The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1891-03-11

ering from the misrule Of the Bourbon
Kings, and may in time attain a portion
of its ancient greatness. The area of
Sicily is 10, 600 square miles. about one
sixth that OF Missouri, and il contains
population of ., 5000 The population
is engaged In fishing or I'm farming, but
old methods prevail in both industries.
The soil is cultivated in the present day
much as it was cared for in the time OF
Theocritus; plows are as primitive as
the methods Of using them. There is no
progress among the people; a large por-
ton of the island is given up TO forest
land, and a still larger portion, although
capable of cultivation, remains falow,
from year TO year, because OF the nds-
position of the population to undergo the
necessary labor Of cultivation. Situated
under favorable climate, where winter
is practically unknown, and where,
being surrounded by large tracts of sea,
the heat of summer is soitened, il might
become, as 1t once was, the granary OF
Italy and Rome; but that time Is yet in
the distant future. The Roman emper-
ors from Sicilian ports drew no small
share of the grain which kept the tur-
bulent populace of Rome in good humor.
but grain has almost ceased to be an ex-
port of Sicily. Wheat and other food
grain require labor. the Sicilians do not
love labor, so they have planted their
land in orange and lemon trees and in
vines, so as to secure the largest returns
for the smallest outlay of effort. Few
countries in the world have greater nat
ural resources; few have improved them
less.
But Sicily is the island Of the past. In
Of Enrnna bar 81
many past civilizations. OF the various
waves of culture which have passed over
the now unhappy island, that of tho
Greeks is still the most prominent Here
and there in tho country are still TO be
found the temples of Attic deities, al
most as perfect to-day as when they
came from the hands of their builders.
Whole cities, in such state OF preserva-
ton, IL the expression is allowable, as
TO render the walls and houses plainly
visible, are TO be found in almost every
district OF the island. Palaces and thea
tiers are I'm abundance. No part OF the
ancient world more richly rewards the
labors of the digger. Every peasant has
his little store Of art works, coins, med
ais, statues, which he offers for sale, and
at rates that make the eyes OF the. anti
quarian open with admiration and envy.
Not of the Greek age alone are the re-
mains, however, for side by side with
relics OF the time OF Homer are relics of
the time of Bomba.
Three cities in Sicily are we'll worth
the time and attention Of the traveller
Palermo, Messina, and Syracuse. Paler-
mo the Happy is beautiful for situation;
I'm ont lies the bay, as enhancing in its
Ioyrl ness as that OF Naples. Behind are
tie fruit-producing plains, and the trav-
eler passes through miles upon miles Of
orange and lemon trees, interspcrsod
with the dark green OF the vine, and
here aud there relieved by the white
marble villas OF the nobility and land
owners, and far away is the deep green
clrclet of heavily wooded mountains
which inclose Palermo and its bay like
a theatey. The city is far superior to
those of Italy in general. 1t is well
paved, we'll lighted, and clean: the ave-
nues are shaded with lines OF trees. pub
Tic SQUARES and parks are frequent, foun-
tains have been established in great
abundance, and two or three Rrottoes In