Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-07-04
FIoRESoR, ITALY, June Q, 1867.
10 O'Clock, IN.
A VISIT TO FLORENCE.

bordering on the banks of the Arno are
crowded with people; band in a taste
fully ornamented boat on the river is
filling the air with its music; other
bands are marching the streets giving |
serenades; men, women and children, |
join in singing songs, or raising shouts
of Joy; the public buildings are in a /
blaze of light; four bridges that span
the Arno have their outline, their arches |
and their piers marked with lines of
light; double lines of lamps extend
along the walls on both sides of the riv-
er, the lamp posts in the streets are la
den with extra lights and look like'trees
of fire, and the night seems turned into
day with artificial light.
From the observatory Of the Hotel
where now write, the Imperial Palace,
the House Of Parliament, the Custom
House, City Hall and other public build
ings are visible. As now Illuminated,
some have more the appearance of a pal
ace described in fairy tale, than re-
ality.
To guard against wind, and to produce
the desired variety of colors, thousands
of glass globes, open at the top and ar
ranged so that an Italian lamp could
be put into them, were procured and
hung along the walls on both sides of
the river bank, and in front of the walls
Of the public buildings,
BY the aid of these globes, red, white
and green lights are produced. These
are the colors in the flag of Italy. The
Custom House was beautifully decorated
with red, white and green lights.
These, arranged in rows, give in beau
tifally shaded outline the house and its
arched doorways and windows and the
tower with its battlements on top. The
Parliament House is splendidly illumi-
mated and its tower looks like pillar of
fire.
1t may be that the latter is intended
as an emblem to signify to the Italians
that the wise resolutions and humane
enactments of Parliament may, like
pillar of fire by night, lead the poor,
degraded and priest-ridden people of
Italy into the promised land of liberty
and happiness.
The demonstrations tonight, are to
commemorate the day of their nations
independence, and dates from the time
the present constitution was adopted
The people appear greatly rejoiced to
have passed from under the rule of the
Pope into the more liberal government
of which Victor Emanuel is the head.
All speak well and respect the Sover.
eign, but he is not the man idolized by
the Italians. That man is Garabildi
His picture is to be seen in the Shor
windows, Hotels, and private dwellings
of Italy, and when his name is men
toned, the people become enthusiastic
in his praise.
They regard him as the great benefac
tor of their nation. His liberal views
magnanimous policy and unwavering
uprightness of character, are admired
and appreciated by the people so Ions
burdened with superstition and ignor
ance,
Under the new government the people
are inspired with hope, and are ready tt
lay hold of any thing that savors of pro
gress. They realize their degraded con
dition, and are ready to embrace any
thing that will change it. They hav
no fears Of plunging into deeper degre
dalton, and are satisfied that any chang
must be for the better. In many re
spects they have made no progress dur
ing the last eighteen hundred years, AM
in some they have greatly degenerated
The same style Of agricultural imple
ments and cooking utensils useC
by the old Romans, and by the citizen
of Pompeii are still in fashion through
out Italy. The plough as genera
thing, has not one ounce of iron used j
its construction, but consists wholly {
wood. Its shape depends upon the forr
of the crotched tree of which it is mad
No two plows that have seen were
the same pattern. The beam is usual
long enough to reach to the yoke of Ii
oxen to which it is fastened with
string. In the hay field straight stick
with short stubby scythes attached al
used for cutting grass, and crotche
sticks are used for pitch forks.
Jewels are polished and reduced to r
quired forms, and jewelry is manufa
tured with tools Of the rudest kim
The entire outfit of manufacturer
mosaic jewelry is often not worth fi'
dollars. In social point of view Il
people are far below the standard Of Il
noble Romans described by Plu.arch an
Gibbon. Women and children do Il
drudgery and perform most of the lab'
in the field and workshop, while the mt
pass much of their time in idleness.