The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1884-09-20
In Foreign Lands.
From our own Corresnondent.

spot IN lialy except perhaps Iurlnj aud
yet tits one Of the oldest cities of this his.
toric land. II was founded coo years before
Christ, but has been repeatedly destroyed
by the conquering armies which have SC
often swept over this part of Italy. It's
manufacturing interests are very large and
,s population Of 500 GOO is second only to
that of Naples. For ladies in particulars its
history should be especially interesting, as
early in the 10th century il established and
controlled the fashions ef Europe, a fact
which We have preserved in the derivation
Of our modern word, milinor. The broad
PLAIN of Lombarly in which Milan is situ.
ated 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 Napoleon, as well as Magenta, the
glory OF the last Of the Bonapartes, are all
near the city.
OF the many churches Of italy, the cathc
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. II was commenced
nearly 500 years ago and is not yet com.
pleted. The facade, although marred by
the severely classical doors, is one Of the
finest in Europe. The entire structure GOV.
ers about two and one half acres of ground,
it being nearly 500 feet in length and about
200 feet wide The vaultiug Of the nave
rises 155 feet above the marble mosaic Of
the pavement, and is supported by massive
pillars from eight to twelve feet in diane
ter, r,surmounted by statues in inches instead
of capitals But it is in the wonderful
decorations OF its exterior rather than in
th e beauty Of its interior that the principal
interest of the Cathedral lies. Its rooi is
composed of blocks of marble and from it
rises perfect labyrinth of turrets and pin
nacles, with thousands Of statues ond elab-
crate ornaments Of every kind From the
platform Of the spire which surnounts the
dome the view is the finest in northern
Italy. The Alps rising far away on the
north, with Mont Blanc, and Monta Rosa
standing out 10 bold relief, circle around to
the east and west aud form almost semi.
circle; while to the south, beyond the fer
tile plains, the Apennnes, those "mignty
mountains, dim and gray" fill nearly half
OF the remaining horizon.
Near the cathedral is the Gallery Of Vic
tor Emanuel, a beautiful glass covered ar.
cade erected at cost OF over 81 500 900 and
occupied with shops The La Scala theatre.
one of the largest in the world, is also in
this central part of the city Its immense
stage, l50 feet deep ard over 1OO feet wide
is alone as large as mauy theatres, while
its vast auditorium, with its seven tiers of
boxes rising up to the roof gives accom-
mediation 10 many thousands of pleasure
seekers.
The italian Lakes, Maggiore, Como and
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 beautiful region, bur
coniented ourselt with a view of Magginre,
which we reached at Layeno by rail from
Milan, and passed thence by steamer to In
ira. This lake possesses some very lovely
scenery, but is not to be compared to Lake
Lucerne in Switzerland, and is also pro
nounced 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. Tho shore is studded with |
dirty Italian villages, in which as some
writer has ssid, "the charm of many an |
exquisite bit of Italian village scenery is |
dispelled as soon as you get within smelling
distance of it," The famous Barromesp
Isles are on the southeast side of the lake |
near Pallanza, and are noted for their pic
turesque beauty as well as for their having
been the residence Of Cardinal Charles Bor
romeo.
At Intra we took "diligence," for ride
OF about seventy miles over the great Simp
lon route across the Alps from Italy To-
Switzerland. The diligence is singular
tyne Of mountain coach. Besides the driy. |
er's seat it is divided into three parts; the |
interior, which corresponds to the inside OF
an ordinary stage coach, the coupe, under |
the drivers seat with glass front and sides, |
and the banquette. seat perched high up
IN the rear with a carriage top to protect it
from the weather They are run by the |
government and a sufficient amount of fuss |
and feathers and rel tape IS connected with |
their management to start an army; but
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 impraetie4bo and al
mos. impossible methods used in running
them. Fairly good horses are supplied but
the time is very slow, il requiring over
thirteen hours to accomplish the distance
from lnrra to Brieg.
The Silnplon road was constructed by
the first Napoleon early IN the present CEN
tury and is but one Of the many evidences
found throughout western Europe of the
genius Of that mighty cunqueror. II was
his intention to haYe terminated the route
st Milan, and to that end he commenced
the erection OF grand trumphal arch in
that cityi but this plan was never carried
out and the arch was not completed until
1888. The road is broad and well made,
and in many places as it winds up the
mountain, tunnels and galleries haye been
cut in the solid rock To protect the travellers
from avalanches and glacier streams. The
summit OF the pass is 6jgI ieet above the
sea aud from this point the descent to
Brleg, which is only Is miles distant, is
very rapid. AT many points on the road
as we whirl down the mountain side, fine
views OF the valley can be obtained aud
the little village Of Brieg seems almost
near enough so that We could pitch stone
into its streets but it is late at night be
fore we reach our hotel aud We were not
unwilling to accept the rest and shelter it
furnished.
From Brieg We take the railway the next
I