The sun., 1880-12-05
DANTE's TOMB.
a Very Interesting Letter upon Ola Italy
from the Rev. Father O'Reiiiy.

BOLOGNA, Oct. 29.-It was only yesterday
tbat Countess Gozzadini gave mo the Commen-
tary on Dante. destined for Mr.. Longfellow. 1t
IA only fragment OF q larger work. and print
ed. us is the custom In Italy, as wedding gift
for tho only daughter OF the Countess. The
latter hesitated about the propriety OF giving
this copy. because the letter OF presentation
which II contains speaks Of her rs the flower
OF tho ladies OF Verona" But wrote to her
that In my last letter to you had already men
toned tho gift she had destined for our most
populnr poet; and, as she had no other copy,
she resolved. at the Counts suggestion. not to
tear out the letter. but to send the book as pre-
sen,cd to her on the occasion OF her daughters
marriage. The author. Count Paolo Perez
n cousin OF the Countess, and like her
native OF Verona is one OF the most remarkable
writer's OF modern Italy. I was told last even
ing that n great posthumous work OF his has
lust issued from the press. Count Perez not
only know Dante by heart. 30 as to be able at
nny tmo to repeat the verse or passage asked
OF him. but was 80 thoroughly acquainted with
all the erudition pertaining to obscure or alb
struse matters touched on in the poem. or to
tho historical personages therein mentioned.
that no could at once from memory quote all the
pertinent authorities.
Count Perez was more than man OF re-
markable memory; he was theoloRian
and philosopher And not only was
he deeply versed In the scholastic lore OF the
middle ages. and able thereby to throw light on
the theology and philosophy OF Dante, but he
was in every best sense Of the word man Of
his own times and country.
send the book, Setts Cerchi del Ptrcatorio
Gi Dante. The Seven Circles OF tho Purgatory
OF Dante:'' and. doubt not. it will be thor
oughly appreciated by Mr.. Longfellow. 1t is
oir hooI xritb m atohl ioh ~
italian independence. and tho recurrence OF
the six hundredth anniversary OF Dantes
birthday MAY. 1868. the Dirina Com
media began new and wider era
OF popularity. Such commentators ms
Count Perez, imbued alike with a spirit OF the
which enables one to interpret the conceptions
OF the great poet, will prove welcome aids even
And this reminds me that l promised you an
account OF my visit to Ravenna-to the tomb OF
had read much about this far.famed city:
indeed. had perused everything I could lay
my, hand on in the way oi histories and illus
So ] needed no guide to, pilot me among
all the venerable monuments which make OF
hs tan ah9 G arRs Hnd
not prepared to find such ruin. desoiation. and
SsSy e % Tsa aDa the SDs inn
the vast and marshy lowlands which sur:
round them in every direction; For l
esars and III IL ths Of our ' LorG TG and is.
comparison OF the brilliant past and the hope
less present forced me to think Of your great
commercial metropolis OF New York. with her
present mt, prSspe,rty' p,y her iaeomparable position.
future must result from the I Gradual fllns 'p up
Of the channels giving entrance to the harbor.
ment. but sailed forth into the strangely soli-
tary and sad streets. There was feeling Of
outside the houses. which could not % but affect
nn,ayGrabIy an ipya!id or one fearful % o,
much lower and more, threatening than the
Garisenda tower of Bologna. Near, the tower
loomed up in the bright afternoon sky round
tower, with a conical cap which knew must
belong belong to one ofthe Empress Gala Placidia's ba-
found the door closed; but ne we were turning
away the pastor and one OF his assistants met us.
an ana we were permitted & t2 enter the church by
mel The interior was dark, damp and dismal;
everything in its appearance betokened the
through the gloom shone, the double row OF
columns OF Oriental marble. as fresh. ,appar-
ago. to the crowded wharves OF Ravenna.
These. with a few fragments OF mosaic shown
The servant who showed us round the church
stamped upon every portion of this interesting
edihce. Alasl there Is lust 9s little hope to soc
Tue dFLb OI tuo dTcultoCt anu TIC mOSdlbt ever
In Bologna the schools OF Francta and the
Usracel Art was Iosered in the sapeiHssy A. . now
ry churches. now called San Francesca, has a
special interest not only for Italians and Amer
the church most loved by Dante during his
stay in Ravenna, that in which he chose to be
buried and in which his remains have been
faithfully kept till the present day:
The The twenty.tw9 columns laTIn N Of Oriental marble.
ali that be BEEN Hs spared OF apf asEs
structure. Even these are partly buried in
the underlying waters: In, 1860 the graceful
north: II was beneath this latter, forming as sit il
was laid to his last rest in September. 1921. II
was here that his remains were discovered on
Hn wheh SssSsd hsm a bs se ba
fne casket hidden away in the wall Of what had
been portion Of the ancient side, portico.
dlscoyery-the tale Of a life ending in the pro
longed sorrow Of exile. OF a bitter political per-
repose in peace, and then OF the contention OF
N 5ya cities Hr the 0 the great poes
and hide it away again and again.
His ashes now rest in pence in the monument
erected for him long ago. 1t once stood beneath
authorities have entirely disconnected it from
the church, where Dante loved to spend the
often at e1entlds with his friond Giotto. whom IN
he had allured to Ravenna. and caused to paint
IreScOeS In tue now deInOlshod p0rtlcO ana
within the temple itself. All traces OF these
precious freecoes have now disappeared.
As stood reverently near the tomb Of the
everything around me- resolved TO make an
appeal to Italian hearts-nay. TO the admirers
OF Dante the whole world overland l
now mako 1t through The SUN: Since no efforts
are likely to avail in Dersuad ng the Ravennese
to give up to Florence the ashes OF Dante let all
Italy unite in restoring to its pristine splendor
the Church of San Franoesco-the once sx-
auisite basiliea Of ST. Peter Chrysologqs. Le.,
hAV niu hAn To IA Nhn tFnn nrft md
that under which the weary heart OF Dante Al
ighieri first found a resting place. The artists
come in pilgrimage to- this shrine OF tho ationa
poet, and leave behind them some tribute OF
their brush and their chisel Thus would they
oreate for Dante q worthy monument
should not-no foreigner should-venture to
suggest to Italians that the admirers Of their
divine poet" belonging to every land. might
Also consider It q privilege 10 help in making OF