The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1882-08-04


wish had a cookie
Pm hungry as can be;
II you hasn't pretty large ones
You'd better bring me free.
How a HOosier hoy Saw tho Tower
of Pisa.
During a tour of several months in
Europe 1 arrived in the ancient city of
Pisa at IL o'clock on lovely summer
night. Being of course very eager to
see the famous Leaning Tower, re
solved, as the moon was shining bright
ly, not to wait for daylight, but to visit
the Tower before retiring. On my ask
ing the proprietor of the hotel to tell
me the way TO the Leaning Tower, he
became greatly excited and exclaimed !:
cit is impossible to 60 tonight |" 1
laughed at his fears and told him moth.
ing was impossible to ali American boy.
He still hesitated, but finally came out
reluctantly into the middle OF the street
and pointed out the course l was to
take.
Off I started, full of the self confident
fearlessness of impetuous youth. Be-
fore turning the corner 1 looked back
and saw the old man still standing and
gazing after me. 1 felt sorry for him,
thinking his fears for my safety were
groundlcss.
For few squares the street was wide,
and the full light of the moon cheered
me onward but soon my way was not
SO clear.
Coming suddenly to the end of the
wide street, found myself by the side
of the ruins of an old cathedral. The
irregular walls covered with ivy, the
light of the moon shining through the
ruined gothic windows, and showing the
decayed and messy interior gave to the
scene a solemn grandeur that filled me
with awe. Just in front of the cathe-
dral was the river Arno, narrow
stream, and the water low within its
banks. Walking around the corner of
the edifice and up the bank Of the Arno,
1 presently saw the outline of boat
close to the shore, and, as l drew nearer,
not only found the boat, but discovered
the owner thereof lying fiat on his back.
The light of the moon shining on his
face gave it rather CHASTITY expression,
and for moment l paused but, with
laugh at my fears, l stepped into the
boat and kicked one of his feet SO as to
waken him, This unceremonious treat
ment reused him quickly enough, and he
sprang up and glared at me fercely.
Not being an expert In the Italian Ian
guagc, went through a series of panto-
mines, which he finally understood to
mean that l wanted him to take me
across the river. Whereupon, seizing
long pole, he pushed his craft out into
the sluggish stream. As we reached the
middle, it occurred to me that here
would be fine opportunity for my fer
ryman to collect whatever fare he
WISHED. Accordingly, courteously de-
clined his invitation to enter the cabin,
as 1 much preferred standing where 1
could see all around me and watch his
movements. However, L had no trouble
with my sleepy boatman, and our craft
soon reached the opposite side of the
river.
After long, tedious tramp I saw what
appeared to be fire long way ahead
OF me, but shortly discovered that it was
merely the light of the moon shining
across an open space. Pushing on rap
idly, l came to the end of the street, and
there, to my delight, l saw directly in
front of me the Grand Plaza of Pisa, with
the massive Cathedral and the Baptist
cry and the beautiful Leaning Tower
standing close together and cleaning in
the moonlight
After pausing few moments to enjoy
this first grand vision of the Tower I
turned toward pair of beautiful orna-
mental iron gates which attracted my
attention. But when went up to them
and looked through the sight was not
one calculated to add to my cheerful
ness, for 1 found myself facing the great
Campo Santo, or burying ground of Pr
sa. The bright light of the moon on the
marble monuments and tombs, the weird
shadows of the porches, the perfect still
ness of the night, inspired me with
strange feeling of ave. Leaving this
solemn place L walked over to the grand
old Cathedral and the Baptistery near
the Leaning Tower. From that point
the Tower was distinctly outlined, and
the sight of its eight stories and the col
umns of pure white marble. glittering in
the moonlight. amply repaid me for my
tedious walk.
Advancing to the base of the Tower, 1
went inside and looked up The bell
ropes touched the sides near the top and
hung down close to the wall. / think
that man looking up from the bottom
of a deep well would have a very good
idea OF the appearance of the Tower as
seen within from the base, especially if
the well happened to be quite off the
perpendicular.
began to climb leisurely to the top,
but 1 could not prevent myself from
edging toward the center as 1 walked
around OH the leaning side. 1t seemed
to me that my weight alone would cause
the whole structure to topple over.
This wonderful Tower is about thirty
feet in diameter at its base, and is one
hundred and forty-six feet high.
If any one Of my boy-readers should
climb the one hundred and ninety-four
steps to the top without feeling inclined
to hold on to the higher side and tread
very lightly on the lower side, he would
have steadier nerves than the "Hoosier"
boy who climbed the Tower that night.
The stairs are worn by the tramp Of