The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-07-17


-u,l in Swi.t territory. When we had com
p.e'cl the descent We were On the shores Of
La-o Maggbire. At Chas,io, whore we had
to pass the custom officers again, we noticed
that flowers were not permitted to pass the
Italian frontier. We learned that it was
because the phyloxera is feared.
With the exception Of Lake Como, which
was made Interesting by superb cloud.
feet on the mountains, the Italian lakes did
not interest US.
1t was as we were nearing Como that the
young lady remarked that Milan was a beau
tful place, AMI expressed her surprise that
we did not intend stopping. The artist who
had accompanied us from Paris, and an
agreeable and travelled Swiss gentleman
also advised ms to stop. There were blanks
on our tickets for designating any station at
which we wished to stop over, which were
required to be stamped at some preceding
station.
The Milan cathedral is superb piece Of
architecture, and there are many sold mas
ters' in the city; so, taking one considera-
ton with another we concluded that the idea
was not bad one.
At Como we descended, accompanied by
the SwisY gentleman, who kindly translated
our wisGes to the chefde-gare who held the
train Or moment But the official who
was to- do the stamping was old and some
9Aa. betuidled, ana took so much time, that
when we walked out Of the station to re-
mount into our train it had gone, and with
Il yalises, overcoats, French tobacco young
lady and all
For an hour and half we gave vent to our
feelings in Italian. BY telegraphing it was
arranged hat our baggage should be put off
at Milan. We took the next train, which
proved to be a slow one, and the cars leaky
and not over clean. The beautiful cloud eff
feet we had seen at Como had developed into
a thunder storm, consequently our clothing,
as well as our spirits, were dampened At last
we arrived at Milan, which proved to be q
1ourishing, modern city. Her citizens re
semble Americans in their dress, light com
plexions and business like air. We had time
to see the catheral eat an excellent dinner,
and take walk about the city before taking
the train for the last night Of our journey.
4 n,1 ,.,h al .In,
could not see much Of the country near Mi.
lam and so late that we were soon asleep
During the night we were awakened by the
stopping of the train. Upon looking out we
saw no indications Of station. We stared
into the darkness as it gradually decreased
until there was fraint, rosy streak along
the horizon. After two hours another loco
motive arrived and we proceeded.
This interruption proved fortunate one
for us, as it gave us the Opportun ty of see
ing the elegant cities and beautiful land
scapc Of Lombardy There is nothing gran,
dose or coarse about the scenery, but re-
finement and ripeness which is undoubtedly
the effect of long civilization. The grea'
plain spread out before us with the uneven
contour of the Alps dimly visible at the
horizon, broken by the towers, roofs Of
buildings and the tall dark green poplars.
The other trees were usually low, but
graceful in form and Of a luxurious sOlidity
of foliage-a fit setting for the buildings,
which are white and warm yellow or red.
All this, under the rosy and violet tones of
the early morning sky, produced a PIANO
rama of most superb effects as we rode
along. Verona was the city which most
charmed us, and had we not feared an
other such fasco as OR visit to Milan we
should have endeavored to stop Padua also
pleased us much, but we could see but little
from the cars.
Gradually the land became lower and more
marshy until it finally disappeared, and the
dead lagoons where the water is not changed
by tides stretched out on both sides Of the
yiaduct which connects Venice with the
main land. In front of us the towers and
domes of the city rose out of the sea.
We at length arrived, secured our baggage
and embarked in gondOla for the pala.zo,
where we intended to stay during the sea
son. For several minutes we glided along
the Grand Canal takingin the ancient water
soaked palaces in silence. 1t was still early
in the morning and few people we're stirring
The stiffness was oppressive, bat we should
not have been astonished at its being occa
sionally broken by the falling Of palace;
they are so delapidated. One of us finally
remarked, What fine old relic of former
decency." "Yes, -, and we have left
Paris for this"
Considerable time has elapsed since that
morning, and the more we become acquaint-
ed with Venice the more we like her, but like
many others who are gay and brilliant, Venice
is not best seen so early in the morning
E.S. c.
Excursion Tickets to Okoboji and Spirit
N