Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-04-23
Especial Cor. St. Paul Sunday Globe

Especial Cor, St. Paul Sunday Globe.l
TURIN, March %, 1SS2.-WitAout
entering into details of how L reached
this part of the world, let me simply give
you, to-day, an outline of this city and of
Il few things that have recently claimed
my attention.
TURIN DESCRIBED.
Turin is the chief city of Piedmont,
one of the provinces of Italy, and situated
near the center and close to Mount Gents.
Little is said of it in the various guide
books. 1t is considered by the general
traveller more as a suitable place in which
to rest for few hours on the way to or
from France, than as city worth visit
ing for its own merits. However, after
careful study, it must be said in justice
that Piedmont IS not by any means the
least part of Italy1n progress, art, science,
and historical monuments, as well as
natural beauty, while more than one of
these subjects deserves at least a separate
chapter.
The modern appearance may disappoint
those who come expecting to find in Italy
only the ruins and decay of her ancient
splendor. The people themselves possess
few of the outward and proverbial char
acteristics of Italians They come from
a warlike, thoughtful ancestry, dating
back far beyond the Caesars. The mass
are quiet, sober and industrious. The
city has now near 100000 inhabitants; it
Is in the center Of the plains of Pied
mont, crossed by the river Pc and the
Loire, surrounded on three sides by the
Alps and the Apennines; on the fourth by
a line of hills some 600 yards high, and
which follow near the banks of the Pc, as
it rushes down from the heights of
Mount Viso and crosses the plains
on picturesque curves, as it winds
past small villages and under
beautiful bridges. These hills not only
furnish delightful spots for summer
homes, but with their vine covered sides
and bright streams tumbling down to the
Pc, they furnish most refreshing con-
traSt to the snow clad mountains and
peaks, that bound the horizon in all
directions.
THE ANCIENT CITY.
The city was built anciently, square,
around an open square, and still retains
its rectangular form, with wide, clean
and we'll paved streets crossing at right
angles forming numberless open squares,
scattered in every direction, some entire
II paved with monuments in the center,
others closed with gardens, flowers,
fountains, etc. Law requires houses in
most parts of the city to be built of equal
height, giving a uniform outline that be-
comes almost monotonous
In the central part of the city all
blocks have open porticos forming COW
cred walk, with shops on the inside, and
open towards the road. These porticos
continue for miles, giving protection
from sun and storm and furnish pleas
ant promenade. The old ramparts have
been converted into shaded drives, and
near one hundred single houses have
recently sprung up around the city, with
gardens about them in American fashion.
Both land and building is, however, too
expensive for the majority, so these
homes belong to a favored few, while
others content themselves with flats, IN
less they have inherited palace whose
value increases with its age, and from
its position. The poor are tucked out of
sight and high up IN garrets.
THE CLIMATE.
Winters are moderately cold, but de
lightful, and there is always breeze from
the mountains in summer. Epidemics
are almost unknown, and the hotels
while not absolute models of cleanliness,
are so much more comfortable and clean
CT than the majority Of hotels in Italy,
that, taking all these things into consid-
Grafton, it is pulling to know why Turin
Is not oftener selected by travellers, not
pressed for time, for prolonged stay.
SOCIETY LIFE.
Society here is not easily entered, the
people living much within their own
family circles, keeping to the ways of
their fathers, and inclined to look with
suspicion on anything or any one not
known or well recommended
The political interest and glory of
course vanished when the capital was re-
moved, first to Florence, then to Rome;
however, society is still active as Queen
Margaret's mother, the Duchess of Genoa,
and King Humbert's brother, Amedeo,
eX-klng OF Spain, live in Turin, and do
much to entertain those who are FORUM
ate enough to be admitted to their cir
cles, where strict court etiquette IS OBJ
served.
THE CARNIVAL.
The carnival just ended was unusually
quiet, and it becomes more evident each
year, that nothing is left of the historical
carnival for so long time a Joy and a
glory to all Italians, as well as to all
travellers. The great magnetic impulse
that for many reasons, acted so power
fully on all classes, bringing them to-
gether in the one pursuit of pleasure, has
gradually grown weaker, until nothing is
left but few spasmodic and in
dividual efforts, that in no way
recall the carnival of old. However,
out of the thirty or more balls given DUR
ing the season some two or three may in
terest you.
CHlLDREN's BALL.
First came the 'children's ball, given by
Prince Amedeo in honor of his three
sons, the chief attraction being
Christmas tree. This custom, so dear to
oil I;chc n