Smyrna times., 1882-07-26
How a Hoosier Boy saw the Tower
of Pisa.

During Il tour of several months in
Europe, / arrived in the ancient city of
Pisa at eleven o'clock on Il lovely sum-
mer night. Being of course very eager
to see the famous Leaning Tower, |
resolved as the moon was shining
brightly, not to wait for daylight, but
to visit the Tower before retiring. On
my asking the proprietor of the hotel
to tell me the way to the Leaning
Tower, he became greatly excited, and
exclaimed 1t is impossible to go to-
night!r | laughed at his fears, and
told him nothing was impossible to an
American hoy. lie still hesitated, but
finally came out reluctantly into the
middle of the street and pointed out
the course | was to take.
Off started, full ofthe self-confident
fearlessnoss of impetuQus youth. Be
fore turning the corner, looked back
and saw the old man still standing and
gazing after me. l felt sorry for him,
thinking his fears for my safety were
groundless.
For few squares the street was wide,
and the full light of the moon cheered
me onward; but soon my way was not
to be 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 o
the cathedral was the river ArnO, ;
narrow stream, and the water low
within it's banks. Walking around thu
! corner of the old edifce and up tn
bank of the Arno, presently saw tn
outline of boat close to the shore, ant
as drew nearer, not only found tn
boat, but discovered the owner thereo
: lying fiat on his back.
= The light of the moon shining o
= his face gave 1t rather a CHASTITY expires
sion. and for n moment ! paused; bu
with laugh at my fears, | stepped il
to the boat and kicked one of his fe'
l so as to waken him. This unceremC
nious treatment reused him quickl
y enough, and he sprang up and glare
II at me fiercely. Not being an expert
" the Italian language, / went through
series of pantomimes, which he final
understood to mean that ! wanted hi
to take me across the river. Whereu
on, seizing q long pole, he pushed
craft out into the sluggish stream.
we reached the middle, it occurred
me that here would be fine opport
nifty for my ferryman to collect Wh'
ever fare he wished, Accordingly
courteously declined his invitation
enter the cabin, as ! much prefer
standing where could see all arou
me and watch his movements. Ho
ever. had no trouble with my slee
boatman, and our craft soon reach
the opposite side of the river.
After a long, tedious tramp, $
= what appeared to he a fire long "
y ahead of me, but shortly discover
- that it was merely the light of
- moon shining across an open spa
Pushing on rapidly, came to the
@o of the street, and there, to my dellt
saw directly in front of me the CIR
Plaza of Pisa, with the massive Cal
dral and the Baptistery and the h'
tiful Leaning Tower standing 0
-, together and cleaning In the me
- light
After pausing few moments to
he ioy this first grand vision ofthe To-
Il / turned toward pair of heau'
ornamental iron gates which attra
work NV attention. But when ] went Y
them and looked through, the
!, was not one calculated to add to
rsale. cheerfulness, for ! found myself ia
- the great Campo santo, or bur!
ground of Pisa. The bright lgl
al, the moon on the marble monun
and tombs, the weird shadows o
porches, the perfect stiffness OF
,mpc night, inspired me with strange
illODi ing of awe. Leaving this solemn
WI I walked over to the grand old U
q. dral and the Baptistery near the
wv W. ing Tower. From that point the
-. er was distinctly outlined, and the
of its eight stories and the eolpFF
pure white marble, glltterding
moonlight, amply repaid me fc
~ tedious walk.
State Advancing to the base Of the
on its I went inside and locked pp. TbI
eH the ropes touched the sides near Il
lflANA~ - n1noo "a the ".