. Unfrequented France by river and mead and town. apple-trees, the ripening fruit withinreach of our hands. Little Italian-like towns, sur-rounded by ochre-coloured walls, are terraced hereand there on the rich burnt-umber walls, the lime-stone ridges above and around taking the form ofa long lone of rampart or lofty fortress, built andfashioned by human hands. In contrast to thissavagery, we have ever and anon before our eyesthe sweet little river, no sooner lost sight of amidwillowy banks than found again. The approach to Millau is very pretty. Almondand peach orchards, vineyards and gardens
. Unfrequented France by river and mead and town. apple-trees, the ripening fruit withinreach of our hands. Little Italian-like towns, sur-rounded by ochre-coloured walls, are terraced hereand there on the rich burnt-umber walls, the lime-stone ridges above and around taking the form ofa long lone of rampart or lofty fortress, built andfashioned by human hands. In contrast to thissavagery, we have ever and anon before our eyesthe sweet little river, no sooner lost sight of amidwillowy banks than found again. The approach to Millau is very pretty. Almondand peach orchards, vineyards and gardens, forma bright suburban belt. Two rivers, the Tarn andthe Dourbie, water its pleasant valley, whilst overthe town tower lofty rocks in the form of an amphi-theatre. Nant may be described as a little it Millau comes disenchantingly by com-parison. Never was I in such a noisy, roystering, singing,lounging place. There was no special cause forhilarity; nothing was going on; the business of dailylife seemed to be that of making a •5, TO MENDE BY WAY OF LE VIGAN 111 In spite of its entourage, too, the town is notengaging. Its hot, ill-kept, malodorous streets donot call forth an exploring frame of mind. Thepublic garden is, however, a delightful promenade,and the well-known photographer of these regionshas his atelier in one of the most curious old housesto be seen anywhere. Climbing a narrow, winding stone stair, we comeupon an open court, with balconies running roundeach storey, carved stone pillars supporting these;oleanders and pomegranates in pots make the ledgesbright, whilst above the gleaming white walls shinesa sky of Oriental brilliance. The whole interior isanimated. Here women sit at their glove-making,the principal industry of the place, children play,pet dogs and cats sun themselves; all is sunny,careless, southern life—a page out of Graziella. We took train to Mende. It is one of thosedelightfully slow trains which enable you to seethe scenery
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectfranced, bookyear1910
