Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1889-10-04
THE PALESTINE TOUR.

Wanderings Among the AIPs-Art
Galleries and Ancient Ruins-The
Eternal City.
ROME, Italy, Sept. 16.
Tothe Editor OF the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
Tho day dawned delightfully."- as our train
sped swiftly away from Lucerne and its
charming environments, where we had spent
the Sabbath. On the margin of the lovely
lake our pathway lies. Small sail and row
boats are awaiting the patronage of the om-
nipresent tourist, while the handsome steam
ers give indications of life by faint circles of
smoke which arise from their huge tunnels,
while the decks are being vigorously scrubbed
preparatory to the daily trip over the placid
waters.
Mount Rhigi lifts its lofty brow above the
surrounding scene, and, as If aware of its
own sublime attractions, conoeals its crest in
snow cloud. Soon tunnel after tunnel in
the mighty Alps are entered-seventy of
them during the day. What an expensive
roadway How terribly steep the gradients
srel Two engines are required during some
of the distance to draw the heavily loaded
cars. With slow but sure progress the feat
is accomplished after an immense amount of
putting and snorting.
THE ALPS.
And now we are in the very heart of the
wonderful Alps with its profusion of noun
tain scenery. Each view, as we slowly glide
along, gives grander exhibitions of natures
handiwerk than before If possible. On eve
~ hand, In the widest disorder,
'Hills DER hills and
Alps on Alps arise"
"Look, look"-"quiok, quick" exclaim
many voices simultaneously to their COM
before them. Now some snow-capped noun
tain taller by far than Its sturdy neighbor
catches the eye. A gusling cascade or
miniature cataract like a thread of molten
silver falls from mountain peaks to the val
ley below, while yawning ehasms, deep ra.
vines and desolate gorges enhance the sub.
Unity of the picture.
Scattered along the sides of the mountains
or on the edge Of dizzy preoipices-
from the busy life of commercial oenters,
are scattered the humble cottages of the
herdsmen and other toilers in these lonely
retreats. It is home and they are content
with their plain fare and humble condition,
though situated amid these rugged and pri-
meval solitudes. Their love of home and
liberty is proverbial.
AvALANoHEs.
Arth Goldan is passed, where sixty years
ago an entire village was buried by a land
slide. So great was the fall of earth and
rock, constituting another mountain almost,
that the village was left in its premature
sepulohre, while q new settlement grew
around and over its site.
Somewhere amid impressive Alpine scene
ry Lord Byron, moved by these phases and
freaks of nature, wrote In his Manfred:
"Ye avalanches, whom breath draws down
In mountains overwhelming, come and crush me.
hear ye momently above, beneath.
Crush with frequent conflict"
Finally the italian frontier is reached and
the inevitable custom house examination ID
renewed. As elsewhere, the ohist scrutiny
/ is directed toward the discovery of concealed
packages of cigars and brandy. As cur par
! ty is composed largely of ministers, temper
ance laymen and ladies, the search, as hith-
erto, Is fruitless. No passports have thus
far been required, and none probably will be
prior to our entering the Turkish empire.
In Italy, as well as in France, 1t was har-
vest time. Women toiling in the hot and
dusty fields far outnumbered the men. On
every hand were indications of the severe
drouth that has prevailed throughout the re.
gion. While New England has contended
with foods in common with many eastern
States, the reverse has been experienced
here. The fields were ashen wastes except
where irrigation had been reiorted to.
| Brooks were dried up-usually raging tor
rents when the spring opens and the snow
| melts from the mountains. Even the Arno
| and the turbid Tiber had dwindled to the In,
| significance of a narrow meadow brook
| which In their reduced fortunes seemed like
the veritable sea serpent finding its way
back to the ocean.
After leaving the Alps we pass swiftly
over far reaching plains hundreds of miles il
extent. Fertile farms, with profusion o1
fruit trees, including the fig, plum, apricot
pear and other varieties. Trees by the mil
lion apparently. Much of the fruit finds iti
way to the United States dried and pre-
served. For the first time ate figs, rip.
and juicy, fresh from the tree. Pleasantly
sweet, though insipid to many, they proved
to be. The preserved fig as usually sold II
our own country will suit the average Amer
loan better.
kets is largely cultivated. The seed is scat
which gives q harvest of twigs, growing tt
land. Corn, which does not ripen In Eng
land, Scotland and Ireland, does we'll ii
France and Italy. Il is cut like hay ani
i spread on the ground to dry. Later the ear
are husked in the field and tied in bunehe
ON the sides of barns and hay stacks t.
harden in the sun.
Milan, Florence and other points in sunni,