The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1873-04-30


who had assembled to do honor to Vcto
Emanuel and his son who is very much be
loved by the people. Our enjoyment of tn
sights and scenes here was marred by saC
event, Bishop McIiwaine died in our hotel
but we did not hear of it till it was an
nOuuced from the pulpit three days after
wards. His funeral sock place to-day the
17th.
On our return from Naples we went
through the great palace of Nero at Rome
and the baths of Titus The palace was
supported by arches, che domes above SC
high that lights had to be put on pole Of
reeds thirty or forty feet long to enable u;
to see the frescOes in the vaulted roof. The
house of Mecenas was pulled down by Nero
to build this palace. Then we visited the
Immense public baths Of A0aracalls, paved
with mosaic. At Rome we heard grand
sermon from DR.. McGregor, on the text, 81
am the light of the world. Yesterday we
heard DR.. Robinson, the "poet preacher Of
Scotland" He expounded every portion OF
Scripture which he read. He spent full
half hour in an allegorical exposition of the
sermon on the Mount, which he constructed
into great temple supported by columns,
and strengthened by girders, with every
1 Il ba
to the text, "grieve not the Holy Spirit
whereby ye are sealed unto the day of re-
demption," the sermon was original and
searching, full of Scriptural instruction
and pathOs. His eyes were red with weep.
ing. never heard more earnest and affec-
tive preaching which continued for one hour
and ten minutes. The appearance and man
ner of the preacher were grotesque in the
extreme, his voice harsh, and his intonations
in violation of every rule of rhetoric, but you
soon forgot all this in his powerful presenta-
ton of truth.
One of the most remarkable things here is
pharmaceutist' establishment. 1t is an
immense affair with alembic, laboratory, and
every appliance for fabricating medicines on
the grandest scale. There are entertaining
rooms elegantly furnished, rooms for cards
playing, and every variety of medicines,
suppose, to be found in the world. In the
rear is a large building enclosing three sides
of hollow square with colonades all round,
occupied by numerous schools. The boys
were marching, under care of their instruc
tors, round the eolonades for exercise. A
new day is dawning on Italy. Schools are
established every where, and teacher told
me the boys and girls were eager for instruc-
tiOn. Enlightenment in religion viii, dopbt
| less, fogow in the train Of knowledge.
19th. We left the beautiful city of Flor
ence for Pisa this morning. In its general
features the country is wide, fertile plain
always in view of the mountains, and some
times the road passes through them. Here
at Pisa is the famous leaning tower which
has been the worlds wonder for many GEN.
turies-that it should have leaned so long
and not fallen, or even leaned any further,
not withstanding its great height of $50 feet
leaning twelve feet. The Cathedral here
is one of the largest and finest looking /
have seen on the continent. The floor and
walls are of marble, the walls hung with
some very fine paintings. The finest of them
all is Of Nun taking the black veil. A
priest is rObing her in presence of number
of people, while an angel above has crown
in her hand which she is about to place on
the brow of the Nun. The dome is very
high ornamented with beautiful frescoes, of
which there are also some very fine on the
walls. There are some exquisite pieces of
statuary. One of Adam and Eve standing,
one each side of tree loaded with fruit.
The serpent with the face of beautiful wo
man, is coiled among the limbs. The whole
group is of one piece of marble. There is
statue representing Charity, babe in her
arms, another clinging to her garments; fac
ing this, is another representing Religion.
These are extremely beautiful. In the same
enclosure is circular building called bap-
tistry with several bowls around an altar for
baptizing. This was built in the 11th CEN
tury. 1t is observable that in the frescoed
representation of a baptism in the subter-
ranean church Of St. Clements built in the
Sd century the rite was performed from q
bowl. In the enclosure is long cemetery
in the form of an L with several fine pieces
of statuary. A drive of three or four miles
brought US to palace of the King. In the
extensive grounds, and stable are upwards
of hundred camels used for draft We
then had drive of two miles up the river
Arno with the park on on side. Altogether
Pisa is place of much interest with popu-
lation of fifty thousand.
TO BE CONTINUED.
A GENTLEMAN who escaped from the wreck
of the Atlantic telegraphed to his brother in
distant city the single word, "saved. -
Brief though the message was, it was one Of
iov, and so highly did the brother value it,