The Coolidge examiner., 1935-09-06
Prepared By National GeoKraphlc Society.
WAahInEt9n. u. C---MNU service.

washiuEton. u. C.--wNU Service.
IT TITLE more than 1000 stat
ute miles from European
mainland and about 400
miles from Newfoundland. in Iail-
tude a little north Of Lisbon, a 1T
T tie south OF New York. lies the
most westerly OF the nine Azorian
T islands.
Fast steamers from New York
reach Pouta Delgada, metropolis
OF the Azores, IN i've and half
days. Seaplanes have flown across
from Newfoundland between dawn
and dusk. Three hospitable har-
bors In this friendly archipelago
await the coming Of commercial
seaplanes, which will form another
I link between the New world and
I the old.
Closely allied as they are with
Portugal, OF which they form an
integral part politically. these fer
tile green islands, with their lush
pastures and mlst-wreathed noun
/ tains. long ago turned their faces
toward the West. sending their
/ frugal. Industrial sons 10 the United
States. where, before 1929, there
was probably one Azorian TO every
two left at home. Most Of them
are found In Massachusetts. Rhode
Island and California.
More than once on the streets OF
Azorian towns, traveller Is ap
preached by stranger who doffs
his hat and politely inquiries: You
are an Americana"
When you assent, your new ac-
qualntance informs you he voted
In New England or California. but
was born in the Azores; was "back
home to see the old folks" or there
until times are better In the
States
From n rounded hilltop back OF n
rainbow-tlnted town. one looks past
oblong fields bordered by high stone
walls Of dark-gray lava to tile
rooted. many-windowed buildings
stretching between gardens and
parks along the curyIng coast. All
about IS the trilllng. piping, and
hutIng OF birds. In the fields bare
foot men sing as they toll.
Portuoaps "islands Adjacent"
In the Fifteenth century, the val
liant ocean-mapplng Portuguese col
onlzed these islands and, save for
co years OF Spanish rule, have gov
erned them ever since.
The islands, OF volcanic origin,
stretch for about 375 miles from
northwest to southwest, In three
severed groups with clear channels
between. Corvo, smallest and by
far the most primitive, lies farthest
north; Flores, beautiful and well
watered farthest west
To the southeast, across a tenn
pestuous stretch Of sea, Is the cen
tral group: Fayal. seat of the ocean
conical mountain; sac Jorge, with
lts rich pastures, exporting excel
lent cheese; Graclosa. with more
wine than water; Terceira, most
interesting historically, preseryer
OF old customs.
Another wide channel and the
traveller reaches Sac Miguel, which
the British and Americans call st.
Mlchael's, largest and most lmpor-
tant OF the group, with Ponta Del
gada, chief city Of the archipelago;
and, again TO the south, Santa
Maria, first TO be discovered and
colonized.
Islands adjacent" is Portugal's
official designation of Madeira and
the Azores, the last named, as one
wit has remarked, being adjacent
only to one another. In Portuguese
the name Is Azores, which signifies
hawks"
The wide expanse of ocean on
every side and the force of the en-
comprising winds tend to give the
newcomer a feeling of isolation.
This lessons as the weeks pass, in
spite Of the provoking sight Of
many big ocean liners, which steam
past the Azorian capital with only
the blast of the siren as a nod Of
recognition.
Portuguese mail boats, leaving
Lisbon twice each month, come by
way of Funchal, Madeira. and reach
POnta Delgada In four days. One
of these ships goes only as far north
as Fayal; the other goes beyond
Fayal to Flores, touching six times
year at lonely, stOrm-harassed lit
tie Corvo. The round trip from Pom.
Ia Delgada to the northern Islands
can be made In one week.
Motor boats and sailing vessels
also ply, when weather permits, be-
tween insular ports.
Independent of the World.
There Is fruit and passenger
line of small ships, with semi
monthly service between POnta Del
gada. London, and Hamburg. Ital-
liam Eron0b opd CraoH fropca FIap