Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-01-30
CHAPTER Ill.
rag ruRGSr sIear or All.

THE r<lREST SIGHT or ALls
1t is spring-the beautiful spring OF
Northern Italy. My friend Kenyon
and are loInging about in the rect
angular city of Turin. as happy
and idle pair of comrades as
may anywhere be met with. We
have been here q week. long
enough to do all inc sightseeing,
demanded by duty, We have
seen San Giovanni and the churches.
We have toilcd. or beasts of burden
have toiled with us, up La Superga,
where we have gszed at the msusoleum
of Savoys princely line. We have seen
enough of the cumhrous old Palazzo
Madame, which frowns ut our hotel
across the Piazxi CASTILLO. We have
marveled ut the plain, uninteresting-
looking Palazzo Rca,e, and our mirth
has been moved by the groteSque brick
work decoration of the palazzo Carig-
nano. We have criticised the rather
poor picture gallery. In fact we have
done Turin thoroughly, and. like the
contempt bred by familiarity, ara ceas-
ing TO feel like pitiful little atoms As
we stand in the enormous squares and
crane our necks looking at Marochetti'S
immense bronze statues.
Our tasks are over. We are now sim
ply loating about and ENJOYING our
selves; reveling in the delicious wealth
CT, and trying TO make up our languid
but coutented minds As to when we shall
leave the town and where our next rest
ing place shall be.
We wander down the broad Via di
70. lingering now and then 10 peer into
the enticing shops which Turk in its
shady arcadeS; wo pass through tho
spacious Piazza Nittorio Emanuele; wo
cross the bridge whose five granite arch
e. span the classic Pc; we turn oppo-
site the domed church and soon arc
walking NJ the wide, shaded path which
leads TO the Capuchin Monastery, the
broad terrace in front of which is our
favorite haunt. Here we can louuge
and see the river ri our feet. the great
town stretching from its further bank.
the open plain beyond the town. and.
far. far away in the background, the
glorious Snow-capped Alps, with Monte
Rosa and Grand Paradis towering
above their brothers. No wonder we
en, oy the view from this terrace moro
than churches, palaces or pictures.
We gaze our fill, then retrace our
steps and saunter back rs lazily rs We
came. After lingering a few moments
ut our hotel some hazv destination
prompts us TO cross the great square.
past the frowning old castle. leads us
mp the Via Iii Seminario, and We find
ourselves for the twentieth time in front
of San Giovanni. stop with my head
i'll the air admiring what architectural
beauties its marble front can boast. and
rs am trying to discover them am
surprised to hear Kenyon announce ha
intention of entering the building.
But we have vowed VOW" said,
that the interior Of churches, picture
galleries. and Other tourist traps shall
know us no more.
What makes the best lncn break
their vowS?'
Lots of things, l suppose"
but one thing i'll particular Whilst
You are staring up at 2innaclcs and
buttrcsses, and trying to look as if YOU
knew architecture as well rs Ruskin,
the fairest of all sights, beautiful
woman, passes right under Your nose.
Il understand absolve YOU. y
Thank you. She went into tho
church. feel devotional, and will go
too
But our cigarsp"
''Chuck them to the beggars Be-
ware of misery habits. Gilbert; they
grow on one.
Knowing that Kenyon was not the
man to abandon choice Havana with
out weighty reason, did as he sug-
gested and followed him into the dim
cool shades of San Giovanni.
No service was going on. The usual
little parties of sightseers were walking
about and looking much impressed as
beauties they could not comprehend
were being pointed out to them Dotted
about here and there were silent wor-
shippers. Kenyon glanced round eager
ly in quest of 1.-The fairest of all sights, y
and after while discovered her
Come this way" he said; 'let ia
sit down and pretend to be dcvout
Catholics. We can catch her profile
here"
Iplaced myself next to him, and saw
a few seats from us an old Italian
woman kneeling and praying fervently.
whilst in chair at her side sat girl
of about twenty-five.
A girl who might have belonged to
almost any country. The eyebrows and
cast-down lashes said that tho eyes were
dark, but the pure pale complexion, the
delicate straight features, the thick
brown hair might, under circumstances,
have been claimed by any Nation, al
though had met her alone i should
have said She was English She was
we'll but plainly dressed, and her man
ner told me she was no stranger TO the
church. She did not look from side to
side, and up and down, after the way
of sightseer. She sat without moving
until her companion had finished her
prayers. So far as one could Judge.
from her appearance she was in church
for no particular object. neither deyo-
tional nor critical. Probably she may
have come to bear the old woman NJ
her side company. This old woman.
who had the appearance OF superior
kind of servant seemed, from the pas
sionate appeals she was addressing to
Heaven, TO be in want of many things.
could see her thin lips working inces-
sanity, and although her words were
inaudible it vas evident her petitions
were heartspoken and sincere.
TO BE CONTINUED.