The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-10-05

The island of lsc':i, i IN. -; Zee most
beautiful in the Me liirrrnnran, Il not
the world. The 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
iOrical and classic "reminiscences, and
skirting the isles of Nisida and Procida,
which in themselves are scarcely less
interesting or less beautiful than their
larger neighbOr. Soon after leaving
Naples Jagged mountain. on the sum-
nit of which rocky crag points like an
ndex heavcnward. looms up in the dis
lance; this is Epomeo, the pride and
terror OF Ischia. Approaching the is
and the steamer first stops at the town
IF Ischia itself. situated on a cliff, from
spur of which jutting out into the sea
IN almost impregnable fortress prison
If the middle ages looks down. Thence
following the coast it is half an hours
.ail to CasamicciOla, the most import
ant harbor. Along the beach are two
d. three rows of ilat-roofed houses in
which live Ischia's fishermen, hand
some. sun-burnt fellows. who wear
'urious and picturesque scarlet cap and
Ia whom the art of ''swect doing moth
nag" comes naturally. Upwards from
ne shore the land rccedes in graceful
curves almost as regular as an amphi-
heater. to the very foot of EpomcO,
whose slopes are covered more than half
way to the top by rich verdurc. Here
and there on bare stretches, the dark
..rcen umbrella pines stand like solitary
guardSmen, while beyond them the
ristening chestnut trees and the arbu-
ms with its red fruit form background
If deep and luxuriant color. Casamic-
ci0la itself, reached by climbing steep
and winding lanes hcmmed in by high
walls over which orange branches laden
with fruit succeed occasionally in
stretching, crowns long irregular ridge
several hundred feet above the sea. The
streets are narrow. tOrtuoIs, quaint
The houses, all of stone. rarely have
more than two stories besides the
rround floor. The people are good-heart-
I'd. idle. jolly and simple. They love TO
bask in the sunshine. They cannot re-
frain from singing as they work. Their
wants are so few that little toll sufiices
20 supply all the bread and wine and
macaroni that they need and so life is to
them almost n perpetual holiday. For
they do not work to hoard for to-mOr-
row, or to lay by something against the
approach of old age.
This indolent but fascinating race of
islanders has been taking life thus east
IL for many, many centuries. Long
before st. Paul landed on the beach at
Pozzuoli, nearly opposite, Ischia was
popular resort of the rich Romans and
today q bath-housc still exists over the
very hot springs whose virtues perhaps
Cicero NAV have tested. In many parts
of the island hot and medicinal waters
gush from the earth, and up under the
shadow Of Epomeo subterraHean rum
blings may be heard-for Ischia is vol
canic by origin. To this fact it owes
lis extreme iuxuriance, 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
!ul 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 unlucky town
and shook it with fatal energy. What
limits the ruin may have reached can
not vet be estimated. rs the shocks were
,,;.rlt r. thn ,,nn,,ln
under cover, either at their houses or
a the theater. As in the famous Lisbon
earthquake. the ground opened in many
places, swallowing up its victims witt
fearful rapiditv. In Il twinkling one OF
he most beautiful spots in the world
was turned into q scene of horror and
ttsOlatiOn.
This is the penalty that is exacted
from many regions which have every |
n. ii a,iyai,;a.". Either tine earth |
Quake or the volcano holds constant |
menace over the inhabitants, who for
Years or ages may bask in the sun until,
the monster wakes and
ini;cts - fearful injury. Although the
,cience of seismology is at present in its
Infancy. il seems to have been proved
by experience that there is meridian
in Italy to tine north of which fatal earth
quakes are unknown. The traveller un-
consciously passes this line between
Rome and Naples. The former is rich
N some of the architectural wonders of |
the world. which no shock has injured; |
the latter has most of the characteristics |
Of Levantine CHESTS buildings are
massive, but not beautiful, having been
made to withstand very severe cOmmo-
lions. 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. Phladcl-
Da.IIni;a,