Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-04-09
NArLrs, Feb. 20, 1861

weather here Is almost as cold as we left 1t In
Paris. and not day passes without more or less
of rain. When the sun does degn to shine,
which has occurred several days for an hour or
90, we find it exceedingly warm out of the
shade; but when he returns again behind dark
clouds, 1t becomes cold enough for an overcoat.
I brought some thin understanding from Paris,
but have found it useless, yet,
And now, suppose, you desire to know how
am pleased with Naples. Notwithstanding
the weather, must answer that am charmed
with almost everything Isee here. First OF all
is its beautiful situation and surroundings-its
magnificent bay, glorious beyond description
and, finally, the charming aspect of the city
| itself, with its lively-hued houses and it's gay
inhabitants, ever laughing and in motion. We
have been here but three days, and, Of course,
| In that short time have had but little opportu-
nity for sight seeing. Within the city itself
there Is comparatively little Of special interest.
The whole Of our first day was epent in the
vast Museum Borbonico, where is deposited the
greatest collection of antiquities in the world.
The ancient statuary and paintings there
are very fine, but the great centre of interest is
the relics brought from Pompeii and Hercula-
neum, whence everything portable and beau
tiful has been here transported. Here one
wanders among labyrinth OF such remains,
and all of these are as perfect as the day they
were buried beneath the burning showers from
Vesuvius. Statues and vases, paintings and
mosaics, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, agricultural,
musical, surgical, &c.--tables and chairs, orna.
ments of gold and precious stones, and all
beautifully arranged, surround the visitor on
every side. One even sees the skeletons of SOL
diers remaining within their armors, and In one
room Is shown, In q hardened remnant of stones
and ashes conglomerated, the perfect imprint of
the head, neck, arm and breast of young girl.
During the reign Of Francis III: 1t cost quite
sum to visit this Museum, the guardian OF each
department exacting fee. 1t is now, however,
entirely free to the public; so much so that the
guardians absolutely refuse money for keeping
your umbrella or cane safe-something unheard
Of In fact, the Government of Victor Eman-
uel is working miracles Of reform here. The
city 10 full Of Sandman soldiers, and every
thing 10 as quiet and orderly as in Paris itself.
The day after our journey through the Muse.
um, we obtained permission to visit the Palace,
occupied 80 lately by the young Bourbon.
really pitied him as looked through his mag
nihcent home, more cheerful and splendid than
any palace have seen In France.
To day we have spent at Pompeii, and 1t has
been most interesting one, assure you. No
thing but a personal visit can give any idea of
the charm which hangs about these perfect re-
mains of city Of the Roman Empire. Walking
through those now desolate streets, and gazing
into those beautiful houses wanting scarce any
thing but their former occupants to render them
perfect, and we are carried back almost 900
years to the gay and lasciyious days of this once
elegant city. Bulwer has added immensely to
the interest which one feels in surveying these
ruins, and as stood in the amphitheatre Glau.
Gus and Arbaces seemed to rise before me. while |
tho 10 afa 0f ind nd
coming to save the one she loved so hopelessly.
The first clear day we shall ascend Vesuvi-
US, which is now very inactive, scarce any
smoke rising from it's grim top; then few days
in excursions about Naples, and We shall start
to Florence, whence my next will be written.
Till then, farewell. You're, Sc, C. r.
FLoREscE, March 8, 1861. |
DEAR Again resume my pen to let
you know how far have proceeded upon my
Italian trip, every step Of which seems to be
more full Of pleasure and delight than the last.
In my letter Of sweek ago, gave you q brief
account of what had then seen in Naples, end |
ing with short description of my visit to the
classic remains Of Ponfeii. After that we
made several excursions to the environs OF the
city, whose surroundings are justly regarded as
the most beautiful In the world. But by far
the most important Of these trips was that to the
summit Of Vesuvius. We left Naples early one
morning, and after ride of an hour and half,
stopped at little town called Resina, at the
foot o. the mountain. Here Mrs. A. and DR.. X
mounted q couple Of ponies, very similar TO
those upon which we ascended Mount Washing.
ton, while Mr.. A. and started off upon that
safer and more-to-be-depended animal,
called ''shank's mare" The ascent now com
menced over huge masses of lava, whose ap
pearance, more than anything else, impresses
the mind with sense of the mighty power at
work underneath. II is almost impossible for
me to give you any just idea of the aspect pre-
sented by this lava, surpassing anything which
I had ever imagined before. In color IL 10
blaek-and it's huge masses are rolled out one
after the other in the most fantastic torms,
generally resembling, more than anything else
I can think OF, immense crullers! In some
places 10 is not yet cooled, though cast up years
ago, but smokes in spots along the narrow road
which has been made upon It's surface. After
an hour and half's travel over this deeolate
mass, which Is as hard as flint, We arrived
at little house, called "the hermit
age" where We rested few minutes,
and refreshed ourselves with some wine and
oranges-and then started on. Another hour
across the same sort Of material brought us to
Of our party had to dismount Mrs.' A. was
now epsconced in 0 sort of chair, which was
mounted upon the shoulders Of four men, who,
for dollar each, afford this easy means of |
surmounting the most difficult part Of the as
cent. The rest Of Us started off bravely on foot,
being followed by crowd OF men with offers
of assistance, BY means Of ropes which are
attached to them, and to which the wearied
traveller clings and is drawn up after them. All |
of us rejected these offers at first--but after
had climbed about ten minutes look ed down
and was amused to see X. and A. clnging sslike
grim DEATH to couple Of assistants. AZ for
me, after having travefsed 8 aitzerland on foot,
/ thought it beneath my dignity TO accept even
half q dollars worth Of help so toiled up
ward; sndgarrived the fifst on the summit. But
Il was three quarters of an hour Of the hardest
work ever underwent. Imagine a cone, !, 600
feet IN height, consisting OF nothing but loose
pieces of lava which roll away, from under you
and Of loose sand into which one sinks up to
his apkles--it was truly two steps forward and
one backward .snd that, too, up an almost per-
oepdicular ascent. But we all surmounted It
finally, and arrived on the edge Of the immense
crater. Here 1t was terrific sight. As we
eszed into IL, vast volumes Of sulphuric vapor
roae up, almost concealng entirely the dsep
abyss. and nearly sitting us occasionally with
thsir iumes---st the same time continual explo.
sious. loud as thunder, succeeded each other,
eudiug or with deep rumblings beneath our
feet. and huge fragments Of rock were cast
atraipht up thousands OF feet,and fell back into
the yawning mouth which vomited them forth
About us were beaped tremendous piles of pure
auluhur: and on digging down two or three inch. |
- 49,. ecak ,vish orr cticka -, a ......S |