The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-09-01
AWHEELING MANN ITALY.
lie Makes u Flying Trip 10 LOur-
des In Franco and Then BUSHES
Bnck Again - Interesting OBJ
serVatlOnS ut GENOA. 9S' TT.
FloRENcE, IrAIY, June 90.

I.
Marseillea and went right through TO
Lourdes without stopping at Toulouse, .
hard ride OF 4S hours on those inconve.
nient European cars. / don't know when
have had more agreeable time than ut
LOurdes; the place has such fascinating
charm about it, and the country Is 30
beautiful that no one can help enjoying
1t, The town itself Is quite small but II Ia
nestled among the Pyrenees with little
gurgling streams bounding alongside and
under the funny looking houses down in
tho low portion Of the town. A hoary
old fortress situated on the mountain
spur, protecting the place, gives the fin.
ishing touch 10 this lovely spot. TIE
river Gave, which rises in among these
mountains, rushes past the Notifications
and through a glorious country; steep
mountains on one side and sloping lands
on the other side; commencing ut the wa.
ter'sedge with Southern products and ris.
Ing from grade TO grade II vegetation I'M
Ill it reaches the pines Of colder regions
and The perpetual SHOWS. A grander
scene can not be imagined than 10 stand
at some turn in the road, away up on the
mountains, and look down through the
magnificent valleys in tho Pyrenees. We
had a splendid excursion 10 the cascade
OF Gayernie, which is about 80 miles from
LOurdes; 1t surpasses anything Of the
kind / have yet seen, and we had q fine
game OF snow.balliDg. Just think OF i'll
SnOw.balling In June, while il was Bultry
hot in the valleys. Yesterday we went to
Paw, an elegant watering place, and a
great watering resort for the wealthy
English. a' ng.' ~
FLORENCE, ITALY, June 80.
It's strange that can't keep away
from Italy; after getting away over in
France among the Pyrenees, l could not
resist the temptation to come back for
another look at this sunny land, notwith-
standing the long, tiresome journey and
the annoyance Of showing passports,
going through the custom house, exami.
nations Of baggage, changing money, and
having RdifIerent language every time a
person crosses the frontiers. Had tostop
at Genoa twenty.iour hours to rest, and
what beautiful resting placeitis AS
this lovely city claims to be tho birth.
place OF Columbus, Americans haye a
warm feeling for It, but setting aside this
consideration, there are enough ,attrac.
tioRs TO excite intense interest. The, Ca
thedrnl and many other churches are fine
specimens Of medieval architecture, and
contain rich treasures Of ancient and
modern art! The wood Mosaics on the
choristers' chairs, and in other parts Of
the building, are great curiosities Of
mans handiwork. Like most OF the cities
in Europe, the streets are very narrow,
with the exception Of one or two that
are evidently OF modern arrangement.
But then, the high marble houses are ele.
giant, and the bay is superb. The hand
some wharves form the shape Of horse
shoe, and at the points commanding
the opening to the Mediterranean, stand
two high and graceful looking light
houses.
Between Genoa and Pisa tho railroad
runs along the seashore and the scenes
are so lovely and the numerous villages
70 charming that one signs in having to
pass through them 80 quickly. tits next
10 impossible to particularizs about Italy
for it is all u rich store house Of arChi.
lecture, art and beauty, and Dame Ma.
ture has smiled on 1t as she has done on
no other land. Now, I can understand
why Europeans think that Americans
are arough, wild people. 1 remarked
to an English lady here, that she should
visit America. "Oh no." says she, VI
could never stand it; no art, limited cul.
ture and a country almost in its primeval
state" l tried to disabuse her mind Of
these prejudices, but that IA the way
many Of them look at the subject. How
can l find words enough 10 describe
Florence, the flower Of cities, and the
city Of flowers. There are curiosities
enough here to keep person busy for ut
least u month, and It is difficult to see the
city and its surroundings properly in less
time. There arc about $4,000 inhabi.
tants, and Italian genius seems TO have
been particularly lavish in fine works Of
every description. Some Of the little
towns on the hilly crests, near the city,
are older than Rome, founded centuries
before Christ. Yesterday evening took a
drive up to an eminence CommnndingR
full view ofthe city and Its suburbs, and
it was magnificent. The Apprentices in
the distance, the quaint cosy villages on
the neighboring hills, and Florence
below with the Yellow Arno running
a golden chain through the city and
spanned by numerous ancient bridges.
A band was discoursing fine music ut u
tremendous dedicated on this eminence,
and tire fashion were driving about in all
kinds Of elegant equipages. The stores
in Florence would throw our ladies into
ecstacies-such jewelry, laces, millinery,
dryg goods and exQuisitely beautiful tinery
OF all kinda, and all so very cheap.
Lovely white silk handkerchief with
handsome borders for about DO cents, and
everything else at equally low prices. It
10 annoying not to gather up a great lot
OF these nice things or even TO take the
finest views OF every place | visit, butthe
pictures alone would fill huge trunk
and it would take ship to hold all the
beautiful articles | would like TO bring
home. l leave here on Monday for
Venice, and If can spnre the time will
stop NJ Bologna, Mantua, Ferarn and
other places Of great interest. 1t is a
grand mistake for people to imagine that
Rome, Naples, Florence, Milan and Turin
are the only places worth visiting in
Italy, and regret exceedingly that my
time is too limited TO sec many other
places properly. From Veniee4 go to
Bellngio on Lake Como, thence 10 Switz.
erland, Sc,
You know how particular ! always
was about having d good square meal
prepared carefully. Well, Ihave struck
my Colors, and eat everything now with.
out any more knowledge OF what it is
than il | We're blind. They have favor.
lite dish in Italy that looks like stewed
elephant trunk, but whether it is fish,
flesh or FOWLS beyond my knowledge. %
Ia I. M. r. }
| .tf = n = 7TTT II,