New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-12-05
HOMELESS ITALIAN JOURNEYS.
ITALIAN JOURNEYS. BY W. d. HOwELLs. 12mO.
500 Hura n UnnCllOn


ITALIAN JOURNEYS. BY w. D. HOwELLs. 12mO. PIP.
so. Hurd Houghton.
Mr.. Howels possesses in liberal measure the
qualities requisite for writing agreeable book OF
travel. The old world has been 50 thoroughly ran
sacked by adventurous tourists of every nation and
language that it would be idle 10 look for any great
amount Of information in the records Of journeys on
the beaten routes Of travel Every reader Of oTdi-
nary intelligence is familiar with the characteristics
of the principal European cities, whether he has
visited them in person, or knows them only from
description 50 that a new book on the subject can
command little interest unless it is enivened by the
genius of the writer which enables him to present
the well-known features OF foreign life in a novel
point of view Mr.. HOwells appears to understand
clearly the demands of the reader in the composition
OF a work of this kind. He does not weary the at
tentiOn by the repetition Of familiar details. lie
treats the subject with due regard to artistic effect
though basing his narrative on accurate observation
With an imagination always on the alert, piauant
vein of hum0r keen sense Of the ludiCrous, and a
sufficient degree of literary culture TO preserve him
alike from pedantry and commonplace, he throws
his personality into the recital Of his experience
giving his pages a similar charm TO that Of lively
conversation with pleasant and intelligent COM
panion. The reader who has gone over the same
ground which Mr.. Howells describes viii be strucl,
sketches, while he will admire the brilliant flnces
which have cast a rich poetcal colonng even around
the prosaic highways Of ordinary travel.
In leaving Venice for journey TO the Eternal CITY
Mr. Howels intended to take the usual route by way
Of Bologna and Florence 10 Leghorn, aud thence
down the seashore 10 Civta Yeccha, instead Of
which on account Of an interruption in the railroad
he was compelled TO make the best of his way to
Genoa. and submit 10 a dismal voyage of over four
days from that city 10 Naples His experience in the
celebrated old city of Northern Italy, Bologna seems
10 have given him tit of the dumps and throws
rather too dark shade his description Of that
quaint if not cheerful monument Of the Middle
Ages.
AT night we were again in Bologna, ~ which We had
not the gloomy arcades for years. must he
dreary town az all times IN rain % is horrible and
and bologna are dul blind and confortIess The eject
VI the buildings vaued above the sidewalks is that OF
stantly interrupted by tie heavy brick pillars that sup
port the arches The arcades not picturesque
Liking always 10 leave Bologna quickly possible,
and on this occasion learning thai there was no hone of
crossing the Apennines 10 Florence made haste 10
take the FIRST tram for Genoa, meaning 10 proceed thence
directly 10 Naples by steamer
Il a motley company that sat down in Hotel Brun
the morning after our arrival Ia Bologna, 10 breakfast
OF murky coffee and furry becistoaks associated with
sleek greasy, ukewarn fried potatoes / am sure that
81 each Of our weatho~bound pilgrims had told his story
we had been well entertained those at Canterbury
However thought NJ TO give hs narrative hut a
garrulous old Hebrew from London Who told Us how he
hantDeen made 10 pay fifteen guiIeas Tor carriage
cross the Apcunines. and had Obliged 10 walk part
OF the way ~ that price. lie evidently proud now
the money was gone OF having been cheated OF so much
and in him we saw that there least one human h
ing more OdOus than purse proud glishmau-
a purse proud English jew. He gave his noble name
after while a. something too precious 10 DO kent from
the company. when recommending Of the travellers
20 the Hotel dAngleerre IN Rome: The best ,eI
out Of England You may mention my name, If you like
Mr. Jonas" The recipient OF this favor noted down the
talismanic words In his pOcEetbOOk and Mr. Jonas con
scous OF having conferred benefit on his race, became
more Odous % 10 than An Englishman Of com
hun, though many may carcatuc. saw American
London once who thought himself an Eugishman he
he iegofmutton whiskcrs. detained against
universe suffrage and republics and had appetite for
nigh game. He hateful animal, surely, but he
not the British hon; and this poor Hebrew at Bologna
was not whit more successful IN his imitation OF the H.
lustfous brute though he talked like him, ~ nothing but
hotels, and routes OF travel and Lackmen and pOrtes.
aDd seemed 10 have nothing to do IN Italy but get
through Al as quickly and abusyely possible.
The bit OF cabinet painting devoted TO Genoa pre-
sents lively and very natural picture of the birth
place of Columbus.
very great number Of the streets ia Genoa are foot
ways merely and these narrow as dark as fn Of
tuttnR chimney places, balconies and opened windoW-
shutters and picturesque the little alleys In Venice
They wander at viii around the bases Of the gloomy old
stone palaces. aud seem 20 have vsgabOnd fdDess for
eEeGD1R down " LIZ DOT and losing themselves there