Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-03-15

n i
a. aue 'ne ascent to the ton Of vss.... Il;
d Asn'' as is usually done in warn, .su..g
J, iOue our horses up the ,nounts;.s
the cone, and thence walked - - sue 0as
- It's top the best way we con,a ''@"ieu u
inoIr LIS aio seoria- The ascent was ayo.od
',,s ..sa's ana 'atiguing, but we finally reach
around and beneath u.s. With our close proxim
lty to the frightful chasms of the smoking crater
together with the charming views of the distan
Bay, and the wide spread city, with its r6manti,
envlrons gilded, as they were, with the morning
sun'-you can imagine our emotions easier than
l can describe them.
Inc crater appeared to be about one mile in
diameter; its depth is unknown, as it is ALWAYS
hlled with dense smoke. Some persons have
had the temerity to venture down its scraogv
sides, short distance, az the imminent peril of
their lives, and without making any new discoy-
cries. The size, position, and number. of the
craters, (or frequently there are two or three of
them) is often changed with every new eruption.
Inc sides of the crater, up to its edge where the
visitor stands, have the appearance of pure sui
phur, and pieces of all sizes can be easily broken
Oft The ground Gf may SO call it) near the
|
long upon 1t, and one of the ladies of our party
mad her shoes spoiled by being so badly scorched.
but there have been SO many interesting descrip-
uons published of Vesuvius, and its volcano, that
IT'S needless for me to say more than that we slid
IN the ashes down the cone, mounted our waiting
| ponies, and, in due time, reached our hotel and
Notwithstanding its DUST and dirt, and fatigue,
were exceedingly gratfed with our excursion.
We made several excursions into the enyirons
OF Naples There numerous handsome villas
IN the vicinity of the city, and the general scene
~ IS romantic and beautiful. Indeed the whole
region is one of surprising interest to the tray
eler.
Naples like all the other cities in Italy, abounds
IN costly and magnificent churches, there being
about three hundred here 1t is almost incred.
ole, what vast amounts of gold silver, precious
stones, and other costly materials, are expended
IN finishing and decorating some of them; many
having cost several millions of dollars each. to
complete them, in addition to the labor of hun.
dreds of men, for centuries. And, it often seemed
to us, when beset by swarms of beggars, at the
church doors, great pity that some portion of
the expense could not be devoted to the support of
the incredible numbers of mserably poor wretches
that throng these places, here
The population of Naples is over four hundred
thousand; and, in walking the streets, it seemed
as II nearly every other man we met was soldier
or priest. 1t 10 said there are ten thousand Cath.
oic priests, monks, and friars here-one for every
forty OF the inhabitants. Indeed, the priests
swarm here, like flies in the SUMMER. While sit
ting at our hotel window, one evening, / counted
over taoO hundred priests and monks, who passed |
by on the sidewalk, in half an hour, among the
other pedestrians; and this was common occur
renee.
The streets of Naples are reputed the dirtiest
anu flthiest OF any city in the world hardly fit
70 walk in, except when you can plainly see to
PICK your way Indeed, it has been said. that no
respectable lady, who has any regard for cleanli.
ness will venture out on foot There are no
hagged sidewalks, (none the italian cities have
them,) the paving stones, which are usually fat.
Oelng lad up to the walls of the buildings, and
the gutter is IN the centre of the street. The
streets are constantly thronged, in all parts, with
such dense crowds of people, that it is difficult TO
drive horseitrrough them, faster than a walk
and the drivers are continually calling to them,
to get out Of the way.
Almost every kind Of mechanical business is
done on the sides of the streets; and, in walking
through some of them, you will encounter tailors.
shoemakers, saddlers, smiths, &c., &c., all busy
at their several kinds of work-and even noticed
! a printing establishment, with the compositors
setting type, on the sidewalk
The Lazzaroni of Naples, thousands of whom
are always to be in the streets, are as lazy,
and ragged, and unwashed set OF beings as can
well be imagined. Many Of them are nearly ma.
ked; indeed, we saw children, nins or ten years
old, running in the streets, without particle of
clothing on them
Thieving is said to be aregularly taught branch
ofbusiness, with the lazzaroni of Naples, and
they are called the most expert thieves in the
world 1t is asserted that there are places in the
city, where the apt scholar is so well trained that
he will steal the purse from the pocket, or the
spectacles from the nose, of the stranger in the
street, unless he keeps his hands constantly upon
them!
Very large quantities of maccaron and vermi
cell are manufacur ed in Naples, and exported to
all parts of the world In some quarters of the
city, it seemed TO be the entire business of great
portion of the people; and some streets were
| almost filled with the long poles, on which it is
hung up to dry. We visited a large establish
ment, where it is made, and saw the process Of
its manufacture. The -four of which it is made,
is coarse. somewhat like farina. 1t is mixed with
water, without yeast, and has other ingredient.
| The dough is made as hard as it can be kneaded,
and is worked a long time. 1t is subsequently,
| put into wooden pans in the bottom of which are
holes of the proper size, and it is then subjected
to powerful pressure, by which the dough is
pressed through the holes, in long, string like
pieces, as seen in the shops, for sale--after which
it is hung in the sun to dry. They are not very
nice in making the article; the kneading being
done by the feet, knees, and hands, of men who
we're nearly naked, and whose bodies were not
over.clean. After witnessing the dirty process Of
its manufacture, we came away, concluding to
eschew eating any more maccaroni pudding, or
yermicella soup--at least, for the present.
s. H. @.