Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1873-07-17
Our European Correspondent.
NAPLES. June 21st.. 1873.

NAPLES, June 21st.i 1873.
Dear Advertiser,-I have now:been in
Naples four or. five days, enjoying the
delicious climate to the utmost, and vis-
itipg all the points and objects that tour
lists generally. consider nf most ,yinipor-
tance. Of anstheir cities, after Rome,
The Italians are most proud of Naples. "A
national motto says "see Naples and die"
This lovely city lies on the worldfamed
bay of the same name, has 10000 in
habitants, and is, all in all, the most
charming spot upon earth. 1t is also the
home and paradise of beggars-Lazzaro-
nj. These are bad enough throughout
Italy, but here they are totally pestifer-
.ous and uncomfortable. Ihave visited only
a few Of the three hundred churches for
which Naples is famous. They are inor-
dinately rich in style and ornamentation,
and e!l look alike to me.
The National Museum here is one of
the finest in the world-filled with bron-
zes, marbles, jewels, and Pompeiian an
tiquities too numerous and too beautiful
to attempt to describe. In this Museum
inspected collection of ancient Mum
mics in glass case, two Of which are'in
such perfect state of preservation that
the very hair upon their heads is lifelike.
In company with pleasant party,
have visited the Isle of Capri, the Blue
Grotto, and, last but not least, the ruined
city of Pompeii under Mt. Vesuvius.
We drove to Pompeii by private carriage
and remained there over half day ex-
amihing this great historical scene. Al
most the entire city has been cleared of
the lava, mud and debris of the great
eruption, and the ruins now stand clear
and clean above ground; SO much so
that one walks about this city of the
dead in the same manner as about a city
Of the living The house. of Diomed,
the Street of the Tombs, the City Gate
with the sentry boS. where the soldier
was found dead on duty,) the City, Walls,
the Forum, the Amphitheatree, the Baths,
the Theatre, the Temples, are all objects
of noblest and intensest interest But of
still greater interest to me was Vesuvius,
which is at present SO inactive as to- allow
travellers to ascend to its very crater
The crater itself, however, is always
burning, and always sending clouds
of sulphurous smoke high into the. air.
I had the good fortune to reach the high
est point, and to walk as it were upon
the lips of the crater, looking down into
the fearful abyss and snuffing the fiery
birthstone vapors, and gazing upon the
red-hot openings here and there all
around. Vesuvius is 1000 feet above
the sea, and so steep that its extreme
summit can only be reached upon foot.
Of the many travellers who attempt the
ascent, not more than one-third ever
reach the crater. They "faint by the
way" md must be content with roam
ing about what rs called 1.-THE Hermit
age" By dint of strong physical endu-
rance, however, and the pulling, tugging
and graphing of an experienced guide,
your correspondent "made the trip"
and "saw the elephant" I was well
paid To-. my exertions and difficulties.
The distance across the crater is about a
half mile, and I walked almost entirely
around it viewing the depth from all
sides. At certain points it was almost
impossible to stand the whitening heat
and the strong odor of sulphur, Vesu-
vius is certainly one Of the greatest won
ders of the world.
In visiting Capri we spent whole day
going and returning-by boat on the Bay
Capri is small mountainous island in
the Bay of Nal Piles, and in ancient times
was the summer resort of the Roman
aristocracy, At its highest point it is
1900 feet above the sea-; it has about 5000
inhabitants. Augustus built a great
summer Palace on the island, and subse'
quently Tiberius erected twelve Villas
| in honor of u Gods of heatfren mytholo-
gv-traces of which buildings still re-
main.
The Blue Grotto is also on the shore OF
the Bay. You enter it in small boat,
and the entrance being only feet IL
height, you are obliged to lie down in
the boat as the latter glidcs in. In the
interior the roof is 40 feet hight above
the water, while. the dimensions OF the
Grotto otherwise are 165 by loo feet The
effect of the refraction OF the dazzling
blue light upon every object is the most
beautiful thing have ever seen.
To night return to Rome, whence ]
shall probably write you next.
N. A. M.