he land!

The islands are composed solely of coralline limestone. It can be
quarried almost anywhere. Blasting is not necessary, the stone being so
soft that it can be sawn out in blocks of any size to meet the
architect's needs. It is beautifully white and hardens after exposure.

After staying two weeks I returned to New York and took passage to
Cherbourg, crossed France to Lausanne, saw some friends and then went on
to St Moritz, which we all know is so famous for its wonderful winter
climate, intensely cold but clear skies and bright sunshine. Curling,
hockey, skiing, tobogganing and bobbing were in full swing; the splendid
hotels crowded; dinners and dances every day. A very jolly place indeed.
After ten days' stay a sledge took me over the mountains to Chiavenna,
thence steamer over the lake to Como, and train to Milan. It was very
cold and foggy there, but the city is a handsome one; I saw the
Cathedral, the arcade, etc., and visited the famous Scala Opera House
and its wonderful ballet. Thence to Genoa--very cold--and on to Monte
Carlo, at once entering a balmy, delicious climate. The season was just
beginning, but the play-rooms were pretty full. With its splendid shops,
fine hotels, gardens, Casino, pigeon-shooting, etc. etc., Monte Carlo is
unrivalled. It is distinctly a place to wear "clothes," and the women's
costumes in the play-rooms and Casino are enough to make the marrying
man think twice.

After visiting Monaco, Nice and Cannes, at Marseilles I took steamer to
Algiers. Barring its agreeable winter climate there is not much
attraction there. Here I was told that the marriageable Jewess is kept
in a dark room, fed on rich foods and allowed no exercise; treated, in
fact, as a goose for a fat liver.

So I went on to Blida, where is a French Army Remount Depot. A large
number of beautiful Arab horses were being inspected and shown by their
picturesque owners. They were not the type for cow-ponies and seemed a
bit light for cavalry purposes. From Blida I went by train to Oran, a
considerable port in Algiers. There was nothing particular to see or do
except visit a certain Morocco chief who had started the late troubles
at Fez and was here in durance vile (chains). Among the few tourists I
met a Hungarian and his English wife and we became fairly intimate. His
wife told me he was the dread of her life, being scorching mad on
motor-cars. It happened there was one and only one car in the town for
hire, and