The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-09-11
Tii.patad Tenhsa

III ti3c NbtfN nc Traveller reaches IL
by steamer from Naples, passing on the
way along the shores of the famous bay,
every point of which is laden with his
torical and classic "reminiscences, and
skirting the isles of Nisida and Procida,
which in themselves are scarcely less
interesting or less beautiful than their
larger nei@hbor. Soon after leaving
Naples jagged mountain, on the sum-
nil Of which rocky crag points like an
imlex heavenward, looms up in the dis
lance; this is Epomeo, the pride and
terror OF lsehia. Approaching the is
lan.l the steamer first stops at the town
Of Ischia itself, situated On a cliff. from
a spur Of which jutting out into the sea
an Almost impregnable fortress prison
Of the. middle ages looks down. Thence
following the coast it is half an hour
sal 10 Cnsamieciola, the most import
ant harHor. Along the beach are two
or three rows of fiat-roofed houses in
which live Isehia's fishermen, hand
sonic, sun-burnt fellows, who wear a
cnrinus and picturesque scarlet cap and
H. whom the art of sweet doing moth
i"s" comes naturally. Upwards from
he shore the land recedes in graceful
curves almost as regular as an amphi-
theater, to the very foot of Epomeo,
whose slopes are covered more than half
way 10 The top by rich verdure. Here
and there on bare stretches, the dark
green umbrella pines stand like solitary
eGardsmen, while beyond them the
Fastening chestnut trees and the arbu-
ms with its red fruit form a background
81 deep and luXnriant color Casamic-
r.ola itself, reached BY climbing steep
and winding lanes hemmed in BY high
walls over which orange branches laden
= in fruit succeed occasionally in
Stretching, crowns long irregular ridge
several hundred feet above the sea. The
str ets are narrow, tortuous, quaint. -
lH- houses, all of stone, rarely have
nire Than two stories besides the
ground floor, The people are good heart
"a. ldlr, Jolly and simple They love to
ha-k in tie sunshine. They cannot re-
ir:t.n trou singing as ti,ey work. Their
": MS are 50 few that alittle toll suftces
to supply all the bread and wine and
mara:oni That they need and so life is to
lHrm almost a perpetual holiday. For
Ih,.y do not work to hoard for to-mor-
rov, or TO Jay by something against the
approach Of old age.
This indolent but fascinating race of
islanders has been taking life thus east
Is ior many. many centuries. Long
before st. Paul landed on the beach at
P0zzuoH, nearly opposite, Ischia was a
popular resort of the rich Romans and
to-day a bath-house still exists over the
very hot springs whose virtues perhaps
Cicero max have tested In many parts
OF the island hot and medicinal waters
gu~h from the earth, and up under the
shallow of Epomeo subterranean rum
blin.S may he heard-for Ischia is vol
| canic by origin. To this fact it owes
lis extreme luxuriance, and its perils
The sharp crested mountain itself has
not belched forth lava for five hundred
years. A path of black cinders from
the crater to the sea marks the course
of the last eruption, and upon this belt
no tree nor flower nor blade of grass
will grow-so lasting is the memory of
the devastation.
But, though Epomeo has hurled no
molten torrent upon the towns at its
| feet, it has recently chosen more dread
full form of destruction. Twice in the
Spring of 1881 earthquakes shook the
island, doing great damage at Casamic-
| cola. and again, recently, the terrible
DESTROYER throttled the unluckv town
and shook il with fatal energy. What
h.ar a
not yet toe estimated, rs the shocks were
at night. when most of the people were
under cover. either nj their houses or
a th" theater. As in the famous Lisbon
| earthquake. the ground opened in many
| pisces. swallowing mp its victims with
fc,rinl rtpidiie. In thinking one of
,t," most heaattul spots in the world
a.~.H "a ,;.io sccne Of horror and
"-.p.. "a:
penalty That is eXacted
g. g. r' :r- IONS walca have every
natural advantage. Either the earth
quake or the volcano holds a constant
menace over the inhabitants, who for
years or ages may bask in the sun until,
unexpectedly, the monster wakes and
infiicts fearful injury. Although the
science of seismology is at presentin its
infancy, it seems to have been proved
by experience that there is a meridian
in Italy to the north of which fatal earth
quakeS are unknown. The traveller I'M
consciously passes this line between
Rome and Naples. The former is rich
in some Of the architectural wonders of
the world, which no shock has injured;
the latter has most of the characteristcs
of LevantiRe CHESTS buildings are
massive, but not beautiful, having been
made to withstand very severe commo-
tons. Thus unconsciously does man
adapt himself to nature, striving by
shrewd devices to outwit her: but ever
and anon she rises in her wrath and, as
at ischia, teaches her would-be conquer
or that she is still mistress. Philddel-