Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-08-14
GLIMPSES OF TRAVEL,
Petrarch's Home.

mares w arren Stoddard writes from Fer
rara The tomb of Petrarch lies of from the
heaten track away up in the cool shadows of
Enganlan Hills. ArYCT tel Monte. IL is
really pilgrimage Jhither, for you must
leaNe the station down in the valley and
either foot il, ride or drive up the winding
road, between hills and rough rock QuarrieS
ara wl!d-Iooklng spots that would make
capllal backgrounds for bri gandS. The twists
and the turns are not ended when you enter
the village, for there are no two streets in II
parallel, and tie house where he lived and
uied Hes at the other end OF them all. Just on
the slope of "A hill that sweeps down into A
valley miles and miles away. OF course il
was raining before | came 10 halt AZ the
lower end OF the village, close by the chapel.
in front OF which stands his tomb, the hea /
and neck, and set on the roof of IL. II looks
a. u ne were gazing out of round Skyiight
~ lie top Of small windOwle : hoUSe-aud
IL - very ugly. asked for the home Of Pc
tTarch aud was directed 10 The top OF the viii
rage, winch seems 10 have slid hall way down
'ht mountain ana there lodged in among the
rocks AMI trees. Tire half dog an narrow ;repfS
WING Ll'fer and TIN theT, and run almost like
th' bCu> % So ne stream that has been scat
tered oN The rocks, fDT they Join again as nat
uialI. as streams join wheI the fluctuations
81 Inc isti2d are favorable. No one offered =
sHIuc me 70 the poets house, though at every
doCT there wee maids or uatrouS spinning
ana chiidIen played about the streets and
climbed among the rocks like kids. At last |
came 10 TIE great gate in the garden wall ana
rang Tor admission. There vas no response
The ram increased, and | sought shelter IN
der the deep arch ia the wall. Some one
saw me waiting and sent child - summon
The custodian. lie must have been hidden
somewhere, OF sleeping for IL was iong before
re came, and an the while tue rain increased
and the sky grew dark with low and threat
eElng clouds. The green lawn in front OF
IGtraTCAS house, surrounded 10y its high
Sioue wall. is the picture of solitude. Stone
steps LEAD 10 the second floors or the house
aEd the upper landing is enclosed with stone
arches. The swallows Garted OF their nests
under the arches when we reached the door.
All the rooms were Clean and iidy; the fres-
Goes tie carved panels. and some bits of the
O4G furniture are still tOieTatlV well pre-
served. in his room, the room in which he
died saw his chair and cabinet which
was has. his autuSraIh and a few little relics
OI less interest. The house posse Il peclI-
mar charm toy me. Perhaps the marvel
lousy beautiful situation had something To
% with II; doubtless the soft summer rain
Tie lowering clouds, the delicious quiet of
TIE land had their effect. but when I leaned
nom the light iron balcony that Overlrug
ms garden and saw tire broad fig leaves
CLOSED with rain, and hTeatned tie cior of
seTE3L-a and orange flowers. and thought
now Ofien he must have walked in these
pains and reStej u@der these arbOrS amt
rocked Of upon the surprising loneliness Of
Tie Landscape, 1T seemed 10 me that cCnli
always be COnteDtet.