Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1874-06-20

among and over them. The old en-
ioyment of deliberate observation
is ruthlessly sacrificed to accommo
date the "spirit of the age" whicl
economies time in transit and squan
ders it away at termini.
The Beauty for which
FLORENCE
is so Justly celebrated is met more il
the situation and environs than il
the city itself. 1t is decidedly thu
best built and handsomest' city tC
the eye which have yet seen in TIA
ly. 1t looks altogether different now
from what it did to the traveller
fourteen years ago, before the unity
of Italy was achieved, in 1861
Then it was dull old town of 1OO,.
600 inhabitants with most of the
streets narrow, crooked, and ill-pav.
ed, and ruled over by a branch of
the Bourbons; yet it was then cele,
brated as the chief seat of art in the
pictures, and only second to Rome in
sculpture, in Italy. But it received
prodigous impulse for the recon
struction of Italy, and especially
from the location of
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL
here in 1864, where it remained un-
til 1871. The population swelled to
I7O,O 900 souls. Scores of new, broad,
straight streets, and avenues were
laid out, aud planted along the
walks with trees, and built up in
first class style; and several of the
old lanes, which looked ike, cork
screws, were Strengthened, widened,
and rebuilt into fine streets. The
cid city wall, constructed in the
twelfth century, was torn down, and
a magnificent boulevard, 40 to $50
feet wide, and fringed with orna-
mental trees and studded with statu-
ary occupies its place. The new streets
and many of the old ones, are beati-
fully paved with large flag stones OBJ
tanned in the mountain quarries near
by. The same material is used for
building purposes. 1t is light gray
stone, not so hard as granite, but is
as firm and solid as limestone. The
whole city has clean bright, cheer
full modern air and aspect, with just
enough of the quaint and medieval
in parts remaining to helghten the
effect, and render it picturesque and
pleasing.
Florence lies in
THE VALLEY OF THE ARNo,
where it seems to emerge from the
sloplng, unduiating Appenine Noun
tains, and spreads out into a wide,
rich plain, extending to the sea, so
odd miles to the westward. The
river passes through Pisa, famous
for its Leaning tower, and empties
into the Mediterranean near Leg
horn, which is the seaport of this
Tuscan Province. Thus Florence is
situated in the upper slope of an ell
evated plain, with mountains on two
sides for background. The coun-
try in the immediate vicinity is ex-
ceedingly charming. From the
heights adjacent, which overlook the
city and valley, the sight is enchant-
ing. The mountain peaks, the alb
rupt bluffs, the gently rounded hills,
and swelling ridges and the sloping
plains, covered with trees or clad in
verdure, with the beautiful city of
Florence in the foreground, its lofty
domes, spires, and towers, rejecting
back its suns rays and the Arno
stealing through the city and val
ley to the sea, shining like silver
thread-all combined to form a
most beautiful panoramic vision.
The whole region glitters with white
villages and villas on the slopes, and
every spot of ground is converted in
to gardens, or covered with vines
and fruit trees. There are numer-
Gus drives to the environs, where
new views can be obtained of the
city and valley at every turn and
wind of the way over those hills.
Below the town, and adjoining it, is
THE CAsCINE PARK,
which is the pride of Florence. 1t
is or miles long, but of moder-
ate width, and filled with forest
shade. A foot path leads along the
brink; near it is laid off broad car
and inside of that road
for equestrians. These three ways
foot, carriage, and horse-extend
around the park, down the Arno on
the south side, and up a little noun
tam stream on the north side, with
crossroads" or connecting drives,
rides, and lovers walks through the.
woods. To this park resort, every
afternoon thousands of citizens and
strangers-some on foot, others on
and the remainder in We
hicles of every description, from the
plain go-eart to the stylish four-in-
hand with gorgeously Gveried funk
eys mounted behind. All the styles
N Europe may here be seen-an
italian Prince, Duke, Count, or
drives four snowy horses
FOR his own amusement. The Ger
mans and Russians prefer two, and
ct the coachman drive. The En-
glish, men and women, take to the
'addle-bringing their blooded hun
,ers from home. The American
9atronize every style of turnout
;ome of them being decidedly loud
md stunning. My countrymen are
90 fond of making a sensation"
wherever they go, which is not to
heir credit in the eyes of Euro
,eans. The French in Florence
we'll, they stay at home, in ola Belle
France" save their money and do
THE CLIMATE IN FLORENCE,
S several degrees colder in winter
han in Rome, but it is far more sa-
ubrious. Ones health is not en-
by Roman fever. The
Jampagna is not malarious. The
people lock fresh, and have fair
,omplexions, added to intelligent
,ountenances; and the mendicant
nuisance is banished from the streets
'ne is not heset by beggars at every
upn H. AD4oIa - ,,.,ll |