The daily gazette., 1879-02-11
Remfnisc enees Of Italy.
Joseph X. Chandler Tells the Catholic
Cub What He Sow 1tcenty Years

From the Pnila. Times.
Every man who coul stuff himself in
to the rather confiDe! rooms of the Cath
olic Club ist night did so. in order that
they might once more hear the man who
has been almost a "father" to the Catho-
lie youth in this city for many years,
Hon. Joseph X. Chandler, the longtime
president of the club. lie is so beloved
by all who know him that it adds not to
his fame to recall the fact that he is the
oldest journalist in the United States to-
day. Even the dead Gu len Bryant did
not reach the years in the profession of
Journalism which he has, for he founded
the United States Gazette now the
North american and United States Ga
zette "the oldest daily ia America"
Under his editorial pen the United
Stats Gazette became the leading Wing
organ, of National reputation. He Is
fond OF telling the youngsters of to-day
how, when his paper was started, he was
the only editor and reporter, did all the
work and filled up his spare time by
teaching school. He is remembered as
most polished and be iutitul writer, his
editorial articles being quoted every
where as models of vigorous thought
clothed in the fittest langu age. :'l re-
member TO this day reading his article ON
the defeat of Henry Clay" remarked a
listener to him last night, and the tone
in which the remark was made, ,uped
with the known ability of the speaker to
ltlcise writer, would have been re-
garded as "praise indeed" SO frequent
ly We're the. appeals to his judgment for
the decision Of disputed points in the use
OF words he was known as "the Gram
mar King" His service in Congress ,tv o
terms, marked him as national legisla-
tor OF the broadest mind working on the
highest plane. Of late years he has de-
voted his whole exceptionally active fe
(even at eighty Sky to the cause of char
ity in almost every form. With all his
s.erner duties he finds time and inclina-
ton to be found at nearly every social
gathering of refined people, and especial
~ OF the young. Last night he willing
ly consented to talk to the members of
the Catholic Club about "Italy," his re-
sidence in Naples as United States Min
ister having given him special opportuni-
ties to speak from his own experience
and observation. Said he, after the ap-
plause which always greets bim when
he rises
81 have rot Travelled much in Italy, but
/ have lived in Naples. | saw something
a passed alo1g the mighty Apprentices
aud traversed the crooked streets that
lead in or about their cities on the plains.
ascended every peak that lifts its head
above the city Naples | invest gated the
antiquities of her vicinity, aud making
myself familla ar with those classes of peo-
pie that arrest the attention of visitors
or crafty the curiosity of readers; |
learned much of the mode of act bg and
thiaking that distinguishes the lower his
tory of that city. had the entrance of
he place in virtue of my mission, and l
saw how king and mobiles showed them
selves men aud no more. Location and
other circumstances brought Inc into ac-
quaintance even with the remains of IL q
Lazzaroni, who showed themselves men
and nothing less. Should attempt Civ
ing "reminiscences of my acquaintance in
Naples alone-with her kings, ministers,
mobiles and beggars-with her scenery
from the towering Vesuvius to the sink
ing 6ulfatore; of her manners from the
drawing room of the palace to the Scotia
on the border of the bay; of her amuse-
ments from the opera of The San Ca 10
to the awkward and ugly exhibition with
which the Lenten season is introduced;of
her men who direct the affairs of State to
her women who spin thread and beg
grani i'll the street, YOU would wish tina
my recollection were less fruitful and
my exposition less protracted. | will At
tempt notice, rather than description
OF what l saw in and about Naples; some
description also of the manner and GUS
tom OF the people as they existed twenty
years ago. Those manners and customs
have partially changed i'll all this time.
revolutions in government produce
revolutions in manners, and what is
more and worse, great political changes
often produce deplorable degradation in
morals; or rather, perhaps | should say,
violent political revolutions increase and
perpetuate the bad morals in which they
originate. The grandeur of the noun
tains around Naples is unchanged and
Interchangeable the deep blue of her heav-
enly atmosphere is yet reflected in the
exquisite loveliness of her bay. These
are Gods Works, and Ike all His works
they are almost rs adorable in their beau
ty as they are majestic in their grandeu
l almost regret that had not hosen for
my subject this evening an analysis of the
character and conduct of the men that
were conspicuous in the south of aly at
and near the time of the revolution in
the Kindgom of Naples (matters for a
volume could easily have been formed),
but we must omit the crafty, Cavour, the
gentleman King Victor Emanule, whose
entrance IN the city of Naples was her.
aided by almost as many females as Sol
onion deemed nee -ssary TO the mantle
nance of his dignity in good old Jerusa-
lem. All of us have more interest in
good subjects than in ba kings, imore
sympathy in good princi pies than III bad
acts"
Mr.. Chandler then went on to speak k of
the lovely scenery about Naples and the
bay hemmed in by the hills, the country
around, giving vivid description of a
storm on Mount ST. Angelo. He describ-
ed the habits of the people-courtings
marriages and funerals-and drew al
graphic picture of sunrise as seen from
Mount Vesuvius. The religious and in
dustrial habits of the people and their
social customs were illustra ed by many
apt and sometimes amusing anecdotes.
The lecture closed with an eloque ut plea
for the home circle, an institution which,
as we understand it, is practically un-
known in Italy. "When sorrow or dis
appointment, the loss OF wealth, the loss
AS.ftg Of E.,tx IL.