The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1827-03-28

seemed to exult in the name, led the way
to the antique and humble mansion. 1t
the Alps and looking south upon a waste
of waters. If the grandeur of natural
scenery can inspire genius, and awaken
young thought to noble pursuits, Cocolet-
to may hence draw an argument to
strengthen her claim, and in this particu-
'aar at least challenge competition. The
low, arched ceilings and decayed walls
bear all the marks of great age; but one
can hardly bring himself to the belief,
that they have stood between three and
four centuries. A small chamber, per-
haps ten feet square, is shewn, in which
it is pretended Columbus was born. Many
fragments of the ceiling have been
carried away as rehcks. The furniture
of the room looks as if it might be coeval
with the apartment A little image of
the Madonna, cross, and cup for the
holy water, are suspended from the cur
tain at the head of the bed. The pres
ent tenant is kind-hearted woman, who
spread her frugal board and insisted on
sharing its hospitality with the strangers
from a distant land, which her illustrious
of cosmography were not very precise,
and like many other less pardonable Eu-
ropeans, she seemed to consider all Amer
leans, as the descendants of the Aborigl-
mes.
In front of the house is small terrace
overhanging the shore; and when the
Gulf is stormy and the waves run high, a
shower of spray patters upon the roof.
fbo frtb ,,lona 0f
lumbus, it may almost be said, that he
was Graded upon the sea: the first sounds
he heard must have been its 7murmurs,
expanse. As / stood leaning over the bal
ustrade, watching the swells breaking at
my feet, and the line of little boats moor
ed along the beach, incredulity for a mo-
ment. vanished, and imagination pictured
the juvenile navigator, launching his ad-
venturous bark, and sporting with that
element, which was destined to conduct
him to imperishable renown.
PISA, April 10, 1896.
In ten minutes after our arrival here, we
were upon the top of the Leaning Tower,
at the height of 100 feet from the ground.
The tower was to us a perfect novelty,
both in design and construction. 1t is the
belfry to the Cathedral, though standing
several rods from it, and erected at sub
7sequent period. Its form is circular, per-
haps thirty feet in diameter at the base,
slightly tapering towards the top, eight
stories high, and built of white marble.
The seventh story contains a chime of
bells and the eighth is left open, guarded
by an iron balustrade.
The greatest curiosity about this tower
is its inclination: 1t mods towards the
southeast, by variation from perpen-
dicular at top of about fourteen feet; and
another slight jog would throw it without
the centre of gravity. To the spectator,
as the clouds swim by, it really appears in
the attitude of falling. 1t has, however,
stood in this position for six centuries, and
may, perhaps stand as many more though
u moderate shock of an earthquake would
apparently rock it from its base, and pros
trate its enormous load of marble upon a
block of houses directly under it. Its in
clination has given rise to various specula-
tions.~Some have supposed it was origin
ally constructed in this way as an aTcRitt bite
it was in progress, the ground gave way
causing the inclination; and that another
story, leaning IN contrary direction, was
subsequently added, by way of balance,
to keep it from falling.-But what kind OF
philosopher must the architect have cen,
to place heavy weight in any position,
upon the top of structure to prevent it
from tumbling? In my opinion, the sub
ject does not admit of doubt. On exam
lining the base, the lower tier of stones
was above ground on one side, and sunk
into the earth on the other. Now, unless
the whole was intended as curious de-
ception, the foundations would not have
been thus planted.--.N y. Statesman.