120 VIEW FROM THE CAP D'-ANTIBES. 



mvsterious ''Homme au masque de fer", and later Bazaine, 

 were once imprisoned. One place succeeds another on 

 the coast. Nearest is the Uttle town of Golfe Jouan, in 

 whose well sheltered harbour the French Mediterranean 

 Squadron lies at anchor. Innumerable villas and gardens 

 cover the green hills which slope gently down to the 

 sea. Awav to the south-west the Cap d'Antibes stretches 

 another arm into the deep, and on this stand a small 

 fort and the Grand Hotel. Southward the eye loses 

 itself in the wide expanse of water : eastward we can 

 follow the coast-line to beyond Bordighera, where the 

 mountains at last fade into the distant blue. The liouses 

 of Nice form a semi-circle round the Baie des Anges and 

 are scattered on the slopes of the neighbouring hills. In 

 the foreground old Antipolis stands out sharply, surrounded 

 by high walls and moats in mediaeval style, and domin- 

 ated by the picturesque Fort Carre which Vauban built 

 for its protection. To the north mountain is piled on 

 mountain culminating in the radiant heights of the snow- 

 clad Alps. Thus does this view unite all the most 

 sublime elements that Nature can offer. How charming 

 is the contrast between the vast level of the sea 

 and the diversified outline of the towering mountain 

 giants: in what delicate gradations does the azure 

 blue of the sk)' merge into the soft green of the 

 coast : how sharply does the gleaming white of the 

 snow stand out against the dark blue of the heavens! 

 We breathe freeh' amid these surroundings: we feel 

 elevated by these glorious scenes which are reflected in 

 the soul. 



