Fair Italy, the Riviera and Monte Carlo

illaise hymn-Docks and harbour-Hill-side scenery-Chateau d'If-La Dame de la Garde-Military pract

, and were glad to get to the Terminus Hotel, which is comfortably close to the station. Wha

t as an English June. Overhead a sky of such a blue as we seldom see in our island home, and which is only matched by the azure waters of the glorious Mediterranean. The vegetation is almost semi-tropical; palm trees waving

very prevalent along the south coast of Europe at certain times of the year, drying up the soil, and doing much damage to the fruit trees. The dust, like sand in the desert, is almost blinding; on one side you ha

refinement and culture treated with considerable respect, and allowed to retain its original aristocratic constitution. After the fall of Rome, it fell into the hands of the Franks and other wild northern tribes; and was subsequently destroyed by the Saracens, but was restored in the tenth century. In 1481 it was united to France, to

illes' good bis

ken'd, and each

s thrilling and fiery chorus, "Aux armes! Aux armes!" was introduced, and it has ever since been known as the Marseillaise Hymn; but it was in reality written

nel. The great docks, wonderfully constructed and sheltered, were much improved and enlarged by Napoleon III.: some of the finest basins

eir sterns to the wharves, their enormous sails and masts telling of many a speedy voyage made, and their swarthy red-capped crews having much the appearance of what we supp

while the new town-much the largest, consists of wide, handsome streets and many fine public buildings and institutions. It is, I think, an excellent plan, when visiting a place, to ascend some commanding height as soon as possible. You will comprehend much at a glance, and, with the typographical knowledge t

iles to the southeast are several small islands of a deeper blue than the waters that surround them. On one of these islands

urch of Notre Dame de la Garde. On the highest pinnacle is a colossal gilt figure of the Virgin

ull of pathetic relics of poor lost mariners, and when the wind is howling on stormy nights, one can realize and understand the sentiments which prompted the building of this votive temple, and the numerous mementoes, literally covering its walls,

; and, alas! it is filled with the saddest relics of those who have never returned. Those, howe

ection. I fear we lack much of this kind of sentiment in England-daily blessings are tak

r knees in sorrowful prayer. I saw also several younger women and maidens in deep mourning, some of them sobbing bitterly over their prayers. Alas! who cou

de by a regiment or two of French soldiers. It was interesting to see

n a small ferry-boat, we walked to the church of St. Nazaire, which sta

e the Cathedral church of the town. It is built of alternate blocks of black and white marble, and the interior is something after t

t arched dome, little galleries, altar, crypts, and organ all within the compact compass of a circle, or rather, as it seemed to me, of a Maltese cross-tiny aisles forming the sides of the cross, where there were shrines and tombs, though scarcely distinguishable in the gloom. The dome and aisles are supported by wonderfully strong Byzan

back from the dark ages by observing a christening going on in one of the dimly lighted aisles; a

mpression as to the commercial greatness of Marseilles by a careful survey of this building, which is well worthy of a great city. I can now better understand

ck coats-a very respectable and ancient custom, which has come down from the time when Marseilles was in

s regularity. Some of the squares are of immense size. There is a very large lazaretto, which is said to be on

ared in making the streets gay and brilliant at

. I am not quite sure whether the Frenchman may honestly be termed a domestic animal; I should rather say

ter that what a change! The whole place was like a great fair, every one bent on fun and pleasure: hucksters' stalls, marionettes, bazaars, rifle-galleries,

least one day in the week there is peace and rest for both man and beast; and that simply in obedience to a natural and Divine law, made by the great Creator who so well knew our human wants and requirements. The more one sees of this sabbath unrest abroa

sadness, from these g

country, and the voice