Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-31

their mouths. After dark their parents come
around with derricks and mules and cart them
home. But the simple artfu1ness Of beggars
was not what / referred to. 1 wanted to call
your attention to that building over there. and
that one and hundreds Of others in Genoa
Look nj the windows. Symmetrical arrange
ment, isn't 1t? Five windows on the fourth
story, five on the third, FIVE on the second
The same regular arrangement on the Sides
Tho windows have green shutters. All windows
In Genoa have green shutters A closer inspec-
ton viii show you TINT fully one-quarter Of
those windows ard green shutters, and even
the little balconies beneath, are mere shams
and delusions and are no moro real windows,
green shutters and balconies than the frowning
castle in a stage setting is q real, actual frown-
ing castle. When gentleman OF Genoa builds q
house he insists first, last and all the time on
external symmetry. The architect NAV put the
kitchen range in tine drawing room and the
buffers pantry in the vestibulc, but IL the win
dows are not all right he is lost Therefore, il
the householder does not desire n real window
where the laws Of regularity tell him window
should be be has one painted on the spot and goes
around With a happy smile. II is q good deal
like painting picture of n mutton chop on the
dining room table and looking Mt it instead Of
eating breakfast, but then it makes the Genoese
happy and gives visitors so much TO talk about
cHRIsToPo's SUPPOSED BIRTHPLACE
But what has all this about donkeys and art
fuluess to do with that great and good man
'Christofo Colombo? Fifteen miles from
Genoa at n little town called Cogoleto YOU get
your first trace Of Columbus. This il bis sup
posed birthplace. / say supposed because
this is not TO be read In Genoa asked man
here i'll regard to Columbus supposed birth
place and his look of reproach will haunt me-
he said: Suppose, No doubt zere can be. Ze
great Colombo ,rds horned zere." At Cogoieto
besides the house in which Columbus fi-st saw
the light, and which il covered with a big in
seription, there is large monument to the ex-
piorer, erected only few years ago.
WHERE HE LIVED.
In Genoa on one Of the old narrow streets
and close by the main ancient gate to the city
stands house In which Columbus ia said to
have lived for considerable time We went to
see this house. The house was interesting rs
houses go, but the street and the crowd were
the main part. The cut gives you an idea of
the street and the old gate, known as ''Porta s.
Andrea Columbus house 10 only few doors
from the gate. 1t is n narrow building four
stories high, and has table. in the wall telling
Its history. The old street ia altogether too
marrow for carriages or wagons Donkeys can
navigate il and there is a steady stream Of
people talking, laughing, buying. selling, the
women bareheaded, the men smoking con-
stantiy. We looked at Columbus house with
awe and then somebody threw a brick at us. In
moment there was q jam of people. It was
not brick after all. but two cats who had
been having a warlike discussion on Columbus
roof and had toppled over. A picturesque
Italian leaned out Of Columbus second-story
window and smiled cheerfully at the gesticulat-
Ing. active crowd below. Oh, what q noisy
crowd they were and how they did discuss those
cats. and what arguments they had as to which
would have whipped had they not fallen and
prematurely ended all eighteen of their COM
Nm (x<lu h,,o 10
America for rest and quiet.s
HONOR TO COLUMBUS.
Genoa has done good deal of honor both to
herself and to Columbus by the handsome and
imposing marble statue OF Columbus. which
was erected in 1862 in the open square facing
the fine railroad station. The white statue and
pedestal are set of by tho surrounding palm
trees. Columbus is shown leaning on an an
chor. while at his feet sits America holding
cross Judging from the amount Of drapery
with which America" is encountered. Column
bus must have met some curious people on his
travels. II is needless to say this statue of Co
lumbus represents the explorer after his voy-
age. The size of his head precludes all doubt
on that subject. The pedestal Of the statue is
ornamented with the prows of ships. Below
are allegorica1 figures and around the base re-
hefs from the life of Columbus. There are a
good many statuettes and busts Of Columbus
scattered over the city, while opposite the main
statue and on the Farragiana palace is a large
marble relief, representing scenes from the ex-
plorer's life.
PATHETIC LETTER.
The municipal palace or city hall is rather
center for Columbus. Here well-drawn fresco
shows him presenting the trophies Of his voy-
age 10 the Queen of Spain. In the council
chamber Is . remarkably strong Mosaic Dor
trait OF the explorer. In the same building is
shown q fac simiie OF letter written by CO.
lumbus- Ii is an exceedingly interesting letter,
but can't quite make out whether il Is in re-
gard to the price OF wheat in America or 10 a
protest against the proposed restriction Of en-
igration- rather incline to the latter theory,
as Columbus views on the matter were we'll
known The last part of this letter is touching
In the extreme. No man with common sensi-
biiities can read those burning words without
weeping bitter, bitter tears. have went them
and so viii you No man can see the noble way
In which Columbus signed his name In two
different languages, 80 to leave no possible
doubt as to his identity, without going to the
worlds fair and spending SIS. so in honor of
the signer. This is the way Columb bus ended and
signed his letter.