The New York herald., 1878-07-07
THE DEAD IN ITALY.
SCENES N THE PAUPER CHARMED HOUSE AT
NAPLES - sEpULCHRAL SPECULATION AN
ITALIAN CAMILLE

SCENES ~ THE PAUpEn CHARMED HOUSE AT
NAPLES - sEpULCHRAL SPECULATION = AN
ITALIAN CAMILLE.
NAPLES, Juno 1O, 1878.
One Of the most remarkable curiosities OF this en-
chanting city the Old Cemetery, where the poor
buried. A few evenings ago ! mounted CAB ana
was driven about mile from tue Strada del Poggo
Resle. outside the Capsan Cato.
.rei me, daddy, what is that cluster Of buildings
yonder, half way up tho hihs" 1 asked tho driver
"rhe New Ccmetcry."
'.No, no; Know that one the other, lower down TO
the ieits"
IAN. understand. 1t Is the Old Censtcry--ihat
OF the poor-whcrs they inter with a machine"
Turn around and drivo me there"
~ will drive you where you please, sir; but you
Will Il ud nothing interesting ~ sce."
The coacoman, surprised at u KIND of curiosity he
could not cxpain, gizcd al steadily, and tnen
slowiy turned his About qu ,rter OF hour
after ound my self at the gato os the cemetery As
as hia set loot WITHIN the threshold the words
Of the coacnman returned to my mind, and almost
repcnted having come. There was absolutely notning
TO see Two buildings, on cithor sidc OF tho main
portal, containing tDc church, the pricsps lodgings
and other rooms designed TOR various uses; oroad
paved courtyard almost quadrilatera, with lamp IN
the ceatre, surm,untcd by cross; lofty
enciO-lnR "ai', uec"fhtcu lhlcrnaiy WIN ar
cadcs bnilt into tue masonry ana small
crane, mounted upon movable platform,
which, upon my arrival stood inactive
In corner OF the yari-Ihis was all that struck
my eye on hrst reaching the dismal cLarnol house
where the municipality OF Naples send every year
about seven thousand human citlo to purely In
common.
TuE KEEPER
man Of pleasant appearances, but covered with
tattercd garments, who seated the gate, an
nounced himself as the custodian. 1 hesitated to
enter, but he told to pass aud, pointing to somc
meditalive and ragged individuals VINO we're wander
Ing about WITHIN, ,ntimaed that without any cerc-
mony, admtttance 10 tnts enclosure irse TO all
/ entered Uut alter taxing isw steps returned o
ask this qursti0n:-
Excuse me, but what are those round stones yon-
der OIL the pavement numbered with cniscif'
''rnc burial pisces sir. ne replied; 'n all 300.
just many as tue days oi tue year mere are 800
here, you see, aud i've others IN the church. At
hall. past SIX o clock IN the evening Que of thema
opened cvory day ana IN II arc buried, with that
chine yonder, the dead that have arrived duriDg
day and those that come during the night Ii is
| you would IKE to SOC how Is done remain mere OF
return ths evening, about seven, snd you VII be
amused"
wnile the custodian vas giving me these partcu.
lars scarcely noticed bin. Gazing at that unnotm
plane, bare as the image OF DEATH bcneath when
thousands OF corpscs wasted away III heaps would
gladly have departed hai not sirtngc curiosity re-
| strained me. Will merely relate what saw.
| WAITING FOR THE HOUR.
Two old men, barcneaded under the scorcning rays
OF merry sun, we're passing up ana uown the court
yard along the laes OF sepucnres. rectins psaims "a