The Portland daily press., 1892-05-24

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1t is quite a remarkable fact that
Bologna was the harbinger OF female
culture and distinction For as early as
the 14th century it numbered among it's
professors several members of the fair
sex. One Novella Andrea, about that
time delivered lectures here concealed
by curtain from her pupils. And a
Laura Bassi, from whom one of the
streets seems be named, was also pro-
lessor here. Bologna has two quite re-
markable leaning towers standing side BY
| side in Rue Rizzoli, one of which. alone
from all the other leaning towers was
purposely SO constructed. The largest
one, Tore Asinelle looks as if in the
skies but is only four feet out of perpen-
dlcular, while the one beside it, Tore
Garlsenda leans ten feet out of the per-
pendicular and looks like giant bending
forward. They present remarkable
appearance standing side by side. as they
90, in a kind OF hide and seek position,
displaying their relative inclination in a
most wonderful manner.
The Adriatic.
AT an hours distance from Bologna the
mild waters of the Adriatic come in
sight dotted with sails of a most pictur-
esque design and color. They aim am
sure at effect in the make up Of these
sails, since there are hundred varieties
which are striking in the extreme; mixed
red and white and reddish brown inter-
| spersed with the clear white sail and
sometimes the clear red, all of which
make the waters look splendid and gay
like the preparations for a naval fete.
Farther down near the Gulf of Tarento,
| at little port called Grottomare per-
fectly unique sail appeared. 1t was a
prancing steed ridden by red knight on
back ground of reddish brown. 1t was
| suggestive of NEUROLOGICAL tales, Jason
and the golden fleece Or the horse Peg
| asus mounted with Perseus or Belle
| phoren for a knight. although / saw no
wing. AS looked to examine more
closely the sail tapped and fell lowered
perhaps for want of breeze
The waters of the Adriatic appear of
drabbish green, but these hues fade
away in the far stretch of the horizon
| into an azure sky and the sails seen far
away seem to dot the sky as well as the
waters of the sea.
never noticed anything on this sea
which resembled our Atlantic coast with
its pillows after q storm although the
water at times looks swollen and dis
turbed. Some of these cities have fine
quays and the scenery all along with the
mountains for background and the
deep blue sea beneath and beyond as far
as the eye can reach, with these fort
ressed towns built so high above, sur
passes anything in scenery in the Medit-
teranean coast, the routes of which for
the most part run far inland away from
the old Roman ways.
1t is rest sometimes to leave these
art centres which draw such crowds, and
travel in unaecustomed tracks alone with
nature and the history of the past, and
with the characteristic jewellers of these
primitive towns. 1t is the keenest kind
OF joy sometimes to catch glimpses of
human nature undisguised and undimmed
by the shams and fashions of the world.
And this is what found in these long
stretches here, on these dog-trot trains,
which as fast express, makes thirteen
miles in three or four hours, managing
to lose on schedule time, the connecting
train gone ten minutes before.
The Rubicon
just before the Adriatic coast appears
the old Rubicon of the Romans is passed
at little station called Savignano. The.
at present, little stream Uso, formed by
the reunion of the Urgone and Piscia-
tello, enters the sea near this point. This
river, after much contention and from
many claimants, has been established as
the old Rubicon, which Caesar crossed.
and on local maps is marked 'sUso Ru-
bicone.)''
This formed the frontier of old Italy
in Caesars time, the province on the 9th
er side being known as Gaul. 1t was
formidable only as frontier, since,
judging from the size of the Adriatic riv-
ers at the present time, it would be about
as much OF a victory for an enemy to go
over one as to cross an average brook or
to wade in a bog ankle deep, and I fancy
much of the time, like the children of
Israel on the Red Sea- an army would
pass over on dry land. For although
these rivers are very numerous and not
far apart, the traveller on looking from
the train often thinks that dykes are
needed to keep out the sea, as these seem
to be channels from an overlooking flood,
but on further scrutiny they prove to be
these muddy. marshy streams bent upon
losing themselves in waters beyond.
They no doubt assume more formidable
shapelwhen the melting SHOWS from the
mountains above fill them up, and lack
ing the banks of more seemly streams.
their work of ruin and destruction must
be immense. One looks in vain in these
parts for the noble rivers formed in the
Alpine heights.
Rimini. "a i
This city was the old Arimenium of
the ancients and formed the frontier for
tress of Italy in early times since it was
the terminus of the route to Rome, 1t
was the foremost of the five maritime
cities, which were very important factors
under the guiding hand of Rome in re-
covering the territory lost by the inva-
sion of the Gauls a century before. At
this time Rimini took the lead in all sorts
| of revolts and invasions and monopolized
the power centred in these five maritime
cities. 1t was embellished by Caesar and
Augustus, and it afterwards made rapid
strides in culture and art, later attract
ing scholars and painters to it's court.
Dante celebrated Rimini in verse and
Leigh Hunt got material here for his
''Story di Rimini.'
TNva1 va villas fro~. IL.