The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-06-27
NUMBER A.


contemplating the dark side of life
than brighter visions of hope and am
bition. The crowded cafe presents
no such animated conversations and
ioyousness as are heard in those of
Germany, France, or America. You
may pass among hundreds Of occu-
pied tables and hear no sustained
conversations, discussions, jests or
laughter The wine room and beer
hall present the same crowded isola-
ton, silence and gravity. The opera
house the same, except in cases where
applause is given, and then it is wild,
eXtravagant and noisy-perhaps APP
preciated, for they give close atten-
ton to the performance. There is a
great fondness for the opera and the
atre; and yet they seem neither
amused or entertained. There are 13
opera houses and theatres here, most
of them open all winter, and a few in
the summer. But travelling shows,
such as circuses, menageries, etc, are
unknown here. Public lectures there
are none, and in fact no public enter
tainments for amusement or mental
culture. outside the schools, theatres
and opera houses.
The people are orderly, lawabiding,
temperate 1t is a rare thing to see
an intoxicated person, or a quarrelling
crowd. There are many churches, but
they are not well attended. In fact,
large number are not occupied for re-
ligious services, but are used as bust
ness places, warehouses, DC. Inside
the church is the only place where all
classes meet on an equality. On its
stone floor the rich and the poor, the
noble and the beggar, kneel together
before the altar of some saint, and do
not turn up their noses. There is no
cushioned pews for the one, and mig
gers heaven" for the other-but very
few seats, and those only plain benches,
with lot of very cheap chairs slowed
away in convenient corner TO be
brought forth in case of a crowd. Even
the great cathedral-the second largest
i'm the world-has not a cushioned seat,
only few benches and a stack of grass
bottomed unpainted chairs, the frame
work of which still bear the mark of
the AK and jack-knife used in their
making. And there on marble floor,
covered by marble roof which is sup
ported by Is marble columns, - feet
in diameter and $50 feet high, en-
closed bv a mal ble wall 10 feet thick,
supporting tower 355 feet high.
over 5000 pieces of statuary, mostly
life size, look down with the same in
difference upon the prince and the
beggur. But alas, the church is the
only place where the people can meet
on an equal footing. Elsewhere, and
in all other conditions of life, the most
irreconcilable distinctions in society
exist, almost rivaling the castes of
India. Aristocracy of wealth and title
hold high carnival, and the taint of la
Dor or business is more unsurmount-
able barrier to entrance into society
than the brand of crime. Poor driv-
cling idiots, how little do they com
prehend the age in which they live, or
even the age which they affect to honor
in their pompous worship of ancient
Roman greatness.
1t is said that the majority of the
people no longer adhere to the Catholic
religion, but are rather drifting into
inidelity. From the sparce attendance
at churches, | am inclined to believe it
true. Professionalism has but a weak
representation here, although tolerated
There is in the city one Episcopal so
ciety, one Congregational, and a small
society of Swedenborgians, all for
eigners. Meetings are held every
Sunday, but there are no conversions.
Italy has suffered but little destruc-
tion of property, except by wars. The
buildings, public and private, are all
fire proof. The walls, the floors, the
stairways and the roofs, are all of
stone or brick. Wood is nowhere used
except for doors, castings and the joints
upon which the floors and roofs rest.
In many cases the floors and roof are
but the leveled up top of arches Iron
Joints and beaus are also used in many
cases. Hence the destruction of a
buildingby tireis unknown here, except
in cases where the goods contained in
it are sufficient to create heat great
enough TO crack or overthrow tho
thick walls. L. BEEsoS.