| Show garden spot in mediterranean a british possession england has controlled land for 35 years and established good government and turned barren territory into fairyland new york the island of cyprus n the eastern mediterranean cele berated its thirty fifth anniversary as a possession the other day and this fact proves all the more interesting because turkey formally handed over the island to great britain only a few days ago the island has been practically british territory since the famous derlin conference of 1878 but the sultan was supposed to exercise a suzerainty there this action on the part ot the turkish government makes possession absolute the annexation of cyprus by great britain in 1878 caused a great stir throughout europe particularly in prance where it was thought that england was outwardly supporting turkey against russia this alon of a parcel of very rich territory in the eastern mediterranean was due to the cleverness of who has kept europe in a general feverish ex by his diplomatic moves it was not the first occupation of the island by the british for as early as 1199 richard the lion hearted on his way to the third crusado took the island from one isaac domenus he later sold it to guy de lusignan ex king of jerusalem and it was not un til seven ent urles later that the island again camo into possession of great britain under a so called lease the first view of cyprus from the steamer Is not an attractive one the island seems barren but as the tor draws nearer he is able to golsh the splendid old venetian bortl of Fam agusta which are one of the glories of the island they are in splendid preservation despite the fact that in 1571 they were besieged tor an entire year by the all conquer ing mustapha and his turkish hosts cyprus was then under the rule ot tho venetians who had acquired it from a lusignan queen at Fam agusta is the only harbor in the island but it is safe to enter at governors residence cyprus any time of the day or night A great part of cyprus Is under cultivation and as tho train carries tho traveler to the capital he sees grow ing fields on each side there Is however a great scarcity of water and during the summer months the vegetation dies down it Is recorded that in the time of constantine lne the great cyprus was abandoned because it did not rain for thirty sl years running A little of what england has done for cyprus can be seen from the fol lowing there is a legislature consisting ot eighteen members six being office holders and twelve elected three 0 the latter chosen by the mohammedan voters and nine by non voters the british high corn who represents the british authority is abated by an executive council of three there are elementary schools five greek high schools for boys one tor girls there are also eight weekly newspapers in greek and one in turk ish native judges decide all cases in the law courts with the exception of the supreme court these courts consist ot magisterial courts with summary jurisdiction and ten judges courts in addition there is the supreme court ot civil and crim nal appeal |
