Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1922-01-20
IN THE DAYS NEWS
CORSICA

Corsica is one of the Mediterranean
reasons advanced by France in her
claim that her navy was necessary to
defend her possessions in three seas The
| following bulletin concerning Corsica,
! from the National Geographic Society, is
based on notes by CSfton R. Adams, re-
Gently returned from this island Deport-
ment of France:
| Rev people know Corsica as more
than a 1.-THE island, the birthplace Of the
Emperor Napoleon and the home Of an
| alrhosts savage race. But today because
| 1t is SO little known lit is one Of the most
| delightful corners of the earth
ut history is astonishing. So many
races have scugh for it in the obscure
centuries that the present day Corsican
| is mixture, exhibiting many of the ra-
cal traits of the adventures from Tyre
and Phoeaieia the Goth, Vandal, Moor
and Saracen as we'll as the Roman, Ge-
hoesce and Pisan of the later centuries.
THE love of liberty is still strong and
in some Of the smaller mountain towns
the older men say that they never ceased
fighting for independence until after Au-
gust IA, 1863, when the island was fern
ally declared a French possession. By a
strange prank of fate, Napoleon Bona
parte was born on that day in the beau
jtiful port of Ajaccio, with its Grange and
almond groves it's mimosa tres and its
|
During the struggles of later years
| PaSquale Paoli appeared as the leader of
the Corsicans against the oppression of
Genoa and while he in turn was forced
| to submit to the rule of France he is con-
sidered the real hero of Corsica and his
1 picture can be seen in many a mountain
home to this day. His tomb is the shrine
of Corsica. Tales still are told CT his
| simplicity and scorn of luxury After he
/ was made a genera, so runs one of these
stories, his brother thought it more be
] fitting his dignity that glass window!
should be put in his hime. PasqlIale brol
every pane declaring, I do not mean II
G live like q duke in my fathers house
but like a Oorsican born
6 Because the Vendetta was organized
in these stirring times as a protectiv
measure the world of the present believe
|, the CorsicanS to be a savage people, vim
: dictive and vengeful and that bandit
land robbers abound in the mountain fast
: inesSeS. Today the CoTsican is a milde
: imam, often very poor, always kindly an
Il honest and hospitable to travellers. 1t
s a matter of native pride that no. beg
6 gars are to be found in Corsica.
Not o be oudone by other large
icities, .Calvi, en- the north coast of Cor
q sica claims the birthplace of the grea
d discoyerer Columbus. Bastia is an in
I portant port on the northeast part nea
i Cape Corso and opposite Italy Aiaccit
n the capital, is the most charming city
. all the island and lies on the beautifl
is Gulf of Ajaceio to the southwest.
i There are few towns or cities to con
80 pare with these two except Calvi Starter
- and Bonifacio and a few little nlountai
: towns along the short railroad Inns wink
r, Iconnects the principal ports The 'rout,
p. nationales' are excellent highways al
V penetrate to the most inaccessible mou
: | tain villages. Automobiles have the
~ machines brQugllt over from the cont
,s nent on the little steamers which ply
and from the island to France and Ital
HOTELS are not so comfortable as tho
of the mainland but each year since t
AT war travellers have been coming in i
~ preasing numbers and hotels are imprc
ling
Mountains are the wonder Of the
w. land. 1t has been called the Switzerlal
* CT the Mediterranean on account of t
tie long ranges of rugged peaks, snow ca
at ped the year round The climate is a
a Unstable and the traveller can stop whe
Of best suited. From sea level up TO abo
en- 1899 feet there is the climate of Italy a;
"a Spain with Tegetatien such as ctr
te- fruits, small grain and vegetables. T
'od tween 1890 feet and five thousand #