Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1923-11-29

what state each party came
from and in this way we got well
acquainted. After seven delightful
days on the ocean we landed at
Madeira. 1t seemed like fairyland,
the brightly dressed people and
bright colored houses, the green
trees and flowers everywhere. At
the landing we got into wicker sleds
covered with creton canopies which
were drawn by oxen and mules.
Each sled had driver and also
man to run ahead with an oiled rag
to grease the runners of the sled.
To give you an idea of the climate
the average winter temperature is
sc and summer rs. We were taken
to the depot in the sleds then by in
cline railway to the top of the noun
tains $500 feet above sea level)
through tropical gardens filled with
orange, lemon and palm trees and
flowers of all kinds in profusion.
We came down the mountain by to-
boggan slide. The track was made
of pebbles placed on edge and was
very slick and seven miles long.
Two natives with sticks ran along to-
guide the sled and one rode on the
rear. AS we came down the noun
tain We could see the women out of
doors working the Madeira embroid-
cry and washing at the streams and
many threw flowers to us as we
passed by.
The beggars are plentiful and of
all ages from babies up and so
pleasant and happy looking, that it
was great pleasure to see them
smile when you gave them a coin
We had hard time landing at
Cadiz, Spain. The sea was quite
rough and the ground swells were
from fifteen to twenty feet and this
made it necessary to drop anchor
three miles off shore and we were
then transferred from the ship to
tenders and taken to shore BY af-
ternoOn the sea was so rough that
the passengers had to be put into
baskets and drawn up by pulleys.
Cadiz, the home of Columbus, sur
rounded by high stone walls, looked
SO ancient with its narrow streets,
lined with high balconies on each
side. The houses here were all of
stone and marble and you were at
once struck by the cleanliness and
intelligence of the people. The
women wear very attractive black
lace mantillas and combs.
I shall never forget the beautiful
landscape of our trip in Spain. The
cultivated green olive groves, the
hills and terraced mountain sides
one mass of pink blooming almond
trees with the clear blue sky over
head. Every place looked as if it
had been raked and swept, the farm
houses, white and shining and never
fence to be seen.
The cathedral at Seville is con-
sidered by some the finest church
in Christendom and makes pro-
found impression on the beholder,
and the high arched columns re-
mind one of the redwood groves of
California. 1t has nine entranc-
es and thirty-seven chapels. The
paintings and stained glass win
dows and costly altar pieces of gold,
silver and precious stones, which are
sometimes used only once in a year,
seemed too lavish when the children
of Spain are getting so little educa
ton. AS special kindness to
Americans we were taken into the
tomb of King Ferdinand and Isa-
bella who are buried in the cathe-
dral. The tomb of Columbus is also
in this cathedral.
The Alhambra at Granada made
you realize the splendor and extrav-
agance of Moorish palaces of the
thirteenth and fourteenth centuries.
The arcaded courts and lacy arcne 5
covered with mosaics in carved wood
with gold and brilliant tile were
more beautiful than anything / had
ever thought of. We passed cork
producing region and high rocky
mountains on the way to Gibraltar
where we again boarded the ship
and crossing the Mediterranean We
landed at Algiers, Africa. An Arab
proverb says "Algiers is a diamond
set in an emerald frame" The view
Of Algiers from the bay with it's ter
races of dazzling white, surrounded
by high green hills, blue sky and
dark blue sea was most beautiful
sight. The people still look like pi-
rates and cut throats but were very
interesting. Arabs from the desert,
Mohammedan women with faces COW
cred, Moors and Jews. In strange
contrast the cultured French inhabi-
tants who live in the beautiful sub
urbs on the hill. The Arab quart
ers are perfectly safe for travellers
and one party wanted to take pic
ture of some Arab children. Soon
she was surrounded by a mass OF
children who refused TO. move until
a policeman turned the hose on
them.
Our next stop was at Athens,
Greece. The Acropolis and Par
thenon OF Athens could be seen with