The Portland daily press., 1886-06-09

matter how hollow and black at the core
they may be, that art will pine and culture
wane under the liberalizing rule of New
Italy. We do not believe it, and we see
everywhere the government is not only
cherishing the old monuments, and putting
forth most earnest endeavors to preserve and
redeem from oblivion the early history of the
kingdom; but it is encouraging native talent,
in erecting memorial statues all over Italy,
to commemorate the reunion of the italian
States, which has already brought so many
blessings to the people, that it might well be
called the new birth of Italy.
We never depicted to ourselves so wildly
the horrors of that day, when Vesuvius
sounded her trump of doom through the
streets of this festive city as when we saw
these relics, which made us realize the sud-
denness with which the little threads of do
nestle life were snapped. Here were the
loayes of bread, the last batch made by some
ambitious baker. We saw eggs, nuts, rice
and fruits all ready for the dessert; lady's
dressing case, with the hair pins, rings and
combs; children's playthings, such as stone
cats and dogs and dollies. Here is preserved
great variety of lamps, frying pans, bak-
ers, coolers, and in short every Imaginable
domestic utensil essential to good housewife
cry to-day, besides hundreds of tear cups,
which in modern social arrangements would
be superiority. Women did not weep in
those days as freely as now; if they had no.
body would have taken the pains to bottle
so cheap an article.
A whole week at the Museum would only
be a good beginning of study of its con-
tents but it was too cold for anybody to be
happy, therefore we deferred further inyes-
LEGATIONS and pushed southwark, this time
with little courage, as complete despair had
taken hold of us, that we should never be
warm again until we could sight the shores
of America. 1t is just like trouting in Maine !;
the season is always an exceptional one, and
there is plenty of fine trout just ten miles
farther on. By this time we had good deal
of sympathy for the people of the extreme
North, who reverse our ideas of the abodes
of the blessed and miserable, and picture
heaven as the hot place, and the other side
of the gulf as the cold spot.
AS we were told nobody could endure the
heat of Sorrento we were bound to try it,
sFor the poor fish, if he must de-
What cares he, though he bake or fry"
SORRENTO.
The train from Naples landed us at Cas-
tellamara at four in the afternoon, just the
best time to drive ON the Mediterranean
shore, when the low rays of the setting sun
give such magical effects upon its bosom. A
most officious facchlni seized our packs, and
fairly taking us by storm, he rushed us to a
very stylish equipage. The driver, to whom
a tall hat and flowing cloak gave a most dis
tinguished look, alighted, made obeisance,
and showed us telegram, which was an or
der for carriage to meet Lady R. Igno-
rance was bliss; we could not argue with the
man, and as he was convinced we were the
most serene higbnesses he was to escort, and
as no one appeared to dispute the claim, each
of us enjoyed ample accommodations for two.
Our driver made great flourish in handling
his three prancing horses, all abreast, and
the moments flew so quickly we were sorry
to espy in the distance the roofs of Sorrento.
We will say amen to the most glowing
terms of enthusiasts in praise of this re-
gion, for here nature has done her best The
odppJillC WdbclS VI tut Observation-Disclosures, Tile
purple cliff of Monte Angelo, the dreamy
blue of Vesuvius, with its plume of smoke,
the sleeps covered with langaid olive trees,
the ravines arched with golden boughs of
oranges and lemons, and beneath all the per-
pendicular heights of jagged messy rocks,
overhanging the beaches, make wonderful
pictures in repose; then put into them the
moving throngs of the merry Italians with
all the accessories of painted penury, and
you have most bewitching pictures at each
turn of the winding highway. The road
crosses several piazzas or centres of little
towns, where barefooted girls, with orange
or red kerchiefs, were bearing baskets on
their heads, where the fountains were sur
rounded with washing women, where chill
dren were twirling tissue pinwheels, for
their share of the carnival fun, and the men
were urging on the stolid donkeys. This is
out-of-door life in Italy. M. G. P. B.