The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-05-11

kledInlHB ABOVE IL To-Day are those OF the
Gulf of Naples. The broken volcanoes
edges, still standing, mark the semicircular
heights above the city of Naples, the long,
splendid arm sweeping around to the south,
below which is Salerno gulf, and then, out
to sea, are its outjuttings, showing in
Mount st: Contanzo and the island of
Capri; while the northern rim is outlined
| mum and the islands of Procida and
lschia. breaking off grandly to the south
west. More than three-quarters of the
rim of this tremendous extinct ora
ter is thus clearly discerned. As late
as 1902 Mount Epomea, in Ischia, limited
destructive floods of lava; while, dominat-
ing the eastern shore of the gulf, and mark
ing the limits of volcanic action on that
side of the original mouth of flame, Vesu-
vius has since stood, grim, silent and a
burnt mountain at the time of Christ's
crumbling into two great divisions; and,
though sending forth no lava, belching
such showers of hot and wet ashes, as to
hide splendid Herculaneum and lordly
Pomreii from sight of human eyes for 1900
years. Naples itself faces the south along
that northern arm of the gulf known as the
Bay of Naples; and you have picture of
Its shape and contour if you will imagine a
tremendous checkered-b back turtle which
has crept down steep bank to glowing
waterside, to bask there in the sun. Its
wary head is the Castle delr Ovo. Its fore
legs stretch lazily around to the east and
west: Its hind legs protrude to the right
and left in the countryward streets of Sa-
luto and Foria. And its shining tail is repre-
sented by the splendid height of Capodi-
monte behind. where CLEAN the walls of that
noble pile. the Pallazo Reale. "See Naples
and de-" is maxim which must have had
its origin in the mind of some enthusiast
1x,l,o ns% L.
sea. To the north is the mountainous
island, Ischia, its circular shores banded
with picturesque villages, and fringed with
network of fishers sails. Beyond, to the
east, lies Procida, dainty and smiling and
green. Then Cape Miseno walling in the
yards and villas between Naples and the
shore. To the south, wild and rocky Capri,
string of pearl-like villages threading the
warm and glittering shores, and again the
outer fringe of lazy sails. Between it and
the mainland promontory, a magnificent
view of the Gulf of Salerno is had. with the
far spires and domes of Salerno itself,
Circling to the east and north, across
foreground of bluest waters and brightest
sails, is seen marvelously beautiful shore,
dotted by villa, hamlet, church and shrine,
and then, around to the north, with Vesu
smoke above, lies the wonderfully entranc-
ing region of the dead cities7 Castelar,
mare, Pompeii and Herculaneum, the latter
but two hours stroll from the splendid
city which reaches even to it in thickly-
settled envirous empowered in vines and
flowers.
Within this still standing almost COM
plete circle of olden crater rim what lnajes-
tic historic memories are awakened. There
where tiny Capri, the ancients' ''island of
goats" receives against its headland walls
the thunderings of the Mediterranean, Ii
berius lay concealed nearly year after the
fall of Sejanus; during the Napoiaonic wars
the island was taken by the English and
fortified into another Gibraltar Ond then
retaken by brilliont coup-de-main of the
dashing Prince Murat. Sorrento, Just
around within the mainland gulf edge the
ancient Surrentum of the Romans, is the
birthplace of immortal Tasso, who after his
glorious but inexpressibly sad and pathetic
career returned, disguised as a wandering
shepherd. and was welcomed and adored
by his devoted sister, Cornelia. Be
yond is Castellammare, now the sum-
mer resort of the Neapolitan aris-
tocracy just as it was in ancient
times when Augustus, N. Agrippa and An
tonius Plus sought the cool cloisters Of its
majestic chestnut groves and enjoyed. as
one may now enjoy, the fragrance and oe-
light Of its orange groves and plantations
OF mulberry, pomegranate, fig and olive:
and where the elder Pliny persisted while
observing the Vesuvian eruption which bur
led the city, and with il Eercuianeum and
Pompeii. But a few miles further. be-
tween where the waters of the river 6arna
oo@e rambling through the vipeyards into