Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1879-09-11
ACROSS THE CONTINENT
OF EUROPE.
RosrE, ITALY, August 10, 1879.


lay through vineyards and silkworm |
plantations to the Apennine Mountains, |
where the scene changed from broad,
level plains to mountains OF sand and |
rock, covered partially with short ever
green bush, which Is cut off, tied in bun
dies and used for firewood, which seems |
to be the only means the people have for
fire material. The bush sprouts up very
quick after cutting. On this trip, in the
space of half a day, we passed through |
fifty tunnels, and many very lengthy
ones. We arrived at Florence about ten
O'Clock in the evening, and found table |
d'hOte ready at the Hotel Washington,
where we tarried during Sunday and
Monday, leaving for Rome Tuesday morn
ing, August 5.
Florence, ,which is sometimes called the
Italian Athens, was the capital of Tus-
cany until April, 1859, when it became
part of the Italian Monarchy. A great
deal of historical interest is associated
with the name of Florence. 1t was here
that Americas Vespucius, one of the dis
coverers of America, and after whom
America was named, was born. The
house of his birth is still standing, just
across the street opposite our hotel.
Michael Angelo was buried here. His
tOmbis at Santa Grace, the Westminster
Abbey of Florence. We also saw the
house he lived in. The population of
Florence is about 200, 900, and las several
large picture and sculpture galleries.
This place is noted for its Mosaic iewelry,
/
deal of silk is manufactured here. This
place, in common with all Italian cities
and towns, is cursed with the usual num-
Der of beggars and priests. The distance
to Rome from here is $50 miles. Rome
is twelve miles from the Mediterranean,
$ and is quite cool, especially the nights.
There has been no rain in Italy for three
months, so that travelling under such cir
cumstanees has not been the most pleas
ant. On the first evening of our arrival
at Rome party of us employed carriages
and went to see the Colosseum by moon
light. The next morning, August 6, we
i" went to Naples, and returned to Rome
on the 9th, of which we gave account in
our letter from Naples. Rome is full of
antiquity. Ancient Rome is from twenty
to thirty feet beneath modern Rome. 1t
is termed the Eternal City, and to trace
more than 2 1000 years of the city's history
is more than you would wish, if we could
do it; nor could we do it if you wished.
Il Suffice it to say that in every excursion
5 we made in or around the city we were
II reminded that Rome was the centre from
y which has radiated the civilization and
n progress in art, science and literature OF
the greater portion of the globe, and that.
!; therefore, naturally the more we know
or remember of the rise and progress OF
the Roman Empire the more interesting
is the city is to ous-clothing every ruin with
u gaza1ent of romance, and constituting g
i' every relic a talisman which will bring
1t to our mind some legend of the departed
. glory of the city of the Caesars. We saw
" the spot where Julius Caesar was buried
, 1t is in the old Roman Forum. After hi
IS tragic death his head was exposed to tht
s. multitude upon a rostrum, and beneath
Il the foundation ruins of this rostrum hi
e. body was buried, which to this day ha
.+ never been disturbed. No monumen
marks the spot; nothing but the founda
I'd tion of temple that was erected ovel
e, the tomb remains. Every piece of ston'
or marble in the Forum is held sacred
and no one is allowed to carry off evel
It, the smallest piece of rubbish, for reason
ne explained by our conductor: ''That thes
Americans have such prOpensities 70
Vi carrying off relics of antiquity that,
IL permitted to follow their inclination un
ed molested, there would soon be nothing t
a. show them.'' The Colosseum, situate
,o in the midst of older Rome, was, perhaps
i'll the largest theatre, and is one of th
o- most imposing ruins in existence.
was founded by Vespasian, completed b
,ot Titus, about the year 80, and inaugurate
,st by an immense butehery which laste
about hundred days, in which time 5 ,OC
70 wild animals were slaughtered in hol
II day "sport.'' So history informs u
no There was accommodation for about 80
nd 600 spectators, and after the performance
.to of gladiators and wild beasts an arrangt
ment existed, of which traces still r
ITO main, for removing the whole of tt
..+ floor of the arena, which could be easi
nd flooded, thus forming a lake, on whiC
or naval combats took place. This place
of such huge dimensions, and built
such durable material, that description
"u unless very minute, would be useless,
; Is we will pass on to the Pantheon. Th
osC is one of the grandest relics of the pa
'le) tbot Ron,o rossossas and is cold 70 ba Il
10 only edifice which has withstOod all tt
ier ravages of time and remains in perfe
ulo state of preservation. It is supposed
have been erected for Pagan temp
'' but is now used as a Catholic Churc
According to the inscription over t
entrance, it was built about the year
r re B. c.. 1t has been destroyed and restor
nf times innumerable, besides being robb
eer- of the magnificent brazen images, pr
t as tions of which were used for the cano
aea 9 over the tomb of st. Peter, in the Chur
adj of st. Peter, and part for cannon for
Give castle of St. Angelo. The great featl
2me is the huge circular opening in the don
Re- by which alone the building is light
to This is very effective when the sky
in clear and blue above, but must ht
lhls rather a damaging effect in wet wealth
+ho but we notice numerous holes in
e pavement around us, and are inform
o do that the water sinks to the sewers
per- meath. The opening in the dome is alb
GI,o @a.o forty feet in diameter. Some people
America believe the story that the C
rent of air through this opening is
that strong that it precludes the possibility
OF rain coming into the Pantheon. WI
oato oaa1 standing under the centre of this op
sver. ing we asked Mr.. Russell Forbes,
oard couductor-an English resident citi2
llect who has made anciant and modern r,
a,,Snl 1,l study for years-as to whether the st