Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-01-29
XVIII.
Special Correspondence o. the Nashville Unior
. and American


Special Coaresponoence o. the Nashville Union
and American.
C.. GENOA, -, lS70.-The Tower of
Pisa is 100 feet high, but by the time one
gets TO the top of it he feels like he was
twice that distance from the ground.
There is something about ascending these
winding stairs well calculated to relieve
one of all such an article as health. Most
of persons, although old enough to know
better, when beginning TO ascend place
where something wonderful is to be seen,
rush of at rate thRt soon makes the dis
lance stretch TO double what it would be
If moderation were used in the outstart
There are several galleries on the outside
OF the tower, separated by intervals of
twenty or thirty feet from which grad
ual idea can be obtained of the slant.
When the last step of the 295 is reached
and you step out on the gallery and look
over, the feeling is not just such as most
people fancy. The top, my reader is
aware, leans Is feet beyond the base, SO
thstto q person holding on TO the balustrsde
and leaning over there is feeling of being
between the sky and earth without know
ing what holds him. There certainly is
produced q medley in the mind, of grand
eur, terrific and frightful. An uncon-
querable disposition is felt to lean the
other way to keep from falling. Many per-
sons when looking over and experiencing
this falling sensation, rush back with fright.
1t is by no means the incest thing in the
world, even to a person of strong mind,
to feel that he is rushing to meet the
stones some 200 feet below him. Some
people are charged with being without
that essential part of the human body-a
heart Let such stand on the edge of the
top of this leaning tower, and if there is
not very huge swelling and rising in the
place where the heart is said to reside,
then there need be no further dispute
about the matter. The bells on the tower
are very large, and possess tones of sill
very sweetness. The coming down pro-
duces results quite akin to those said to
attend the imbibing pint of Robertson
Co., not only the head is in a whirl, but
the whole body is In perfect whiz.
The Cathedral-for every town in Italy
has its Cathedral-staRds in few feet of
the tower. Tie building has more of the
appearance of swan sitting than any
thing l know OF The swan may be
graceful, but the church misses il very
much. No church in this country is com
plete without paintings ard portraits of
the patron saint, hence the cathedral has
Its supply, some of which are very fine.
The usual amount of gliding is wanting.
The lion of the church is the large bronze
lamp, to the swinging of which we owe
our clocks. This lamp is carefully pre-
served in honor of the man who obtained
his great idea from it. The priests enter
tan q very different ides of Calico from
what they once did. This lamp deserves
canoni6ng much more than many men
who have had that honor done them.
II the trip up and down the town has
not reduced ones temper to sharp point,
the guide for the cathedral will accom-
plish the work. He has a vast deal OF
information about the saints, the lamp,
Calico, etc. While the visitor is won
dering over the strange results that have
followed the boys curious Observs-
ton of the lamp, and while
his miAd is astounded by the reflection
that 90 much has grown from so simple
al occurrence, seemingly, the guide il
distressing his ears with q screaching,
spattered voice in telling Of the perform
Gnce of some saint who has been in his
grave hundreds of years, and nobody the
better for his having ever been out of it.
The Canho SantO or cemetery is in the
enclosure. The dead used to have to pay
20 get in, but now the living have to pay
70 get out There is nothing repulsive
about this place for the dead as at Naples,
but everything is neat and quite comfort
able in appearance. Even the dead are
comforted by the aid of the fine erts
there being several great paintings neal
by their tombs.
From Pisa went to Genoa, being eager
70 show my respect and love for the mar
who paved the way for the foundation OF
the best government the world ever did
see. The railroad is finished only par
of the way, but was in rapid progress
toward completion. The road runs alonG
the Mediterranean all the way. The SEES
view is very fine, while the mountains OF
the right are often grand. Such road fol
tunnels 1hsve nowhere seen. Nearly every
half mile the usin runs through mother
eArth's bowels. BY this means much Of
the besuty Of the trip ia lost. At Spezis-
give the ~" the sound fast boy makes
when he Cxpactorates on his msiden at
tempt at chewing the filthy Weed--a mic,
little towu in pretty bay of the sea
there is g hrc.k in the railroad Her,
my inguisic difficulties renew them
seiveS bul were relieved by q cleve