The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-03-24
IIV III II1 INNNNIIl
ROME, February 29th, 1880.

HOTEL DE RUSSIE,
ROME, February 29th, 1880.
MesSr8 E'd5toys,-As | intimated in a
note sent you from Queenstown, | did not
expect to write again until | reached
Alexandria or Cairo But having never
visited Rome before, although this is my
fifth visit to Europe, l concluded to re-
main here one week, and the days have
passed so delightfully."- since my arrival
that | am now greatly gratifed with the
change of the programme. And Just
here let me correct mistake l often hear
made by those who, in speaking of going
abroad, say they would not care to visit
such cities as London, Paris, Rome, or
Constantinople, unless they had time to
remain long enough in each to inspectall
that might be worth seeing However
pleasant and profitable 1T might be to
make such thoroughly satisfactory visits,
few remember how long time would be
necessary for them For example, one
might remain six months in Rome alone,
and after the most diligent study of its
antiquities and treasures of art, go away
with the conviction that much worthy of
inspection had been left unexplored and
even unseen. There must be limit.
after all, to such investigations, and one
may obtain clearer and more accurate
conception of the few things most worthy
Of study by few days of personal obser-
vation than could be gained by many
weeks of reading at home For my own
part, feel repaid already by what | have
seen, for all the imagined discomforts of
the voyage and the fatigue of rapid travel
by day and by night in reaching this
city. | say imagined discomforts, for to
those who do not suffer from sea-sickness,
an ocean voyage even in winter has its
compensations, and those who do suffer
may well endure the temporary incon-
venience for the sake of the enjoyment
and profit which are sure to follow.
1t may interest some of your readers to
learn how quickly the journey may be
made, in these days of rapid transit from
Richmond to Rome I left the former on
the evening of the 9th inst, and remain
ing one day in New York, sailed on the
morning of the 1lth landed in Liver
pool on the 2lst, before sunrise took an
early train for London; spent four hours
in that city and then went to Paris by
the Dover and Calais route, spent Sun
day there, and then by the express train
Vl0 the Mt. Cents Tunnel Turin, Genoa.
Pisa, and Civita Vecchia, reached Rome
on the Oath, thus accomplishing the Jour
ney in about fifteen days A sleeping
car goes all the way from Paris to Brin-
disi, very comfortable in all of itsappoint-
ments, and leaving it as I did at Rome,
50 little was fatigued by the Journey
that it was a refreshment that very after
noon, after getting my room at this excel
lent hotel at the base of the Pincio. TO
ride to the Palatine Hill and from thence
commence the survey Of the Forum
and of the great monuments which rise
on every side around that renowned place
of the popular assemblies Of ancient Rome.
These excursions in Rome were all made
in company with the dear friends whom
| found waiting for me on my arrival at
the station, and to whose kindness,
manifested in so many ways l am
under lasting obligations And here let
me say, once for all, even were descrip-
tion my forte, would not attemptit, GER
tainly not in letter, written at night.
after a day full Of excitement for this dav
has been devoted to the Vatican, with it's
countless and priceless treasures.
Nothing could be more absurd than to-
commence a detail which never could be
completed and all that transient visitor
should venture to do is to refer to a few
Of the things which most forcibly i'm.
presses his own mind and heart in city