The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-05-29

out We changed horses, this time getting
twelve. and heavy stout fellows ct that. The
road is magnificent work, about thirty feet
wide, we'll macadsmized and protected
on tho dangerous side with stone columns
three or four feet high, for it is nearly IN
thu way cnt out of the aide Of the mountain,
and in places stone columns were built far up
the mountain side above US. to prevent the
snow from breaking away and sliding down
upon the road. About daylight We came TO
|a place whore the road ascended about five
hundred feet BY zigzags cut in the face Of the
mountain, which brought ~ to the summit.
For the last Eve or six miles the snow had
been cleared of half the road, with occasional
turnouts 80 that parties could pass, the snow
having been in some places twelve or fifteen
feet in depth, and the weather which at Turin
had found uncomfortably warm the day be-
fore, made heavy overcoats and wrappings
necessary At the summit we were all turned
out Of the diligence and placed in little close
carriages on runners, though l, with Ameri-
can pertinscity, insisted upon riding on top
ofmy carriage instesd Of inside, very much
! to the disgust of the conductor. We descen-
ded eight or ten miles in this way At Z very
rapid rate; the sleighs being provided how
ever with peculiar brake, it was done with
entire safety, and then we're reshipped again
into diligence and had . most delightful
ride to San Michele, the present terminus ol
the French and Italian railway. The scenery
was magnificent, not equal however in gran
deur to that of the Rocky Mountains, bnt
Mount Gents is said to be the least interesting
| of the passes Of the Alps. 1t was differen,
from mountain scenery in our country from
the fact that in the valleys and even far up
| the mountains wherever patch of soil could
be rescued from the prevailing harrenness, II
had been done. and il was made to yield some
| thing for the benefit Of man.
When, too, the road would be winding it,
way along the side of the mountain, thous-
ands of feet above the little stream below,
villages and churches far below me, and SO
old ana weather beaten es scarcely to be dis
| Itinguishable from the surrounding rocks.
Large crosses with small shrines marked the
spots where loss OF life had occurred from
the accidents of the mountains. An immense
| snow slide had crossed the road in one place
carrying with it large masses OF rocks and
trees and pretty eiiectually destroying the
road at that place, which workmen were en-
gased i'll repairing After getting below the
snow cur ride was most delightful, the road
/ following the wlndings Of noisy mountain
stream. which gradually expanded aud sub
sided into digmihed aud respectable little
| river. every new torn of which showed us
new beauties oil nature. About noon We took
the cars at San Michele. though We were mol
| clear Of the mountains until nearly night the
| scenery still continuing very Interesting.
though had not so good an opportunity o.
| seeing il from the ears "a when in the ban.
qaette Of the diligence. There is one advan-
| itage the Alps base over our Rocky mountains
III scenery, and that is the great abundance oil
wa'er-that IS the parts o. the Rocky noun
| talas which have seen-uaich are so far from
any large body Of water as to be compara-
| lively very dry. The next morning reached
Paris and received very soon the sad news o
the death of one of my warm friends, Col.
Lewis De. X. Hubbard, late of the Sd Illinois
cavalry, died here on the 18th Of April 0.
consumption. We had occupied apartments
together during the month ] spent at Rome
and expected to do so here, and had alse
talked oftraveling together during the coming
summer if his health would permit. He seem
ed to understand while at Rome that he had not
| long to live, but still do not think he antici-
pated that his death would come so soon
He has friends ip Keokuk, and also in St
Louis, over whom his death will cast a gloon
as it has over . large circle Of friends and re
lelatives here. Afectionately your son,
S. S. CuRrIs.