Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-06-09

So contented myself with my blue grotto,
and, when the steamer whistled for her
truant passengers, bade goodbye to
Capri.
1t is interesting to watch the fishermen
at work just underneath my windows. The
Hotel Tramontano stands 150 feet above
the sea on rock that is Tapped by its
waves. The nets have been set the night
before, and at daybreak the racket begins.
Men IN boats go out to regulate matters and
take the fish from the meshes. There is
crowd of people on shore hauling at the
ropes and slowly dragging the nets and
their prey out Of the depths. They are
mostly women with bare legs and arms-as
strengthening as tbe men. They pull in
unison, slowly and carefully. Presently
these cease, in compliance with orders
screamed to them from the ssbesses" in the
boats. Then, from my height, see the
net raised to the surface with extreme eau
tion. The harvest is about to be gathered
in. The men out there tug at the net as if
it were heavy. They soon have it well in
hand Their joyoas shouts tell the anxious
women on shore that the catch is good
one. They lift the net now with the great
very contents. The fish, which almost COW
er the exposed surface of the net, shine like
new standard dollars. The men shake and
strip them off, and they fall a glittering
heap into the bottom of the boat. I should
say there were bushels of them, and rejoice
that the brave fishermen and their wives
will have something to eat and much to
spare for the market. In size and taste
these smelts are exactly like those we eat
in America. I shall relish them a little
more at the table tonight after having "as-
sisted" as a Frenchman would say, in the
operation of catching them.
wonder how much of the Sub Treasury
building in Wall street will still be stand
ing in the year 4372? This question occur
red to me very forcibly as gazed upon the
majestic ruins of the Greek temples at Pes-
tum. These are supposed to date back to
about 600 B. G. They are all in the same
general state of decay as the Pantheon at
Athens, which they much resemble. The
largest and best preserved is the temple of
Neptune, which wildly recalls by its di-
mensions and form the Wall street temple
of quite another kind. The original thirty
six Doric columns, each about eight feet in
diameter, are yet proudly erect, and at a
little distance seem in perfect condition.
Only when one comes near to them does he
discover how the tooth of time has gnawed
into and marred their exquisite shape. The
outline of the Eastern front is yet SO COM
plete that it could be restored by the ad-
dition of few great stones. All of the
roof Ibid it have any?-ED. J. OF. c. fell
in ages ago. Long rows Of other fluted
columns, not far off, are the remains of a
structure to which the name Basilica is Civ
en- for want of better. A third ruin still
farther away is called the Temple of Ceres,
Or of Vesta, just as one pleases. Thus un-
certain is the most accurate knowledge we
now possess about Poscidonia, which the
Greeks dedicated to Neptune, on lovely
site near the Mediterranean, twenty-five
centuries ago. 1t must have been large
and important settlement in their day. But
in the present year of grace, not a single
Greek town. can be found, except of the
three have named, the massive construc-
ton of which has alone saved any part of
them to astonish and delight the modern
world with their noble and beautiful pro-
portions.
Bits Of Roman antiquities lie around,
but theso are so very new in comparison
with the glorious Greek fragments that one
regards them without interest. Formerly
a trip to P@stum was attended with danger
from brigands. Now your sole risk is ma
laria of the worst type. 1 am happy to in
form any Americans who may desire to
see the treasures of Postum that they may
now be spared long and fatiguing ride
through fiat and monotonous country.
A railway (not down in any of my guide
bools) has been completed from Battipa-
glia to Postum linking it directly and easily
with Naples. Salerno and La Cava. We
made urjourney from the latter point, start
ing about 10 A. M.spending two hours among
the ruins and getting back little after Ga
great improvement on any possible way of
''doing" Pestum before the rails were laid.
But quinine is still as indispensable to the
cautious visitor now as pistol was thirty
years ago.
Hence, by slight detour, to Pompeii
and Vesuvius.
Yours very truly,
J, B, B,