Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1851-11-14

the shining d0nes and spires of Turin, which
appear on an eminence. The road is in the mid
die OF fertile plain, which is watered by great
number Of canals made to disseminate the waters
oil the river Dore. This is the commencement
OF the rich plain Of Lembardy, which extends
across Northern Italy to the city of Venice, and
which is considered one of the most beautiful
plains in the world. Turin is one of the most
considerable cities of Italy. 1t IS situated IN
vast plain and at the confluence ef two rivers,
the Po and the Doire. According to Piiny, 1t
was the most ancient city OF Ligurla, out all
the monuments and buildings OF his day have
disappeared. The principal streets OF Turin
differ from those of all other cities IN the SYM
metry of their building, all the houses being of
the same height and looking like long lines of
public buildings The windows OF these houses
have small porticos, and there is court or boil
low square Of buildings back, which is often Or
namented with fountain, visible from the main
street. through an arched entrance. One may
walk all day about the city of Turin under ar
cades along each side of the street. which is
very agreeable in rainy or warm weather To
attempt to describe the magnifcence of the
churches of these cities of Italy would be use
less. They are never entirely completed. Re-
pairs or additions in some way, are constantly
made to them, and the walls of many of them
are covered with the best paintings in the world.
All the religious feeling that can be brought
out OF marble and paintings, stained glass, and
mellow lights, is there brought out, and one is
compelled to feel in a religious mood while
looking at them. But that is the religion of
these countries, and where the devout Italian
catholic is out of sight of the crosses, pictures
and incence smoke, his religious feelings are all
gone. His religion speaks only to the eye, for
his mind is not under his own control. Among
the numerous churches of Turin, the church cal
led the Consolata is most frequented on account
of an image of the Virgin, to which great deal
of devotion is paid. Near this church IS the pub
lie square, called the Consolata, in the centre Of
which is a column surmounted by statue of
the Virgin, which was erected for the accom-
plshment of a vow made at the time of the ra-
wages of the cholera in the city. Another
church is called the church of the Holy Spirit,
and is said to be founded on the spot where once
stood a temple of Diana. You also told
that it was in this church that Rousseau ahiured
Calyinism. The Kings palace is nothing re-
markable in its outside appearance. 1t is stu
ated so to look down the four prime pal streets
of the city, and ii is joined to the palace Of the
dukes of Savoy by means of gallery. There is
another palace called Palace Madam, or the cas-
tie. 1t was last occupied by duchess, but it
is now used for the public exhibition Of pain
tings The Senate or Chamber of Peers holds
its sessions in the palace and of its towers is
used as an observatory.
The museums of Turin are celebrated, and
one feels carried back a few thousand years
in viewing its cabinets of Egyptian, Greek and
Roman antiquities, among which are statues of
marble and bronze, Roman cups and vases Of
bronze and silver, Roman eagles, gilt thunder
bolts Of Jupiter. household utensils, a charter of
the Emperor Adrian, tri pods, censerS, and cups
for shedding tears in, which were placed, full Of
the tears of Roman mOurners, on the tombs Of
departed friends. '.The poor simpletons TO
place cup of their tears upon the tombs of
their friends said the keeper Of the museum,
who goes around with the visitors and explains.
But the custom in these catholic countries of
placing crowns upon the tombs at frequent in
tervals, would appear no more rational, and yet
the traveller cannot but admire these memen-
toes and regards for the dead, exhibited in
Catholic cemeteries. The museum Of Egyptian
curioSities, at Turin, is considered the best in
the world. 1t contains many colossal statues of
the ancient pharaohs, some Of whose names are
Osymandlas, Tontmasis lst, Tontmasis 2nd
Amenophs 2nd, known under ths name Of
Memnon, and Ramses 4th, known iU history as
Sesostris the great. There are also statues Of
the Egyptian gods, goddesses and sacred animals,
astrological emblems household utensils, agri-
cultural implements, mummles and manuscripts
on papyrus, entirely preserved, and chronology
cal tables of more than hundred Kings, ante
rior TO the eighteenth dynasty, indicating the du-
ration of the reign Of each. This collection
was made by French consul in Egypt, to place
| in the Louvre, but the French government re-
fusing to pay the price demanded, the King Of
Sardinia, Charles Felix, in 1923, bought it for
! the museum of Turin. The ancient money of
Egypt and Athens, heads of the ancient Kings
of Syria in silver, and heads of Roman emper-
ors in silver, copper and bronze, may be seen in
these museums. But enough Of Turin. The
| King is expected to pass one half Of his time
there, and the other half at Genoa, but the King
Victor Samuel spends most of his time at Tu-
rim, which has tended to render him unpopular
with the Genoese. The same was the case with
the late King, Charles Albert Genoa is called
the city of palaces, and most Of its palaces and
| churches are built of MARBLE but its streets are
so narrow that many of them are inaccessible
| for carriages, and as many of the houses six
! and nine stories high, the sun never shines into
| the narrow streets. There is said to be Yam
kee specuator living there, who occupies pal
! acc that is much handsomer than that Of the
! King. Genoa has a population of about 1870, :
| 900, Of which 10 900 soldiers, and 5000 are
! priests; that the sovereign people" are
| nowhere, and the automaton subjects cannot fail
! 10 be POWERFULLY well governed, both spiritually
and politically. An American rightly TO appre-
| ciate American self government, must see the
difference as it exists on this side of the water,
and about the best medicine for Northern and
Southern disunionists in the United States,
/ would be to make the tour of Europe, and feel
the annoyances of trunk examinations at the
! frontier of every petty State, by the custom
/ house officers, and the still more provoking an
noyance of being obliged to "give an account
of yourself and show your passport" in almost
every town you enter: which ends this chapter
| of ".4lpine soHtudcS."
Yours, &c, r.. ROSS.