Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-19
TO GUARD
SCENTED CORSICA
Reminders of Napoleon Are
Brought With Frances
Activity on Island.

"a corkless perfume bottle, where
the sweet scent of the maquis shrub
permeates the atmosphere; where men
| are lazy and womenS heads vie with
donkey carts as transports; where
modern customs have only trickled q
1 short distance beyond the quays of the
larger ports and left the pancake
hats, and the stone and mud huts of
| the natives as they were centuries ago."
| Such, according to a bulletin from
| the National Geographic Society, Is
Corsica, Frances largest Mediterranean
| island possession. which the French
government is fortifying.
Turtle Shaped Island.
Corsica is about one-half the size
| of Massachusetts-an area of rugged
mountains and verdant valleys peopled
| by slightly more than a quarter mil
lion nhabitants-human remnents OF
| Phoenician, Etruscan, Carthaginian,
Roman, Vandal, Goth, Pisan, Genoese
| and Morish invaders" says the bulletin.
In shape, the island resembles a
| turtle. The neck of the reptile
stretches toward Genoa. With the
exception of shallow bay here and
there, the islands eastern shore forms
smooth turtle shell while the rock
! ribbed cliffs separate the deep gulfs
| of the western coast form the legs of
| the imaginary animal. A circle to note
the location of the town of Rogliano,
| far UP on the northern peninsula,
marks a good position for the turtles
eye, while the hook of land at the
southern end Of the island suggests a
| stubby tail.
"Bastia, a typical Genoese city with
buildings of three and four stories
| thanking narrow streets, Is the only
| important port on the Corsican east
coast. Most of the larger sea outlets
nestle in protected spots around the
/ shore line of the CULTS on the western
shore of the island. Among these are
Ajaccio, the island capital. That city
| Of 10000 inhabitants has wide boule-
wards lighted with electricity, and
automobiles mingled with donkey carts.
| There are no beggars, a fact In winch
Corsica takes much pride.
Reminders Of Napoleon.
| Corsica was the birthplace Of
| Napoleon. But outside of Ajaccio where
| travellers may visit the house in which
| the French leader was born, the is
| landers appear unaware that Napoleon
was one of their illustrious sons.
| Ajaccio, however. insists that Napoleon
shall not be forgotten.
Travellers land on the Napoleon
| Quay. Guides lead sightseers to the
Rue Napoleon, two of the city's i'm
Cours Napoleon and the Rue Napoleon,
| two of the city's important streets.
There is a Cafe Napoleon, Napoleon
| Grotto, Napoleon Museum and Ma
poleon Theater. The souvenir stands
/ are cluttered with statuettes of the
general and picture post cards OF
his birthplace And men smoke Petit
Caporar cigarettes while lounging
about two large statues of Napoleon.
Government roads are reaching the
remotest villages Of the island and a
railroad links the larger Corsican ports.
Buses and private automobiles throw
dust into the faces of the stubborn
| little donkeys of the rural districts,
but they have not yet driven the
reliable Corsican transports from the
| roads.
From bus or train window the
traveller gets a glimpse of what keeps
the Corsican in food and clothing.
| Around the tiny mountain villages
dangling from rocky perches. Craze
| huge herds of sheep and goats which
| yield the skins and wool that figure
| in Corsica's trade. Then there are
vast groves of olive trees, and small
tobacco plantations. Citron is also
| produced and preserved by the natives
while chestnut forests furnish chest
nut meal for Corsican bread. The
J nuts also provide feed for animals"