Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-04-01
Atligiolls Mlistellanp.
A Maniac on Mount Etna.


Among the wondrous sights on the earth, the
volcano of Etna will always hold just pre-
cmnence. Renowned by past and present his
tory, sublime by It's elevation, its form, and the
awful secresy of unknown terrors which lie con-
cealed within its bosom, the Sicilisn volcano will
always be viewed with the deepest, the most sol
eaan awe.
ilwas with su-h feelings and with such thoughts
as these, that | began to ascend the volcano on
The morning OF the 5th of May, IS49. had
lei; Catania on the day before, in order 10 visit
this wonderful spot. did not wish to glance
caTeessly upon it--Do; for 10 me there was al
ways something reverend, something almost d.
vine, in connection with this great mass of up
heaved lava which led me TO look earnestly al its
rugged sides. | wished to ascend, to view from
its summit the farcst regions on earth; to glance
down, down into those unlathomable depths where
Ere, Ere in all its terror forever dwelis, forever
struggles!
Il was with slow steps that | ascended the cone,
after the patient and hardy ponies had been dis
missed | had been an invalid, and the fatigue of
climbing Up the steep and rocky declivity might
well have daunled ne. But after many restings
and many haltings, was able to attain the sum.
nit
The summit! Good heayes! can | ever forget
The dclum, the transport of JOY, which the bound
lass prospect there awakened within me! Can |
ever forget the glimpse which first caught Of all
the glores and all the horrors Of nature mingled
Toaether in such fearful unisonl
Far away on one side spread the fertile plains,
the green meadows, and the gentle valleys of ST.
ely. There were streams glaneing and flashing
iii the san as they wandered 10 the sea, with ten
thousand labyrinthian !urnings; lakes whose sur
face showed not a ruiie, not ripple; there were
terraces upon the sides Of hundred hills, where
vineyards were planted, and where the trellised
vines passed along, all green, all blooming; there
groves Of orange trees, amid the dark green fol-
iage of which the golden oranges peeped forth
ike the flashes Of phosphoreseent light in mid
night sea; there were long avenues of expresses,
Of acaicas, Of noble trees OF many kinds, amid
which kins'y sssemblage at times could be seen
the noble summit OF some stately palm, as it tow
cred On high above the others.
And the seattle wide, the boundless, the deep
blue MediterraRean-there it spreal aw ay, on the
other side, as far as eye could reach, spreading
away as far as thoughts could run--glorious as
"The dashng
Siver-fashng
Surges of San Salvador"
But turn aside-and there, beneath, far beneath
lies an abyss like that of which Milton has sung
IN subIimest mortal strains.
! paused upon the brink, and, sfuddering,
gazed down--down! The thick and funereal vo-
lume1 Of tortuousy-ascending smoke came seeth-
ing upward as from a caudron. 1t escaped from
myriad crevoes in rhe rocky, precipous sides; it
poured forth from behind projections, and united
with the vast mass which came subiimey upward
from the unfathomable depths.
Here, upon the sandy, rocky edge, where sui
7lnr, and crumb!ej lava, and pumce-stone, were
al. mingled together to form horrid soil, here
sat, and looked dow Il. From the scene beyond,
from that glimpse of earth, which made it seem
Ike heaven; from that vision of all that was mos
lovely and all that was most overpowerng; to tu m
and gaze into volcanoes awful depths-wb at q
change!
Involved in thousand thoughts | sat there
thinking myself alone, when sudden grating
struck my ear. was startled exceedingly. and
EARNED around. The place where had been sit.
ting was pennsular projection of the cliff which
formed part Of this Internal chasm Upon The
narrow strip of land which joined it to the othe
ciG.-upon the isthmus--l saw a mid.looking
liddie-aged gentleman approach me. he wa
7rczsed in plain black clothes, and in his haDd h
fa u light stick.
%. beg your pardon, signor," said he, in a pc
Ito ,anncr, and with great SO fitness of tone; ''
hoo 70, u pardon for intruding myself upon you
,.,,,,,n,- But it is not CIeR that see any visi
Ior so far p
civ dear sir! beg you will make no excuses,
I-,7lisi: 81 = 7as Just admiring this scene below.
An, YES. It's glorious sight"
,CI,rions, saw rather, terrib !e one'
Terrible, perha Os, to you! but do not BE- SUI
rri4ad # say that TO me it is lovely, absolutel
lovely"
And as he spoke. a nile of bswtaching beaut
crossed his features
- suppose your tastes are difercnt from thos
OF many people, signor. have no suchfeeliug;
Ba; may ask YOU if you ar e often here"
Di, yes. i've mere, ne ifPHVN5 u dN'"S ="
tick around Il live here"
thought that meant me tos understand thu
h,s home was on the mountain. "here y,r! mar
Villas are situated
And should suppose, CO. uas.aej, that yo
re often on the summit"
.Oh. ves, am here always"
Always, what strange fasci, Husn it has 10
soo.'
.I.has. it Las!'' said the gentL ems" "Oa!
tea.fh"-gnd his voice grew low Ec 1e!lo"--
trribIe fascinalon!"
was silent.
81 will tell you, said he, sitting sa"sely 'y IA
SIDE, and turning his eyes foil iowa. I'd @ine.
DO not wish yol to inform amy one. Promise Il
,h2t you will NOT
had not noticed his eyes before, but saw no
that within their depths ;here cleaned 4 s.ran!
and sinister light.
/ promi sed him and at the same 1iG Ie uneas
ly drew back farther fr D. edge