Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1867-07-10
GOrrespondenre Of the Gazette.
A TRIP TO EUROPE,
LETTER NO VI

Crossing the -AEps-A Roman Pddre-A
Sabbath IN Ti9'ia-Gen0d-It Streets,
Buildings, Trade, etc.
GENOA, June, 8, 1867.
We left Paris on the evening of the last
day of May, travelling by rail to st. Jean,
a small town on the French frontier, i'm
mediately at the foot of the Alps. Here
we took what is called a diligence"
something of a cross between an Omni-
bus and stage-coach, in which we cross
ed these famous mountains. A railroad
is now in progress of construction, and
tunnel being bored, so as To increase the
facilities of travel and avoid the tedious
Journey III coaches. The road we travers-
ed was an old military road. built by the
first Napoleon. We saw several forts,
also, along the route, which were con-
structed by him during his wars. We
found the tops of the mountains covered
with snow. The ascent was so steep that
we required a team of twelve horses and
mules TO draw us up. The descent on the
other side being equally steep, it would
not have required any motive power to
take Us down, but q span OF the team was
reserved to act as brakes, and to keep the
machine on the road. The velocity with
which we descended was anything but
quieting TO the nervous members of the
y
Catholic prelates, on their way 10 Rome,
to attend the great council meeting sum
moned by the Pope. On the seat next to
me was the Bishop of Nismes. He wore
a massive gold ring, set with large ruby,
surrounded by eight brilliant diamonds.
| found the "holy father" TO be a pleas
ant, agreeable, kind old gentleman. In
proof of the latter good quality, he order
ed one of his attendants TO hold the cur
tain Of the diligence so as to shield my
face from the sun. At Lusa, village on
the Italian side Of the Alps, we left our
coaches, and again entered the ears. At
ter short ride We reached Turin, where
We stopped to spend the Sabbath, putting
up at the Hotel d. Europe.
| found as little sanctity attached to the
Sabbath in Italy as in France. The day
we spent in Turin was observed as a fete
day in honor of the adoption of the Lib
eral National Constitution. This event
was duly celebrated by grand military
parade, which the populace turned out
en- HtdSSe TO witness, the whole very much
resembling one of our Fourth of July
occasions. There being no Protestant
church in the city, we visited an old ca
thedral, built about \. d. 6U9. over 1850
years ago. In the cool of the evening we
took stroll through the principal streets,
and noticed many beautiful private resi-
dcnces and elegant public buildings. Tu-
rim is said to be one of the most attractive
cities of Italy. The people are gay
and happy set. very much resembling the
Parisians in their dress and dmanners.
To-day at noon we arrived at the cele-
hrated seaport of Genoa, and for the first
time my eyes rested upon the waters of
the Mediterranean. This is the most Gu
riously built town | ever saw. 1t is stu
ated upon the side of high steep hiIl.-
The streets are not more than six feet
wide, while the houses are exceedingly
high, many of them containing six and
seven stories. As the buildings overlook
each other, the inhabitants all eniov a
splendid view Of the magnificent marine
scenery spread out before the city. The
hotels are immense structures. and are
literally " castles in the air. In some of
them the ceilings of the rooms are twenty
feet high. Everything here is construed
ed with a view 10 the melting hot weather
which prevails during considerable part
of the year. Horses and carriages are un-
known except in certain quarters. In
the narrow streets all goods are carried on
trucks or on the shoulders of men. There
Is more business in shopping done here
than in any other place in Italy. I have
been astOn!shed at the cheapness of arti-
cleS which bring extraordinary prices in
our country. For example, bought sew
eral pairs of the finest Kid gloves to-day,
paying for them only thirty-six cents a
pair. We called upon a resident Ameri-
can family this evening, at their country
seat near the city, and were kindly re-
ceived and most agreeably entertained.
This social pleasure, the first of the kind
We have enjoyed since leaving America.
strongly reminds Us of Home, sweet
home"
light being spent in travelling and sight
seeing. You will therefore excuse the
breyity of the present epistle, and the
want OF interest which may attach to my
correspondence in general. Yours,
HANS