Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1924-08-27


malta, consists of two parts-the old
town, built entirely within the walls
of the great palace of Diocletian, two
hundred yards long and almost as
broad, and the new town, stretching
to the west along the shore and to
the north toward the mountains. In
the old town, buildings of Roman,
medieval and modern times are mex
tricably mingled. The streets are
mere tunnels, and to walk through
them at night is a weird experience.
In the middle is the cathedral into
which the mauSoleum Of the emperor
has been transferred. The new quar-
tiers of the town are spacious, and OF
course comparatively commonplace,
but the old town is unique.
The islands south of Spalato are
worth visiting, though express steam
ers pass them by. The most inter-
esting Of these islands are Lesina,
LISA, and Curzola LISA has given
its name to two famous. naval battles
one between the English and the
II CLCil 7csz -lNe&---eSz1 thy
Austrians and the Italians in 1865.
The two harbors of the island, LISA
and Comisa, are exceedingly beauti-
full. The chief source of income in
this part of Dalmatia is from the sea,
and the costumes of the fishermen are
less picturesque than those of the
Islanders who come to the coast towns
on the mainland. In architectural
beauty Curzola is particularly strik-
ing; it is diminutiye walled city on
a point of land which juts out from the
large island of the same name into
the channel which separates it from
the mainland Opposite, the noun
tains rise directly from the sea, with
few villages here and there along
the shore
Ragusa is easily queen Of the Dali
matian cities. None can compare with
her in beauty of site or architectural
and historical interest. She has stood
for centuries sister republic to Ven
ice, a bulwark in Europe against the
Turk, wise and prosperous state.
The great walls still inclose the town
and are practically intact They form
striking contrast to the architectural
delicacy of the public buildings and
palaces which rise on the steeply ter
raced streets, for the town is built on
a narrow peninsula between the noun,
tains and the sea.
Peasants and Costumes.
The morlaks or peasants are a
sturdy, independent race, mostly of
Slav extraction, and distinctly well to
do, especially about Spalato and Ra-
gusa, where the soil is fertile and
the crops large.
The tiny Dalmatian cap Of scarlet
cloth, half embroidered in black with
a black tassel, is worn by the men the
inhabitant of the peninsula is seen
without the useful bag slung over one
shoulder, of woven carpet material,
embroidered linen, or leather studded
with nails. 1t serves all purposes-a
cradle for the baby, a wardrobe for
the family clothes, larder for the
provisions, as well as a convenient
receptacle for little pigs going to mar
ket. Except for these common fea-
lures the costumes vary in every dis
trict. At cara may be seen the strik-
ing sleeveless scarlet vest ornament
ed with silver buttons, while about
Sebenlco the men affect a curious
waistcoat and jacket of brown home
spun, piped and trimmed with wooden
fringe of bright magenta color.
In the country the women wear
heavy apron of carpet material heav-
lily fringed and are seldom seen with
out a distaff in their hands as they
ride or walk to market.
South of Ragusa there are no har-
bors until one reaches the Jcche di
CatRro, en- extraordinary ford, sug-
costing Norway In its grandeur and
the Italian lakes in its luxuriance
and its wealth of color. as the boat
winds through one narrow channel af-
ter another. new arms of water keep
opening up, until after long course,
but still quite near the sea, we reach
Cattaro, at the head Of the ford.