Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-08-04
ir4Ly AND SWITZERLAND.
CoLIco, Italy July Sth.

TO he Ed!tor oj the Journal:
! Here we are at the head of Lake Como.
iostly the most renowned of Lakes. On all
sides tower stupendous mountains, on whose
| lofty SUBMITS glisten the snow, while just be-
| fore us lie the grand Alps. We spent night
before last and yesterday up to four O'Clock
in Milan, a rather modern city in appearance,
but having nothing that we care to mention
in it particularly except the most wonderful
cathedral. famous throughout the world for
It's splendid extravaganza Of marble ornamen-
tation. 1t is built of marble outside and inside
and the roof is covered with slabs ofthe same
material. 1t is very imposing in appearance;
to our eye more so outside than that of any
other church we have seen not even excepting
st. Peters at Rome, the exterior of which is
belittled by miserable approach. Its foun-
daton was laid five hundred years ago, and
yet it is not finished and statues and ornamen-
tai pinnacles are constantly being added
There are already over 8 200 marble statues,
the most of them six feet high. The roof
which we visited is literally crowded with slen-
der spires, each surrounded with the statue Of
a saint, while below it is covered with a net
work of fretted flying arches whose pinnacles
are surmounted by some flower or fruit to the
number of over ten thousand. We also visi-
tied the fine gallery of arts, the triumphal
arch of Napoleon l, and the convent where
we saw the worn out but famous last supper
| by Leonardo da Vinci. Age has so effaced it
that the features are hardly discernibls, and
their original wonderful expression is lost
We appreciate Mark Twain's description of
this and other works of the old masters in de-
cav The finest arcade we had ever seen is
near the cathedral At the junction of four
principal streets. are very fine lofty buildings
which are united above by crystal root
spanned in the center by dome of glass.
This is the grand center in the evening for
prOmenaders, and the shops are very fine
| The fine monuments of Count Cavour and
Leonardo da Vinci are also worthy of inspec-
ton. Milan is a terribly hot place and we
were glad to get out of it speedily. 1t stands
in the centre of the great fertile plain of Lom-
hardy, and has about 250,000 people. Leav-
ing the city at four p. NJ, we went by rail to
Camerletta, about twenty miles of as hot rid
ing as l ever experienced. At Camerletta, we
| took an omnibus to the town of Como, a short
distance only. There the steamer was gladly
taken, and in half an hour were enjoying
the eXquisitely magnificent scenery of the
wonderful lake. Our steamboat excursion up
Lake Como was one of the things we had an
ticpated much pleasure from, and We lad our
anticpations even more than fully realized
We doubt if there is another such ride to be
had. 1t certainly was the finest lake scenery
we had ever looked upon. The beautiful,
clear waters wind around through deep
mountain valley--a perfect gem OF lake IN
the midst of emerald mountains. Scattered
at short intervals are picturesque villages.
fine hotels and villas tor summer resorts.
I At two of the largest hotels we saw the red,
white and blue on small row boats. At most
. Of the stopping places the broad ungainly boats
= of the lake a sort Of combination OF Virginia
farm wagon and flat bottomed boat came
out to bring passengers to the steamer or TO
receive them, landing being made directly at
: not over four or five places. We left Como
about half after five or six O'Clock I. NJ,
and reached this place (Colico) about half
past ten, as hungry as mortals ordinarily get.
On arrival here we found that no diligence
left until this noon. This information we got
, through the kindness of one of the boats Off
GERS, who was the only person that we could
talk with in the hotel or town, and had we
+ not happened to fall in with him we should
/ have been in pretty pickle of doubt and un
certainty.
We found that we had gained nothing by
: leaving Milan in the afternoon Except to get
e out OF the intense heat which was certainly
g very desirable thing as the early morning
trains passengers would get into CoIico and
> make connection with the diligence which we
y take this noon. This place does not present
TO az inviting an appearance as most other towns
on the Lake, although the scenery around it
Il Is very fne. 1t is evidently not favorite
g place OF resort There appears to but one
re hotei, very ordinary country tavern. At
this point the Lake is wider than almost anv.
t. where else, and lies right under the shadows
of the majestic Alps We are still in the
r. land OF the beggar but tomorrow we hope
"a to be in Switzerland. 70 vary the monoteny
20 we have just taken sail in one of the great
N row boats covered with an old canvas thrown
, over rude wooden ribs. One Old man with
~ bare feet stood in front of us rowing with n
y single oar, while the "boss' boatman stood in
= the stern rowing with two oars, both men Cas-
is the case also with the gondoliers) facing
the bow of the boat. Considering the clum
. siness and the size of the craft, made pref
), ty good speed but it was not half so romantic
as the rides in Venice.