Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - XIV. I am Appointed Consul-General to India—Assassination of Garfield—Departure for India—My Stay in Chicago and Washington—Paris and Versailles—Rome—Naples—Pompeii—From Naples to Alexandria—Interesting Acquaintances on the Voyage—The First Impressions in Egypt
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Story of an Emigrant.
3 35
Italian noonday sun poured down its dazzling rays; we
were surrounded 011 all sides by ships and steamers carrying
the flags of all nations; hundreds of fishing crafts were
sailing out of the harbor, and in the distance the mighty
volcano Vesuvius towered in imposing majesty above the
vine-clad hills. There was a life and a traffic which it is
difficult to describe. While La Seyne was lying at anchor
for several hours out in the bay, Italian singers in their
boats swarmed around the ship and entertained the
passengers with music. Other boats contained three or four men
each, who begged the passengers to throw coins into the
water. As soon as a coin was thrown, down dived one of
the men to the bottom, and invariably returned with the
coin in his mouth although the water was very deep,
perhaps from seventy-five to one hundred feet. The voyage
across the Mediterranean was very pleasant, especially in
the vicinity of the islar.d of Sicily. The deep blue sky, the
orange groves and vineyards 011 the island, and the neat,
white cottages,— all gave an impression of indescribable
tranquility and happiness.
On this voyage, which lasted three days, I became
acquainted with several interesting persons, among others
with a Professor Santamaria, professor in an university
in Egypt, and his family, and with a Jesuit priest,
Miechen byname. By birth a French nobleman of a very
old and rich family, he had been educated for a military
life, and had served in the army with distinction, and in the
late Franco-German war he had been advanced to the rank
of major, although he was only thirty years of age. But
suddenly he had been seized with religious enthusiasm, and
had given up his illustrious family name, renounced his
fortune, his honors, and the brilliant military career which
lay open to him, in order to become a priest. After two
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