The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1884-09-13
in FOREIGN LANDS.
Naples and its Surroundings-Aseen OF
Mt. yesuyius-Excavations at Pompeii-
Watt &r Flnroncn

Naples and its Surroundings-Ascent OF
Mt. Vesuyius-Excavations at Pompeit-
A Visit to Florence.
From our own Correspondent.
"See Naples and die, VI is an old Italian
saying, but the modern version. See
Naples before you die, +" is far more ac-
ceptable to the ordinary traveller.
Leaving Rome by rail we pass through
the walls on the southeast side of the city,
near the Porta Maggiore, and for miles as
we cross the campagna or vast plain which
surrounds the city, the road runs near the
ruined arches of two of the most famous Of
the ancient aqueducts. The country
through which we pass is much more fertile
than that north of Rome and the yegeta-
ton as we go southwark appears almost
tropical in its luxuriance. Many wrstched
little villages of the present day bear naems
well known to history, while other import
ant towns have entirely disappeared. Gapua,
1856 miles south of Rome, once city of
100000 inhabitants, whore the victorious
Hannibal found in the luxury of an italian
city more dangerous foe than the Roman
| legions, and where the insurrection of the
| gladiators under Sapartacus first broke
| out, is now place Of but little importance.
Nearly thirty miles farther south we reach
Naples, matchless for location, unrivaled
for the beauty of its surroundings, the
pride of Italy and its commercial metrop-
oils. The city has a population of about Il
half million and is located on the north
ern shore of the lovely bay of Naples, slop-
ing down to the sea on the amphitheatre
/ of the hills. The enervating influences Of
this eternal summer land, as we'll as the
degeneracy of the modern Italian are very
evident in the inhabitants of Naples. No
city of all Italy has more lovely climate,
or q happier, poorer, lazier, dirtier popula-
ton. The impudence of the beggars who
exhibit to passers by the physical ills which
constitute their stock in trade, issanly
which all classes seem to regard both the
present and future. ALI kinds of work are
carried on in the streets, shoemakers, car
penters, BARRIERS and others often having
their entire outfit on the sidewalk, while
| the women also bring out their washing
and ironing, their sewing and knitting into
the public highway. Many localities near
Naples were immertalized by Virgil in his
Eneid and the tomb of the great poet him.
self is pointed out only few miles from
the city.
| Vesuvius, which lifts its FIRE and smoke
crowned summit 1900 feet above the level
of the sea- is southeast Of Naples and was
reached by us by tranway to Resina, which
il built above the ancient buried village of
| Herculaneum, and from thence on foot to
the summit. For several miles the way
lies among the vineyards and orchards
which surround the base and crown the
lower slopes of the mountain, but these are
soon passed and we reach the lava flow of
1872 over which the road winds for long
distance. It is perfect picture of desoia-
ton. The lava stream is nearly black and
lies in great folds and ridges, formed by
the semi-huid mass pouring down the side
of the mountain and stiffening as it cooled.
The foot of the cone is reached without
serious difficulty, and from this point
cable railroad runs nearly to the summit;
but having attempted to make the ascent
of Vesuvius on foot we scorned all such
modern innovations and toiled on. The
cone which surmounts the mountain is
| oh 1r00 foot hoi0hf o,1 &c
of loose scoria and ashes, with occasionally
a ridge of lava. It's sides rise at an angle
of about forty-fve degrees and as the ashes
slip back under ones feet at every step,
the ascent is most fatiguing. 1t was as
hard bit of mountain climbing as we had
ever attempted.
| From the summit magnificent pano-
rama is spread out before US. The country
for miles around dotted with little villages
is seen, with Naples on the northwest and
the beautiful bay in front, stretching far
away to where,
Calm Capri waits,
Her sapphire gates
| Beguiling to her bright estates.
we descend to the "old crater" and pick
our way among the steaming, smoking
| assures which open far down into the depths
below. Masses of almost pure sulphur
have been deposited all around and ct
times the sulphurous fumes are almost
oyerpowering. There has been no lava
overflow for some time and at the principal
opening in the eastern part of the crater a
cone perhaps fifty feet in height has been
built up of the cinders, scoria, etc., which
at intervals of perhaps minute are thrown
up from the opening and fall in showers
around. We were soon satisfied with the
horrors of the place and the evident
proximity to the Internal regions, and
descending the mountain on the southern
side we made our way over vast beds OF
lava and on through vineyards and gardens
to Tore Annunziata and from thence to
the ruins Of Pompeii.
In studying the ruins of Rome and the
other cities of ancient Italy we find that
much has been lost during the wars and
POLITICAL disturbances Of past centuries
but in Pompei we find an ancient Roman
city, embalmed as it were in ashes; thus
preserving for eighteen hundred years not
only the form of the buildings, but every
feature of the home life of the Roman OF
the first century of the Christian era. About
Is acres, comprising nearly third of the
space enclosed within the walls, have been
uncovered and the work Of excavation il
still being carried on. Nearly everything
which can be moved, even to the more i'm