Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1854-11-23
MI S e L Il L A N Y.
IlTNA.
A THRiLLlNG STORY.


valcaro Of Etna viii always held Just pre-
emineHce. Renowned By past and present
history, sublime bJ its elevation. its form
aud the awful secresy Of unknown terror that
lie concealed within its bosom. the Sicilian
volcano viii always be viewed with the deep
est aud most solemn awe.
Itwas with such feelings and such thoughts
as those | began to ascend the volcano en-
tie morning Of the 5th OF May. 1919 l
had left Catauia on the day before. in order
to visit this wonderful spot did not wish
to.glance earelessly upon it-no for to me
there was always something reverent some
thing almost divine in connection with this
great mass Of upheayed lava. which led me
to look earnestly at its rugged sides
wished to ascend to view from its summit
the fairest regions on earth, TO glance down
. into. those unfathomahe depths where FIRE,
FIRE in all its rror, forever dwells, forever
struggles
1t was with slow steps that assembled the
cone, after the paticntapd hardy ponies had
been dismissed / had been an invalid. and
the fatigue Of Ginning up the steep and rocky
5declivity might well have dinnted me- But
after many restings and hAtings, was able
TO attain the summit
TIE summit Good heavens can ever
forget the delirium, the transport Of Joy,
which the boundless prospect there awaken
edwithin meg Can ever forget the glimpse
which | fret caught oril ~ -rrrshi ys,,.sv>l
IN tho horrors q, lASatTre. iu-
Far away on one side spread the fertile
plains, the green meadows and the gentle
valleys Of Sicily There we're streams glanc
ing aud flashing in the sun, as they wan
aerod to the sea, with ten thousand labyrin-
THAN turnings; lakes Woe CLASSY surface
showed not rufllc not ripple; there were
terraces upon the sides Of hundred hills.
wheYe the trellised vines pass along. sill
green. and blooming there were groves
Of orange trees, amid the dark green folliage
df which the golden oranges peeped forth
like. the flashes of phosphorescent light in
midnight sea there were long avenues OF
expresses. Of acacias, ofnoble trees of many
kinds. amid which kingly assemblsges at
times could be seen the noble summit Of some
4tatily palm, as it lowered on high above the
Others
And the seattle wide, the houndless,
the deep blse Mediterranean-there it spread
away. on the other side, as far as the eye
could reach as far as thought could run-glo-
rious IS
The dashing
Silver na-hing,
sirres Of San salvador"
But torn aside-aDd there, beneath far
| beneath. lies an sbyss like that of which Mil
ten has sung in suhlimest mortal strains
| | paused upon the brink, and sbudderine
! | gazed down-doWnl The thick and fu
neral volumes Of tortueusly ascending smoke
came seetbing upward, as from cauldren
/ II escaped through myriad Of erevices IN
4 the rocky. PERCEPTIONS sides il poured fortt
I from behind projections, and united with
the vast mass which came sublimely upWart
j from the uufathoihable depths.
Here. upon the sandy, recky edge, Wher
| sulphur. ard erumbled tsva, and pumice ston
we're all mingled together TO form a horri'
soil, here / sat and Looked down. From th
scene beyond, from thae glimpse Of cart
| which made il seem like heaven; from tina
vision Of all that was most overpowering {
turn and gaze into volcanoes depths-wha
a changed
4 Involved in thousand thoughts / 50
4 there thinking myself alone, when sudde
grating struck my ear. was started e.
ceedingly, and turned around The plac
4 whete had beea sitting was peninsula
projection of the elf which formed part {
Shis internal chasm.
III Upon the narrow strip ofland which join
hd it TO the other cliffs upon the isthmus.
saw a mild looking, middle aged gentlema
approach me.
He was dressed in plain black clothe
and in bis hand be held light stick. =
Il beg your pardon, signor,' said be, IN
polite manner, aad with great softness
zone, / beg your pardon for intruding N.
sell upon your company. But It IS not
ken that see any visitor so far up
II sMy dear sir / / beg you will make DO G
nuse,S / replied. i was just admiring th
..scens below
! sAh yes, tbs glorious sight
, sGleriousl say, rather, . terrible one
Terrible, perhaps, to you; but do not
. surprised if say to me it is lovely, absslut
IL lsyely ?
And as be spoke a smile Of bewitchir
beauty crossed his features.
I Il suppose your tastes are different fro
: those Of many people, signor. l have n
: sueh feelings But may ask if you are
!, zen here
r Oil yes l live here, be replied, Havii
E BIS stick around i hive here
thought that be meant me to understal
that his home vas on the nountain, Who
i SnFy many villas are situated
And shall suppose ] continued, I'll
joa are often o. re summit