A Corner of Brittany. 105 
secure from English cruisers, they remained until another opportu- 
nity gave them a chance to sally forth on their marauding expedi- 
There are many other interesting old houses in Roscoff. As we 
follow the road to St. Pol, we pass the famous Hospital built in 
1598, on the walls of which stand out the escurian of the Compte de 
Leon, boldly cut above the gate. More distant still the monastery 
of the Capuchins, in the garden of which may still be seen, the giant 
fig-tree, a marvel of Roscoff, and a proof of the wonderful fertility of 
the soil. This gigantic tree was planted long ago by Capuchin 
monks and still remains contributing its fruit — a tree more than 
One should not neglect, in visiting Roscoff, to see the place called 
Kersaliou. Midway in the route from Roscoff to St. Pol, hidden in 
thetrees, and approached by a by-path, is the retired house known 
in the country round as the Kersaliou, an interesting place where 
one can at the present time study the true Breton home. Our visit 
to Kersaliou gave us a good sight of the mode of life of the BretOn 
farmer and his family. 
The old house, Kersaliou, was evidently formerly the residence of 
men of more property than at present. It stands back from the 
road hidden in the trees, and as one approaches it from the main 
road to St. Pol, it has a most picturesque outlook. We pass through 
the gateway, an elaborate stone edifice, into a small court yard in 
which the poultry of the farm find their home, through the low door 
into the living room of the families which at present occupy the place, 
The room on the lower floor is certainly a study. At one end qf 
the apartment there is a large fireplace on which the fire contin- 
ually burns or smothers in the coals. On either side are seats where 
children sit in the recesses of the high chimney. No matches are 
used to light the fire, but a small pan of sulphur hangs near by and 
a bundle of sticks. When there is need of more fire these sticks are 
used, their tips dipped in the sulphur and ignited by the live coals. 
There is a cemented floor to the apartment, which is kitchen, din- 
ing room and sleeping room combined. On one side we notice a 
large cabinet, like a huge bureau with elaborately carved wooden 
front— it is an enormous wall cabinet with what appears to be many 
drawers, which are the beds, and as the house-wife pulls them out 
one by one, in the depths we see the whitest bed clothing. These 
