, ; *tf' V 



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V ■ 



T 



THIIll) JOUPvNEY. 



CHAPTER I. 



1 he northern -winter had been such a lon^ and 

 drear^- one. that \ve were yearning tor warmth and sunshine. 

 But even from the Mediterranean bad reports were con- 

 tinually arriving of incessant cold and consequent iniur'\' 

 to the vegetation. As late as the beginning of March 

 snow had fallen and clothed many places on the Riviera 

 in a mantle ol white. However at last the springtide 

 sun prevailed there; we received more favourable news, 

 and a few da\'s later saw us in Cannes. When we passed 

 the Alps, glorious spring greeted us with a radiant coun- 

 tenance. The journey in this sunny region, where Nature 

 is bus^' awakening everything to life, was like a veri- 

 table festal procession. And so we arrived on the shores 

 of the Mediterranean. 



