The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-09-25
IN FOREIGN LANDS.

IN FOREIGN LANDS.
Correspondence of the h,teltigencer.
The city of Milan bears the impress of
the nineteenth century more than any
other spotin Italy except, perhaps, Turin;
and yet it is one of the oldest cities OF
this historic land. 1t was founded 800
years before Christ, but has been repeat
edly destroyed by the conquering armies
which have so often swept over this part
of Italy. Its manufacturing interests are
very large and its population of $4,000
is second only to that Of Naples. For
ladies, in particular, its history should be
especially interesting, as early in the 10th
century it established and controlled the
fashions of Europe, fact which we have
preserved in the derivation of our modern
word, milliner. The broad plain Of Lom'
hardy in which Milan is situated has been
in modern times the arena where French,
Austrians and Italians have often fought.
The battle fields of Marengo and Lodi,
famous in the history of the great Napo'
leon, as we'll as Magenta, the glory of the
last of the Bonapartes, are all near the
city.
Ofthe many churches ofItaly, the cathe-
dral of Milan ranks next to St. Peters
at Rome in point of magnifcence and
interest, with the added advantage of
being Gothic in its architecture. 1t was
commenced nearly FIVE hundred years
ago and is not yet completed. The
facade, although marred by the severely
classical doors, is one of the finest in
Europe. The entire structure covers
about two and one.half acres of ground,
it being nearly 500 feet in length and
about 200 feet wide. The vaulting of
the nave rises 1855 feet above the marble
mosaic ofthe pavement, and is supported
by massive pillars from eight to twelve
lett III uldmcLSl3 SuluOuutCu DJ ototoOo
in inches instead of capitals. But it is
in the wonderful decorations of its exte-
rior rather than the beauty of its interior
that the principal interest of the Cathe-
dral lies. Its roof is composed of blocks
of marble and from it rises perfect lab.
yrinth of turrets and pinnacles, with
thousands of statues and elaborate orna-
ments of every kind. From the platform
of the spire which surmounts the dome
the view is the finest in.Northern Italy.
The Alps rising far away on the North,
with Mont,Blanc aud Monta Rosa stand
ing out in bold relief, circle around to
the East and West aud form almost 3
semi circle; while to the South, beyond
the fertile plains, the cApenniues, those
mighty mountains, dim and gray. 6ll
nearly half of the remaining horizon.
Near the cathedral is the Gallery of
Victor Emanuel, a. beautiful glass GOV.
cred arcade. erected at a cost of over ST.
500 900 and occupied with shops. The
La Scala theatre, one of the largest in
the world, is also in this central part of
the city. It's immense stage, $50 feet
deep and over 100 wide, is alone as large
ss many theatres, while its vast auditori
um, with its seven tiers of boxes rising
up to the roof, gives accommodation to
many thousands of pleasure seekers.
The italian Lakes, Maggiore, Como,
aud Lugano, lie nearly North of Milan
and only about thirty miles distant. AS
our time was somewhat limited we did
not make an extended stay in this beau
tiful region, but coDtented ourself with
view Of Maggiore, which we reached at
Laveno by rail from Milan, and passed
thence by steamer to Intra. This lake
possesses some very lovely scenery, but is
not to be compared with Lake Luccrne
in Switzerland, and is also pronounced
inferior to Lake Como by those who have
seen the latter. 1t is about 45 miles in
length and has an average width of three
miles. The shore is studded with dirty
Italian villages, in which, as some writer
has said, "the charm of many an exquis.
lite bit of Italian village scenery is dis.
PEELED as soon as you get within smelling
distance of it." The famous Borromean
Isles are on the Southeast side of the
lake near Pallanza, and are noted for
their picturesque beauty as we'll as for
their having been the residence of Cardi-
nal Charles Borromeo.
AT Intra we took diligence sforf q
ride offabopt seventy miles over the
great Simplon route across the Alps from
italy to Switzerland. The diligence is a
singular type of mountain coach. Be-
sides the drivers seat it is divided into
three parts; the interior, which CORES.
ponds to the inside of an ordinary stage
coach, the coupe, under the drivers seat,
with glass front and sides, and the ban
quette, a seat petched high up in the rear
with carriage top 10 protect it from the
weather. They are run by the government
and sufficient amount of fuss and feath-
ers and red tape is connected with their
management to start an army; but q
Rocky Mountain stage driver who had
been dead ten years, would rouse himself
in his grave and hold his ribs together to
laugh at; some of the impracticable and
almost impossible methods used in run.
ming them. Fairly good horses are sup
piled, but the time is very slow, it requir
ing over thirteen hours to accomplish the
distance from Intra to Brieg. 80 -.
The Simplon road was constructed by
the first Napoleon, early nithe present
century and is but one of the many evi-
dences found throughout Western Europe
of the genius Of that mighty conquerer.
It was his intention to have terminated
the route at Milan, and to that end he
commenced the erection of a grand tri-
.umphal arch in that city; but this plan
was never carried out and the arch was
not completed until 1888. The road is
broad and we'll made and in many places
as it winds up the mountain, tunnels and
galleries have been cut in the solid rock
to protect the traveller from avalanches
and glacier streams. The summit of the
pass is 1854 feet above the sea and from
this point the descent TO Brieg, which is
only fifteen miles distant, is very rapid.
At many points on the road, as we whirl
down the mountain side, a fine view of
the valley can be obtained and the little