Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-05-16
Mrs. Hamlin Describes
Mediterranean Trip
to H. S. Student Body

MIS-. MOrrllt I1amlln gave a very
vivid description of her recent
Mediterranean trip Tuesday morn
ing at the high school before the
student body of the high school and
Junior high. also members of the
Current Events club. Mrs. Humlin
was introduced by Estclle Townes, "A
member of the Student Council Of
the high school, who said that Mrs.
Hamlin came to Gardiner through
the courtesy of the Current Events
Club.
Mrs. Hamlin described her trip
among the Azores and said in part
that due to high winds and high seas
they We're unable to land there. but
did land first at Madeira. This is Il
most beautiful place with protus-
ion of flowers everywhere and the
blue skies and blue Mediterranean
making it a perfect paradise. The
houses there are all painted in vivid
colors. bright pink, red, yellow, blue,
etc, all with bright red roofs. Hrs
Hamlin gave her impression of the
people there as very handsome. very
dirty and Very happy. There is
much poverty there. the people liN-
ing in dug in the ground, the
beasts of burden are for the most
part bullocks, but on account of the
slow pace at which they travel, Mrs.
Hamlin secured an automobile for
conveyance around the city. From
Madeira the party stopped next at
Gibraltcr and stayed one day there
The very narrow streets were filled
with English marines and upon in
q,liring the cause. they were told
that England had her eye on the
Near East. and they were ready at
a moments notice to sail for Con-
stantinoplc Mrs. Hamln said that
Just so long as England held the
rock of Gibralta, just so long would
she be mistress of the McditcrIan-
can.
From Gibralta to Lisbon, and there
they visited the wonderful cathedral,
built 500 years ago, ana IN that
church there is a candle burning con-
stantly and there has been since 1t
was first built, one candle replacing
another. This is very old custom
and marks one great difference be
tween the Old World and the New.
Over there an ancient custom is sun
kept up or an ancient building Is
still preserved, but over here. W"
have a custom but soon tire of 1T
and cast it aside. or we too down
an old building and replace it by
20 story block. Malaga was the next
stop. This is a city of pottery works
and the making of fine wines. Inc
people are very prosperous ana Will
ing to work hero. typical French
village. They visited Corsica for a
short stay and while there saw the
house where NapoleOn's mother
lived. and the church where she Wor-
shipped Naples was the place
where they left the steamer for good.
From there they Travelled inland. MIS-:
Hamlin was extremely disappointed
in Naples and in Ncsnrvius, but mo-
tored to Pompcii which she dcScilh-
ed as a most wonderful place ana
extremely we'll preserved for village
that had been buried undor ashes
for so many years previous. and sad
it seemed remarkable to he able to
trace the customs of those people
who suffered such a horrible death
hundreds of years ago.
Sorrento was tho next place visited
and the hotel where they stopped
was right opposite Nesurvius and the
night when they were there the hotel
kcepcr invited them down to the
dance hall to see the Tarentclla
danced. Here they watched the men
and women dance and sing Italian
songs.
Capt. was a place of much interest
which they visited. On this Island
there are twelve promontoricS and
during the rule of wicked TihcriuS,
he had constructed n palace on each
promontory, when he tired of stay
ing at one he would move on to the
next. one was near a 1000 IT. pre-
cipice and when the king grew tired
of his slaves, he would have them
cast from the top of this bank into
the waters below.
The next place visited was Rome,
a perfectly marvellous place with
fountains tinglng everywhere. While
there Mrs. Hamlin saw Moussoini.
the great premier Of Italy. She de-
Scribed him as a very tall, massive
man with dark hair, piercing eyes.
with a half frOWn on his facc-a real
Roman. While at Rome they visited
the Vatican and were shown to the
private apartments OF the Pope. A.
ter waiting for some time. the
master of ceremonies came in and