Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-04-15


in the seventeenth century with so
much satisfaction. One was restored
TO the pisans in lSlS by the florcn-
tines. TO whom the Gcnoese had given
il. and the other in 1860 by the Genoese
themselves. when patriotic unity and
enthusiasm decreed there was to be
none but friendly rivalry between the
two seaports. In the round, dome
covered Baptistery there is six
sided marble pulpit, with bas-relief OF
the thirteenth century, carved by Nicolo
Pisano, one Of the earliest renaissance
sculpt0rs. Ii stands on seven pllasters
raised at different heights from the
ground on the backs Of various ami
mails, and, considering its date, is
wonderful production. A man with
good voice has adopted the profession
of awakening the echoes in the Bap-
tistery. and sings few bars, which
rise higher and higher in the dome, and
die away so softly as almost TO prevent
detecting the last vibration.
ACURIOUs STREET.
In the old part of the town there is
curious, narrow, and irregularly-
winding street, where the houses are
high and project their first stories sup
ported on arches and columns, over the
sidewalks, and give the street some OF
a likeness to a long ecclesiastical edlilce
open 10 the sky, and the crowds walk
ing up and down rather heighten the
impression. The market /, just out OF
! il. and in the early morning was full OF
tempting fresh fruits and vegetables.
| ! bought four oranges for six cents. |
know was cheated in this trade, but
a handful Of dried figs for cent was
reasonably cheap, especially as they
were good. The Pisans loiter about
| in groups as the other Italians do,
| but the present generation has not ar
rived at that stage of civilization when
such a proceeding is thoroughly en-
loved. and they 20 through it in list
less, vacant way, as if it were some
thing new and they did not know what
TO make Of it. We went out to see
the royal shooting-lodge, about two
miles from Pisa. The house is not
large, and the stables and out-buildingS
being placed in front Of it, cause 1t to
resemble business establishment
rather than pleasure retreat for royalty.
Herds Of deer were grazing outside the
extensive and beautiful pine plantations,
and other game is said to be plentiful.
Alterations were being made to a race
track in the grounds, and number OF
camels were carrying earth in panners
to it, and looked stupid and unkempt
creatures.
CARRARA.
We left Pisa early in order to spend
a few hours at Carrara, which yields
most Of the marble used by celebrated
modern sculptors, and by some of those
| Of ancient Rome. MaSSs, a small town
near Carrsra, is marble-prOducing
place also. but does not equal it in
repute. Carrara Is about thirty miles
| from Pisa. and three Off the main line
Of rail, and its inhabitants are almost
exclusively engaged IN working mar
bic in some form or other. At
a distance the town seems quite pretty.
nesting at the foot of the steep white
mountains where the quarries are. but
its appearance on closer acquaintance
is less interesting than its artistic occu-
pations would lead one 10 expect. The
streets, generally Off the level, have
high. monotonOus houses in them, and
the ground floors are used as work
shops. where innumcrable workmen
are busy in chiselling out Statuary.
Huge blocks OF marble are to be met at
every turn, some pieces needing as
many as twelve oxen to draw them,
and great deal of ingenuity and many
cries on the part of the drivers
to secure the proper direction.
We saw among many busts Of
wcll-known people a very success
fIl one Of Ellen Terry. After taking
the train again We were soon at Spezia,
where the Riviera, or the coast of the
Gulfof Genoa, begins. and We were able
to $50 many of the beautiful views on it
from the rsilway-the calm, deep blue
sea spreading out to the horizon on one
side, succession Of villages on the /
other, numbcrlesS promOntorles jut- /
ting out, through which the ears plunge .
in darkness to emerge to fresh scenes .
Of loneliness, made up OF rocky head .
lands, orange groves, palms, and the I.
bright moon shedding light enough for /.
them all to be seen clearly. besides /.
throwing over them bewitching gla-
mOur.
GENOA.
Genoa has streets Of palaces chiefly 7
built in the sixteenth and seventeenth /
centuries for the proud mobiles Of this /
commercial and maritime city. The |
Gsrbaldi stretch has only palaces IN /
1t, and among them the Municipal has |
the handSomeSt exterior, and farther
on IN the Balbi are the University. with
court and staircase famed as the
finest in Genoa. and then follows the
Royal Palace. Tho street of the gold
smiths is full Of shops. where gold and
.,I,.v filtrr.. ,,t,.l.- M, Ill