The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-12-07


Thin cattle draw the plough, an anti
quated instrument, unchanged apparent
ly, since the dawn of creation A single
handle, at least ten feet in length, serves
to guide it, andSwith such an instrument
we are amazed at the degree of perfection
with which the work is done. Not a
modern machine for the simplifcation OF
agriculture is to be seen. The two horse
carts are on the pattern of those described
by Homer, and unchanged since the days
the rustics drove them with hoarse shout
ings along the Trojan fields. Trees
abound in Italy, doubtless serving the
double purpose of bearing fruit and shad-
ing from the fierce rays of the Italian
sun. Magnificent avenues lead to the
gates of -
The City of Turin,
and as the traveller enters he recognizes
the hustle of commerce and industry, the
footsteps of the arts, and all appearance
of a populous city. Turin or Torino,
situated as it is, at the extremity of the
plain OF Piedmont. and near the junction
of the Pc and the Doira rivers, is a very
ancient and beautiful city. Consisting
of two parts, the old and the new; the
one resembles any other antique and
Gothic town, while the other has all the
elegance of modern cities. The city is
perhaps cleaner than any other in Italy,
an advantage which is secured by a great
numbero of fountains that water and purify
the streets in summer, and clean them of
snow in winter. The latter operation,
instead of being performed by street
sweepers. which fling filth on the side
walk as with us, is effected by opening
the gates of the reservoir of Suza for two
hours, and torrent rushes from it that
carries away the snow and every sort of
debris from the town.
Many of the streets of Turin are adorn-
ed with porticoes, that afford shelter from
the heat of summer and the SHOWS of win
ter. On traversing these streets with
their beautiful overhanging arcades, pro-
tecting the shoppers by day, and afford
ing the populance delightful place of
promenade at night, and in all weathers,
we have wondered that no limitations of
this architecture exist in the cities of
America. That it is not homely is abun-
dainty witnessed by the Palais Royal in
Paris, and the grandest street of Turin.
Can any cities of the world match the
summers heat of Richmond, Baltimore,
Philadelphia, and New York? Are
slushy, wretched footways the rule or
the exception in all these cities in the
winter season? We believe that if the
architecture of our great American cities
was similar to that of Turin, it would do |
away with three-fourths of the summer
etflux to resorts OF doubtful benefit. The |
sight Of the Turinese populace, hand
some people, with many fair women and |
vast number of fine looking men, with |
olive complexioned women of the lower
classes in their brilliant costumes a la
Egyptienne, with numbers of young mil
itary officers, all besworded and bespurred
-promenading of an evening in per-
petual, double stream-under the broad
arches, lighted by lamps which swing at
intervals from the vaulted roof, is a spec
tacle unmatched anywhere, save in these
northern cities of Italy If appearances
count for anything, we would designate
the northern Italians as peculiarly fine
race, and destined to play an important
part in the regeneration of Italy They
bear the stamp of intelligence, combined
with vigorous physique. Once remove
the limitations of material development,
and such people will undoubtedly leap
forward in the race of progress with
pace only accelerated by the long period
of depression. The finer streets of Turin
converge at the Piazza Castello-the
royal castle. The palace is situated in
the centre of the square, and is a sort of
Hermes in architecture, exhibiting on one
side Gothic front, and on the other the
elegance of the Grecian architecture.
The staircase that leads to the interior of
the building is finer than any in Italy,
surpassing those at Caserta, and in the
Palazzo Reale Of Naples
It would require a week for examina-
ton of the one hundred and fifty churches
and chapels of the city, and we have
time only to visit that which is the most
commonly admired, viz, the church of
San Lorinzo. The interior is covered
with black marble, and several chains
hanging down from the ceiling, are
pointed out as having formerly sustained
lamps and candelabras Of massive silver,
which were taken away by the French.
These conquerors. however, respected the
Saint Suaire. or winding sheet of the Sa-
viour, an object Of popular superstition.
1t is supposed to be true relic by the
Turinese, and yet Genoa possesses another
equally venerated by the populacel