Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1876-01-10
NESUNIUS.

After brief nap of three years, Ve-
suyIus is again uneasily stirring. as
though remorseful dreams of Pompeii
and Herculaneum disturbed its rest. A
Professor, who inhabits a precarious sig
nal station on the mountain, announces
with much delight that this uneasiness
presages an eruption. He is considered
20 be an expert IL volcanoes. and the
Neapolitan public. having an unlimited
confidence. in his predictions. is taking
its china down from its shelves, and ty-
ing its plaster saints securely in their
inches, by way of preparation for any
slight tremors that may occur. Prof.
Palmieri certainly pursues his labors in
way which challenges oar respect He
does not quietly tell us that ''clear and
cloudy weather" is at hand, or talk
region of the Central African lakes
and probable warm or chilly weather
along the coast" His business is earth
quakes and eruptions, and he confines
himself to them. BY the aid of an in
strument of his own invention-the
''seismograph"-he can infallibly tell
whenever an earthquake shakes his
erockery about his ears. If he suddenly
finds himself involuntarily trying to
stand on his head. and perceives his
furniture rushing violently across the
floor, he at once brings out his "seismo-
graph studied it attentively for few
moments, and then announces with calm
confidence that an earthquake is in
progress. The ''seismograph" has re-
Gently informed him of the occurrence
of several earthquakes, of more or less
vigOr. and as earthquakes always pre-
cede an eruption of Yesuvius, he has
no hesitation in assuring the public that
an eruption is at hand.
1t is Well-known fact that nothing
more thoroughly delights the Neapoli-
tans than an eruption of their beloved
mountain. Ordinarily a volcano in
spires men with awe and terror. Vesu-
yius, on the contrary, is probably the
This is doubtless due to its discretion in
never injuring the City of Naples. To
be sure, it is addicted to annihilating
the small villages that nestle at Its base,
but like a Well-trained dog, it never
attacks its master, however fercely it
may attack strangers. When, therefore,
Vesuvius. shakes itself and announces
that it is wide awake and ready for bus
iness, the Neapolitans, serenely conscious
that whoever else may be hurt they are
safe enough, Immediately raise the price
of board, and gleefully prepare them
selves to make financial hay while the
volcano shines on sightseeing tourists.
Beyond an occasional and trifing shock
of earthquake. the volcano in no way
interferes with Naples, while on the
other hand it attracts 50 many visitors
that it is really of more value to the Ne
apolitans than their magnificent harbor,
or their succulent maccaroni.
But the city that allows itself to be
too familiar with volcanoes is pretty
sure sooner or later to regret its rash
ness The Neapolitans may fancy that
4 Vesuvins is too thoroughly tame, and
altogether too intelligent to hurt them,
but some day the mountain. in mo-
mcnt of extreme excitement, will shake
! Naples intoschaos. and then bury it un-
! der a tidal wave, or shower of ashes.
4 Naples is in the very centre of volcan-
ie region. South of 1t is Vesuvius,-
Westward, on the Island of Isehia, is
Monte Eporneo, and NorthWard Is
Monte Nuoye. which was thrown up al
most in single night. That Naples
has SO long enjoyed nearly absolute I'm
munity from disastrous earthquakes OF
eruption, is matter of surprise. II
cannot count upon the permanence o.
such good fortune, and it is only rea-
sonable to suppose that however long the
catastrophe may be delayed, the fate o.
Lisbon will ultimately overtake tht
city that is now 50 joyfuIly hailing th'
prospect Of another display Of volcano
exuberant vitality.-B Y. Times