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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 29, 1935)
MEDFORD MAIL TRIBUTE, MEDFOKD, OREGON, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2P, 1935. PAGE THREE MAURITIUS ISLE BE L Island 716 Square Miles In Area In Strategic Loca- - tion From African Coast And In Ethiopia Vicinity. WASHINGTON, D. 0. Spl) Mauritius Island, England's chiel possession In the South Indian ocean and strategic point on the rout between South Africa and India, ts being considered as a possible naval "base for Great Britain. Interest In making use of the island In this way has been aroused by the naval activity in the waters of the mid dle east in connection with the Italo-Ethloplan war. The Island, about 716 square miles in area, is approximately 1,400 miles from the east coast of Africa and within four days steaming distance of ports used by Ethiopia. "Port Louis, largest town of the densely populated island of Mauri tlus ts an excellent harbor, pro tected at its entrance by two atrongholds, Port William and Port George," says a bulletin from the Washington, D. C, headquarters ox ' the National Geographic society. This port, one of the finest in the Indian ocean, la the only nav igable and accessible approach to the island, -which is surrounded by a chain of coral reefs. Discovered In 1307 "When 'the Island was first dis covered In 1507 by the Portuguese It was uninhabited. They made no permanent settlements, nor did The Netherlands which took possession in 1508. The latter gave the island its present name. Mauritius, in honor of Count Maurice of Nassau. They deserted the Island in 1710 after several futile attempts at col onisation. "The French then took control and, renaming the Island He de Prance, made a successful settle ment at Port Louts. They intro duced sugar planting as the prin cipal industry and imported thous ands of Africans to work the large plantations. The French also built roads, railways, and buildings which are still used. The French lang uage laws, and customs also pre vail today, although the Island has been under British control since the Treaty of Paris In 1814. When the British assumed control They changed very little except Its name: Mauritius It was, to be called once more. "Port Louis, melting pot of French. English, Indians, Africans, Chinese. Malays, and. others, has been mod ernized by contact with the outside world. Regular steamship services and telegraphic and postal systems connect it with the principal cities of Europe, Africa, and AbIs. Rail ways and motor highways bring it in constant touch with the main communities of the Island. Port Louis is the seat of the government and business of Mauritius, but its most prosperous and prominent cit izens live in the fashionable resi dential t.n of Curepipe, 1,800 feet abovj the ties and about 15 miles from Port Louts. Commuting trains every morning carry Mauritian sub urbanites to the heat of the city and in the evening back to the beautiful town in the highlands. "July and August are the fash ionable social months in Marl tlus. as then the weather Is at Its Dent in Port Louis a French opera com pany gives performances in the municipal theater during these months, and balls and concerts are frequent forms of entertainment. Sports also have a prominent place at this time, and tennis, golf, foot ball, cricket, and racing are popu lar. The yacht cluba hold regattas in Tombeau bay and 'la chasse, or deer hunting, holds sway as the favor it national pastime. Famed In Literature "Mauritius has been called the 'garden spot' and 'gem' of the In dian ocean by writers; others have compared her beauties to the Riv iera and the famed South Sea Is lands. The tropical plcturesqueness of the Island Is the background of the well-known French romantic novel. 'Paul et Vlrginle," by Bernar dln de St. Pierre, who lived on Mauritius three years as a govern ment engineer. The Pamplemousses botanical garden in the district by that name has been made famous as the scene of the unhappy lovers' grave. "Mark Twain spent some time on the island and wrote afterward ol Its 'ragged luxuriance of tropic veg etation, limpid streams, dense for ests, and tiny mountains quaint and picturesque groups of toy peaks.' . ' "Of volcanic origin, the Island is very hilly, even mountainous along the coast. Two peaks' form a rugged background to the harbor of Port Louis and guide ships to Its en trance. The interior, the crater of a one-time volcano, was. until the arrival of the French on the island, covered w;rh ebony and bamboo trees; it Is now a fertile valley OS sugar cane, cotton, and tobacco. A single peak, however, rises abruptly from the fertile plains in the cen ter of the Island. Tills peaS is known as the Plton du Milieu de l'lle. "The rainy season In Mauritius is, approximately, from January to mid-April, during