The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-12

fare of few pennies.
 This Is a sad story to relate" said Mrs. Penney. flor while the men en- tered the mosque through the front door, we women were e.Iised to pass through an alley and go in by the back door. We could only proceed for a certain distance too from where we might gaze into the sacred precincts. Here was placed an enor- nous marble basin where the faith ful' washed their feet before going Into the holy place.
 These Arabs wore long boards and flowing garments with red and yell | low turbans"
 From Algeria they sailed through the wonderfully blue Mediterranean sea, past the Isle of Sicily with its smoking volcano. stroboli, to Naples, with it's rnarvelously beautiful harbor
 ''In Italy" said Mrs. Penny, every thing Is very cheap as the value of the Italian coin. the lire, Is so much reduced"
 We travelled" said she, under the auspices of the American Express company and in every town went to the express office for mail. It was like attending reception for we met so many people from the United States, Alabama and some from Bir- mingham. Soon we learned to dis tinguish the Americans and could tell them by the finest looking men and women and prettiest girls.
 Members of the party went down Into the crater of vesuvius and took pictures.
 At Sorrento we saw Caruso just 10 days before he died.
 We entered the Blue Grotto of Capri, in tiny boats. The blue phos phorscent light gives the effect of thousands of blue electric bulbs. The bodies of the little naked boys. div ing through the blue water for pen niss appeared as if made of silver.
 We spent the month of July in Italy where the people sang and danced through the whole night and slept for hours in the daytime. 1 We might have seen the Pope. but all the men of the party did not have with them the required dress suit, nor the women the thick wells which they must wear.
 At Pisa we visited holy burying ground where 700 ship loads of soil was placed. which was brought from Jerusalem In the time of the Crusad- CTS, that the dead might be laid in holy ground.
 we went to see famous things being made: Florentine mosaic. sta tues out of Carrara marble and Ve- netian lace and jewelry,
 Lido is a wonderful new resort across from Venice, on the Adriatio. where many rich South Americans come. Though we were much impressed In Italy by the terrible effects of the war, yet Milan seemed chsractristic of new things and of prosperity. When we went from Italy through the Slmplon pass 1t seemed like a romance of two worlds; all was so different.
 The mountains with their white peaks were below the snow line of a brilliant emerald green and the edel- weis and alpine roses were in full blossom. "As there was 8 cry hot summer last year, we saw a paradoxical flood, caused by heat and drouth. and made l by melting snow. At Lucerne we saw snow storm in August.
 During our stay in France we ex- pected to spend two days on the bat tlefieid, but 1t was such a harrow ing sight that we could only stand one days experience. In the de- vastated districts they are now mak- in,: splendid crops of wheat and oats.
 "The stores in Paris were crowded just as ours are at Christmas time or at an unusually great bargain sale, tables of goods even being placed upon the sidewalks, which were thronged so one could hardly pass. The reason given is that Germany is paying debts, and the French having money to spend. are indulging in an orgy of buying.
 Tn Belgium and Holland tourists are spoiled, as much attention is paid to them and the food Is so de- llightful.
 "we could hardly realize in Hol- land that we were in the twentieth century as the people stil wear the old time peasant costumes.
 Little boys and girls arc dressed alike, except for distinguishing matches on their caps.
 "Older boys wear long full bloomer trousers to their ankles and girls