
whatever that water will carry they
have built craft to meet it.
/ really think our soldiers r lcthe
to leave Cobelentz. Living is cheap
labor is not heavy. We were very
fortunate in knowing Major Andrews,
whose car was at our service, and in
that way we saw most items of inter-
est in and around Coblentz. They
were having their polo games, their
racing, and all out-of-door sports.
And let me say here, much to your
disgust, that | have come to the con-
clusion that no country can become
very advanced, or very great, that
does not encourage out-of-door sports.
In the meantime we heard nothing
from Newton, or the conditions that
confronted him in Constantinopie. We
left Coblentz, going direct to Geneva.
Most of this trip was through Switz-
erland, a most wonderful country to
me. Everything is clearly. They are
cultivating their mountain sides in
vineyards and in gardens, where it
looks hardly possible for a goat to
maintain a foothold. AS in Bavaria,
oxen seem to be the beasts of burden,
being harnessed to carts and to plows,
and used in whatever way it is neces-
sary. You are still impressed with
the labor of the individual, the num-
Der of women at work and the little
use Of machinery. Geneva itself is a
very beautiful city, clean, up-to-date,
but the hall in which they assemble,
and their business offices, were open
to the public. Had l plenty of money
to retire, | would live in Geneva, but
as | have said to you before, "if' is an
impossible word, so | shall spend my
days back at Wales.
From Geneva we went down the cen
ter of Italy to Rome. With its snow
capped granite mountains on the one
side, with its sunshine and its beau
tiful waters dotting the country, it is
a beautiful condition to look over, but
by far the least appealing country
that l visited. Very little agricultural
country, but small vineyards, where
nothing else would grow;using entire
ly magnificent oxen, white oxen for
all services. | do not remember see-
ing any other animal except the don
key, at work along the entire route.
As you know, | cart very little for
city or city life, or great public build
ings, but | do wish / had the power to
portray to you an impression Of
Rome. st. Peters, the Vatican, the
Forum, the Coliseum-the two former
in their present magnificent condi-
ton, the two latter as ruins of an an
cient and very strong period-all
leave impressions too great for an un-
cultivated mind like my own. Major
Clancy, an Attache Of our Embassy
there, was exceedingly kind and cour-
teous to Mrs. White, and myself, in
not telling US the points Of interest,
but in showing and explaining them
to US. The Appian Way, Of ancient
renown, is not much Of a highway,
but exceedingly interesting in that
along its entire way is the ancient
burial ground of the nobility, and the
ruins Of tombs that ale still left can
not help but create wonder at the life
|of that period.
From Rome to Naples, again, we
were very fortunate in a good hotel
and a room overlooking the Bay Of
Naples, but to 90 back Just a little,
just as we were leaving Rome, we re-
ceived q message from Newton that
conditions at Constantinople would
permit his return, and that he would
meet US back in Paris upon a certain
date. OF course this fastened our
trip through Italy, but we motored
from Naples, to othe destroyed city of
Pompeii. do not think that | have
met or seen anything on this trip that
impressed me more Shut your eyes,
let your mind run riot, and see if you
can e ruins that have been covered
for two thousand years, bodies Of the
inhabitants still portraying their suf-
fering as they were destroyed by We
suvis. ! tbs wonderful, and l doubt If
your mind viii portray il. The ewes
take in so much more than the mind.