which time the island Is swept by severe wind storms accompanied by great down pours of rain. These hurricanes last for about eight hours at a time In recent years, however, the storms have been less violent owing, it i thought, to the deforestation of the island and the resulting drier at mospheric conditions. This is one reason why England can now more safely establish a naval base at the island. "The Mauritians are particularly successful In the raising of sugar cane and the production of sugar. In spite of heavy rainfall and wind during the wet season, over 200.000 tons are produced yearly In an area of about 138.000 acres. Many other tropical products are also being raised with success, such as cotton, tobacco, pineapples, tea. coconuts and aloes. Although England re ceives the greatest amount of its goods, the island also trades with India, Burma, and South Africa. "Because of the island's position in the Indian ocean between Africa and India, and also because of the lack of any so-called 'native' pop ulation, the inhabitants are chiefly Indians and Africans, together with some French and English who have come to Mauritius for governmental and business purposes. The most numerous element of the popula tion, however. Is Indian or of In dian extraction. There are no race restrictions in the civic rights ol the Island, the- members of the council of government beln elected directly by the populace. The pop ulation is nearly 400,000." FOUND IN CELLAR WINTHROP, Mass. (UP) Sought for 50 years, Charles Russell Sturgls' painting of Point Shirley in pre-revo-luttonary days has been found In the cellar of the town library. At first thought to have been hid den in the town hall, the water color painting, valued at $1.00, was dis covered by the head librarian rolled In a metal tube. The painting was done In the style of the much-sought American primi tives and depicted the houses of Gov ernors John Hancock and William Shirley and Samuel' Sturgls, owner of the old salt works and father of the artist. THE DALLES, Ore., Nov. 29. (P) The Seims-Helmer Co., engaged on the $400,000 Columbia river channel ization project between Celllo and Umatilla, now has 40 men at work and will employ 70 at peak operations. Phone 542 We'h haul away your feusre City Sanitary Service. FOR YOU CAN'T DO BETTER THAN A loafing PONTIAC SIXES and EIGHTS FOR ECONOMY PRICED $ AS LOW AS Urn priraw mt FontUe, .WrL, hwh mt $tIS for th Sim mnd $7SO for thmtisk (ambjct to chongm tmithont n(MM. ywrd group of t SKINNER'S GARAGE 143 S. Riverside. Tel. 102 19 DAYS TO HAVE that portrait, you've promised yourself for so long , . , make your appointment today KENNELL-ELLIS STUDIO 32 North Central A CORONA TYPEWRITER fl -Ov I tjmS.. BIERMA amam' ' TYPEWRITERS AND SUPPLIES W I Phone 329 I WfA' tjVW ' I 116 North Central Phone 282 f v II Tl MAKE THIS A MUSICAL XMAS PRUITT'S Melody Shop New and Used Musical Instru ments of all kinds, including the popular guitars and accordians. ZENITH RADIOS . MEDFORD SATURDAY, NOV. 30 LADIES Buv His Gifts at Lee's Men's Shop Next to Rialto Theatre 14 Years Selling Good Clothes Photographs Xmas Specials for a few days at The Peasleys 0pp. Holly Theatre -Wit GIVE One of our engraved Christ mas Credit Cards . . . Good for a lovely Permanent WAVE $245 . $375 ALSO COLONIAL DAMES MAKEUP KITS $100 and $200 Murray Beauty Salon Use your Mann's Charge Account $500 Z B. Hoffmann 1 Express your SEASON'S GREETINGS with ROBES v PERFUME JEWELRY LINGERIE HOSE COMPACTS TRAVELING CASES ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS PURSES , PAJAMAS GLOVES NOVELTIES IP6' The The Y Medford Stationery Store jf 34 norm uemrai Avenue Offers an enlarged stock with new lines for this Christmas season, 'such as Kodaks and Supplies Candles, dripless Bibles Zipper Cases Leather Gladstone Bags Billfolds and Purses Scrap Books Kodak Albums Box Stationery Playing Cards Fountain Pens and Sets Office Appliances World Globes Portable Typewriters A fine assortment in each line, all reasonably priced. YOU CAN FOR CHRISTMAS MOST welcome gift of all for swe ethearts, friends, relatives! See our m a g n i f i e ent selection of Christmas designs. WE DE LIVER ANYWHERE. SCHOEPEN'S FLOWER SHOP in .American Legion Amusement Center 218 E. Main Piano for Christmas Club Only 9t down and W per week until ChrHtma, or a 10 down payment dt llrera one of the NEW VERTICAL PIANOS or any other piano of your choice to your home for ChrlAtnuu. Free Piano Leuons Included. Christ ma opening Saturday 8 p. m. Special mualeal program. - BALDWIN PIANO SHOPPE I XMAS SPECIALS Hair Cut, Shampoo, Finger Wave $1.00 Wet Wave 25 Ringlette Permanent Waves ?1.95 $3.75 $5.00 J CINDERELLA BEAUTY SHOP Phone 265 Yls Vnur rliricftriQO Qfonnninnr TTarlvf V 0 .L. WE GIVE S. and H. Green Trading Stamps Signal ' ar 2S i d l I Products jlMl Jennings Service Station Sixth at Fir Streets
