The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1873-08-14
WAITS WAITED EASTWARD FROM
OVER THE WAVE.
COMO, Italy, June 24tb, 1879.

Como, Italy, June 24tb, 1879.
Ed. TRIBUNE II am now in Italy,
beautiful, charming Italy, the land of
romance and song for all ages past
HThou art the garden of the world, the home
Of all yields aud nature decree
Thy very weeds are beautiful, thy waste
More rich than other CHIMES fertility,
Thy wreck glory, and thy ruin graced
With an immortal charm, that cannot be defaced.'
Byron never wrote more truly than
when penning those beautiful lines of
this beautiful land. yet it is not only
beautiful, but rich in classic scenes and
glory, during all ages it has exerted
powerful influence over all other coun-
tries, and many are the crowns thar have
had to fall at the beck of her scepter I
have had pleasant stay here at this.
one of the most beautiful spots on all the
earth. a little circumstance before
reaching here has rendered my stay es-
pecially agreeable and profitable. While
awaiting the train at AK les Bains,
special train came rushing into the sta.
ton, gentleman alighted. stepped up
to me and asked me if could speak
English, | told him | could and handed
him my card he asked me if | was bound
for Milan. | told him that was my next
stopping place, he handed me bunch
of keys. and said he would telegraph me
! the next station, stepped into the coach
and was hurled away. [ was informed
he was in great haste to meet a sick
family, and not being able to get his bag
gage on his own train he had ordered it
on the next. and he wished me TO see it
examined at Modena and come to his
hotel at Milan. The day was one of the
warnest had yet experienced, but the
scenery was so fine | did not get weary /;
we were going up grade all the p NJ.
and at 'cleck reached Mount GEMS
tunnel, which is among the greatest
achievements of the present century. We
were over 5000 feet above the level of
the sea, aud could look down thousands
of feet from the train into the fertile val
leys below and up at the snow fields we
could almost touch. The windows were
here closed. land all the passengers gaard-
ed against putting out their head as
there was danger We entered the tun-
mel very slowly, and the first few miles
it seemed up hill business, but finally we
began to descend, the speed increased,
the lamps upon the wall were passed in
rapid succession. We kept going faster.
[ raised my window, and contrary to
orders, put my head out. | began to feel
scared, the train kept increasing its
speed, L had to turn my head to catch
breath. Had the engineer put on steam
and jumped the train? Could he stop
if he wished? Would we ever see
America? What if rail would break
or stone be on the track ? there would
be pieces of the wreck scattered 70 the
Adriatic Sea. These things were pass
ing rapidly through my mind, when |
saw a light ahead, the next moment all
was dark. We had passed the getting
out place and ran into the next noun
tain feared. At last light dawned, the
speed Stacked, and the brave old engine
ran boldly up to the station. looking as
though nothing unusual had happened.
This tunnell is eight and fourth miles
lon I'd = - IL u.
tracks. At the mouth when we first began
to descend, we were 3, 1877 feet above the
sea, and 3,4S0 below the crest of the
mountain. We we're about half an hour
going through, and the last half | am
sure was the fastest time on record. [
haven't the least desire to return by the
way of that tunnel, [ would go by the
way of China first. The beautiful valley
of Susa soon made US forget our fright,
however. Vegetation was more iuxu-
RANT as we left the snow districts, and at
dark we were passing through a charm
ing valley almost surrounded by noun
tains. with the Dora river running
through the eeater. The castle of Des
Neiges capped a lofty peak, giving the
traveller a chance to dream OF romance
and chivalry. We reached Milan tia
next morning at IL A. NJ, and | called
on my friend at the hotel de Roma, aud
found he was German Count by the
name of Jerold, and had a summer villa
on the banks of the Como, the hospitality
of which he insisted upon me enjoying
while there. | am therefore at his little
villa, Cirra, situated under the towering
mountain of Gui, ON the banks of the
charming Como. into which [ can cast
pebbles from my chamber window. The
Counts family consists of himself, the
Countess, her sister, and quite number
Of servants. AS their habits while here are
purely Italian, L will give the routine of
single day, This morning breakfast
was served in my room at nine, [ sun
posing to be in bed. At ten I took a
sail on the lake, and read some before
dinner, which was served at one O. clock.
This was in FIVE courses and lasted one
and a half hours. We then went to
Como this villa is TIVE miles from the
city, and returned in time for tea, which
was commenced at O'Clock and served
in seven courses, including fruits and
wines, and lasted until IL o'clock P. NJ
We then, in the cool of this, one of the
most beautiful Italian evenings, took
row on the lake for an hour, and return
ed for lunch. retired to my room little
after one, but as | am not expected to
get up before ten. can still write little
about Milan. About this routine is fol-
lowed every day. As the beauties of this
little mountain lake have been sung ever
since Virgil penned his immortal ''Te
lars Maxine"
1t is admitted by all travellers to be
the finest for situation and beautiful
scenery of all the lakes in Italy. 1t is
about two miles wide and forty long,