Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-02-29
Letters from Italy.
GENOA, Jan. "A, 1872.

LIS 10 q W ttllut ClNl Wv IL VI -ICdu tAI~
tiquity, numbering 1901 inhabitants.
In the eleventh century it was the capt.
tai of an independent republic. 1t is
one of the most important seaports in
Italy. About 1, 500 ships arrive and de
part annually.
Our route from Spezia here was by
water Spezia has the most secure har-
Dor on the Italian coast. The govern
ment is spending $4,000, annually, in
building Notifications there, upon which
5000 men have been employed for the
last twelve years. At the mouth of the
harbor, which is five miles long, is a
small town built in among the rocks, the
most ancient place that l have yet seen.
Here is a little old stone church, built
on a point of rocks, that juts out into
the sea. 1t was built long before the
Christian era, and tradition says that the
Venuses used to worship there.
Genoa is the 'city of palaces. limo
other city are there 50 many grand old
marble structures as are to be seen here.
They are plain in architecture, but built
for the centuries. Some of these have
a most commanding location, as the city
extends back to the Appenine hills.
Genoa has been the birthplace of
many eminent men. This was the home
of Paganini, the greatest violinist that
ever lived He died here, about twenty
years ago. In niche, prepared for the
purpose, in a room of the City Hall, is
deposited, in a glass case, the violin and
bow with which this great genius en-
chanted his listeners. Near by is the
box in which he always kept it, with q
few strings and other things, just as he
left them. On the top of the box is, in
large gold letters, "Paganini.' When
Admiral Farragut was entertained in a
princely manner here, about four years
ago, this musical relic was taken from
its place and played upon by Sig. Mari
ami, q celebrated musician, since which
time its strings have remained unstrung.
The Church of the Annunciation is
probably the most extensively decorated
of any in the world. Various ColOred
marbles, rich fresco paintings and gold
appear in profusion. In little chapel
of the Cathedral of ST. Lorenzo is de-
posted an urn, said to contain the re-
mains of st. John the Baptist. Females
are prohibited, by law of Pope limo
cent VIII, from entering this chapel,
except one day in each year, as the
Saints death was at the instigatiOn of
woman There is fine statue and mon
ument here, erected in 1862, by the city
of Genoa, to Christopher Columbus,
whose memory is more hOnored to-day
than that of any other GcnOcse. The
history of this adventurous mans life
has become so interesting to me that l
will give your readers sketch Of it.
CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUs.
1t is strange that the birthplace of
great men whose genius and mobiles have
been the wonder and admiration of the
world, should so often be in doubt, and
that so many places should contend for
the honor Seven cities of Greece claim
to be the birthplace Of Homer. These
cities no longer exist, and it is uncertain
where the blind poet was born. The
same is true with regard to Christopher
| Columbus. Some say he was born at
Genoa, some at Piacenza, some at Bug
nascO, others at Cuccaro, SavOnia, and
other places. We had always read that
/ Columbus was a native Of Genoa. and
/ had never known, until now, that there
was any doubt in regard to the matter.
/ The best authorities, in the way of per
sons aud written documents, that we are
able to find here, maintain that he was
/ born at Cogolcta, a little suburb On the
seacoast of Genoa. In a letter of the
GCnOese Senate to Giambattista DOria, Il
distinguished GenOese, written Novem-
Der 9TH, 1886, it is stated that he was
born at Cogoleto. The registry of the
notary, Conreno Nerdino, and the pub
lie documents of Filice Isnardi, also 20
to prove that he was born in the COM
mune of Cogoleto.
The year of the birth of Columbus is
also uncertain. Some authorities say he
was born in 1885, and others in 1445.-
Some American books say in 1442, but
| can find no such authority here. But
this matters little, as few years more
or less will neither add to or detract
from the glory that surrounds the name
OF the great discoverer The father of
Columbus was wool-carder. which
was an honorable and lucrative business.
although hardly sufficient to supply all
the wants of his large family. Never
theless, observing his son, CHRISTOPHER.
as having great love for geography and
mathematics, he encouraged him in his
studies, and, instead of employing his
hands in the paternal business, sent him
to school at Pavia, where there is still
one OF the best colleges in Italy. Here
he studied design, caligraphy, geography
and mathematics, and returned home at
the age OF fourteen, when he was con-
sldered very accomplished. Born on the
seacoast, and accustomed to battle in the
waves, he loved them as old friends. and