The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1867-08-01
nIoaIni Efna.

| Mount EtDa.
This is the largest and most extraor,
binary volcanic mountain in the world
1t is ten thousand eight hundred and
soveDty.iour feet high (that Of Yesuvius
is only three thousand nine hundred
and seventy-nine), and measures one
hundred and eighty miles in circumfer.
ence at the base, and in its various re
glons has three separate zones or eli.
mates. Over its sides are scattered nc
fewer than seyenty-seven cities, towns
aud villages, occupied by about one
hundred and fifteen thousand people
10 ascend it from Catania is journey
OF twenty.four miles. This journey is
one Of great fatigue, aud very few tray.
elers are disposed 10 undertake it.
The mountain produces all the neces.
sarles and luxurics of life. The first
region is the most fertile, aud affords
corn, oil, wine, silks, spices and deli.
cious fruits. The second yields beauti.
fal forests and focks Of game, besides
tar, cork, and honey; and the third
snow and ice, while its cayerns arc
stored with marbles and mineral pro.
ductions, such as cinnabar, mercury
sulphur, alum, nitro aud yitriol. lts
timber keeps the Siciians warm in win.
ter and its ice, cocl in summer. The
sale of snow and ice collected from its
cone averages ten thousand dollars per.
annum. The ustdgaa corto carali. OF
the chcstnnttree of a hundred horse
SO called because it is supposed to be
capable OF shelteriug one hundred hor.
ses beneath the canopy Of its boughs, is
situated in one of the spacious felas OF
the lower circle. The dense forests are
occupied by wild beasts, and the loftier
heights by that bird Of liberty, the ca.
gle
"The bird that laves
Her sounding pinions In the suns frat gush;
Drinks his meridian blaze and sunset fiush
Worships her idol in his fiercest hour;
Battles his full bosom in its hotties, shower;
Rides with the thunderer in his blazing march
And bears his lightning Ger yon boundlesl
arch"
The rays of the rising sun strike the
top Of the mountain seven or eight min.
utes before they shine on Catania at
this time the shadow Of the mountain
extends over the whole island, and even
ioto the sea. The view from the sum
nit of Etna battles description. AT
this elevation the diameter Of the hori
zon commanded by the human eye il
estimated at eight hundred miles, which
is equal to circumference Of two
thousand four hundred miles. No won
der that the Emperor Adrian and the
philosopher Plato were willing to under
90 the toll Of mounting to its altitud,
to enjoy the qualification Of such pros
peet,
A French traveller, speaking Of the
effect Of the rising sun from the height,
Of Etpa, says that il was as il the uni
verso had been observed suddenl,
springing from the night Of non-exist
cuce. The coasts OF Africa and Naples
and all the intervening Islands, are un
der the range of observation. The mas
sy body Of the mountain is seen entire
and the whole island of Sicily, with it,
rivers, cities and hamlets in full relief
including the Aowery fields Of Anna
aud the honeyed hill Of Hybla. In til,
spring, when the trees begin TO flower
the island appears as if powdered Will
blossoms. From sucha height the peo
pie in the vales below seem bat as grass
boppers.
But Ktra is not always passive. /
is subject 10 eruptions and earthquakes
and whea they take place, the land an,
the sea become troubled, aad.he inhab
itants are ia despair. When such
mountain docs speak, il speaks witt
power. In a calamity of this nature
God is mans only refuge. 0fthe earth
lquakes, one of the most remarkable des
cribed in history is that which happenc,
10 1888. It's motion was perceived il
Germany, France and England, but 81
cily was the chief sufferer. 1t extende,
TO circumference Of three thousan,
leagues, and no fewer than fifty-four ci
ties, with an incredible number Of villa
ges, we're either destroyed or greatl
damaged The city Of Catania wa
completely overthrown. The sea sud
denly began TO roar, Mount 1Etna 3
send forth greGs spires Of fame, an,
soon after shock ensued, with nois,
as II all tho artillery in the world ha,
been at once discharged. The bird
few about astcuished, the sun was dar
keaed, the bosts ran howlipg from sh
hills and although the shock did no
continue above three minutes, sixtl
thousand Of the inhabitants Of Sicit'
lperished in The flames. When il wa