The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-02-08
ESPoN NOE.
Letter on Italy.

MessrS. E'ditorS,-Our journey was so
rapid from Florence to Rome, that we
shall not permit ourselves to describe a
country over which we travelled without
stopping; yet the swiftness of a modern
railway train cannot prevent one from
remarking the contrast between the lands
of the Duchy of Tuscany and those OF
the Pope This difference cannot be the
result of mere prejudice. One may run
at express railway speed and read it.
We're the frontiers between the two dis
tricts an arm of the sea or a chain of i'm
ps-5aole mountains instead of an ideal
line, the distinction could not be more
positive In Tuscany the countenances
of the inhabitants are full of contentment
and good will The cottages, adapted to
all the necessities of agriculture, are well
built-the fields, skilfully cultivated, bear
towards the idle, always recompenses in
dustry and labor with the treasures of
prosperity and pleasure. Such is the
picture which all the Tuscan territory,
even to the frontier, presents But on
entering the Roman territory everything
changes-the plains are badly cultivated,
the villages are miserable, and the coun-
try, almost a desert, presents moors and
heaths on which the traveller gazes with
reluctance. The towns, filled with monks
rather than with citizens, seem the asy-
lums of sloth. The lower order of Ro-
mans have a taciturn, almost savage air.
Meeting them in the bye-way we. might
feel uneasy, but for the immobility of
their conference.-the frightful hope
lessness which seems to say plain as
words" Life is but perpetual e,u1ati,
let me think earnestly of nothing and en-
Joy my benedetto far mie'ate|" Why is
1t that Rome cannot present the prosper
ity of her citizens as proof of her au-
thenticity2 She boasts Of giving science,
letters, arts, and religion to the world ;
why does she give poverty and degrade
tion to her own citizens? The further
you travel from Rome and Catholic boun-
daries, the more rapidly do you see men
advance In a material civilization. The
cheapest thing in all the Catholic lands
of Europe is humanity. Yet in the same
book that we read Thou art Peter, and
upon this rock | will build my Church, e"
it is also written, "Godliness is profitable
for all things, having promise of the life
which now is, and Of that which is to
come 1t was dark ere we reached
The States of Rome,
and on the following morning our ewes
opened on the ancient capital of the
world. We assembled the Pincian Hill
to gain general view Of the city. From
the height we could see the innumerable
churches, palaces, and cupolas of marble
and the magnificent column of Traian.
We are absolutely overwhelmed. We
admire compare study One object
attracts our gaze, while another calls off
our attention, and we seem to wish it
were possible in one hour to amass recol-
lections which will serve us the remainder
of lifetime
What scene for an artist The bord-
ers of the Tiber, the hills of the city, the
shape of its walls, the immense heaps of
ruins, the admirable variety of its gar
dens, all furnish picturesque objects for
the pencil, and sources Of delight to the
eye. There is not single narrow street
which does not compel attention to its
peculiar mixture of distinct elements -
There the open door Of house of ordi-
nary pretensions, displayFat the bottom
OF the court little fountain surmounted
with some fragments Of ancient sculpture.
shaded by jasmine bowers-there flight
OF stairs open to the air leads to the
summit OF terrace crowned with an
arbor and bordered with vases of flowers
while farther on the fragments Of an
aqueduct serve as a frame to the rich
perspective. On one side rude hut
inhabited by shepherd, stands against
an ancient palace Of which there is moth
ing left but the front Of hollow wall.
the unequal summit Of which is decked
with vines. Everywhere the new city