The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1925-01-21

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among several hamlets. included I'M
der one name but scattered about the
hillside in a fashion which reveals
separatist tendencies even in town af-
fairs.
By following the coast we shall see
most Of the larger villages of the is
land and by so much lose sight Of the
true Corsican. who looks down in
real as well as a figurative sense on
those who live in what to him are
crowded cities
Scenery, Not Costumes.
Nowhere has nature so queened It
over her subjects. The people add
nothing to the scene. Certainly they
do not give it its interest. From the
attractive widows weeds of the Cours
Napoleon or the Place st. Nicolas to
the somber costume with green-black
headshawl which frames the sallow.
wrinkled faces Of the old woman of
the interior, costume never flares forth
with lambent color as it does in Sar-
DINA, in India. or on the Dalmatian
coast. The men wear brown cordu-
roy; sometimes their sashes are broad
enough and bright enough to add pig
ment to the picture.
But the Ccrsicans are humble folk.
They gladly subordinate themselves
to the scenery, saying that the land is
so beautiful that it needs no poly
chrome costumes to make 1t attrac-
tive. And when one sees with what
Indifferent success the townfolk do
wear colors, he quickly reconciles him
self to the somber garb which stands
out so modestly against the beauty Of
the land itself.
Countless tiny terraces, where crops
grow at such cost of labor as one finds
among the Ifugaos of the Philippines
or among the Chinese, testify to the
fact that the Corsican is not truly
slovenly. A certain thrift and fore
sight are habitual with him.
When the Greeks, no amateurs in
beauty. called Corsica "Kalliste''-
Most Beautiful-they referred to |
rugged coasts where blood-red rocks |
plunge deep into the sea, where a soft |
haze carries the succession Of lowell
ness across wide plains between tall
mountains. to some distant snow-clad
peak, all opalesecent under the soft
glow of departing day. where cascades
pour their shower of pearls against
rock cliffs as black as ebony.
Corsica is interesting because, 1t is
Corsica. With all its discomforts. the
laggard land is worth visit because
it is laggard Such unspoiled spots
are so few in the modern world that
one can tolerate petty inconvenience
for the sake Of knowing a people who
have been little. affected by modern
ism.
Napo!eon's Town.
Ajaccio Is Napoleon's home town
One is never allowed to forget that.
But he did Corsica the great dishonor
Of quitting her shores, and few Corsi-
rams seem to care much about him
Today Napoleon is to Ajaccio what
Fujiyama Is TO Japan and the Capitol
10 Washington-a sort of trademark
IF the place. with souvenirs of all
sorts bearing his likeness and post
cards picturng his home in the Rue
st. Charles and his battles across half
he world.
Officially, Ajaccio has done well by
Ter renowned son. The boulevard of
he city Is the Cours Napoleon. The
'isitor who arrives by sea lands on
he Quai Napoleon. There is the Rue
lu Rio de Rome and the Rue Ma
,oleon. There Is the Place du
PREMIER Consul, the Casa Napoleon
Sapoleon's Grotto, the Cafe Napoleon
md the Cinema Napoleon. The peo-
lie make the concession of sucking
Petit Caporal cigarettes. I
Nsnoleon's house Is barrack- like >
trucsure. which 1t would be impos- D.,
ible to see in its proper perspective
the destruction of two houses OBJ
'osite had not made possible the lit. 9
lie Place Letizia, from which one can a
lew the whole height Of four stories. /
he upper three marked by IS regular
as well as the family arms 9
nd the tablet reading: Napoleon !,
Est ne dams Cette Maison lie XIV Aout :
78o.-