Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1892-09-22
THE ETERNAL CITY.
statuary, Painting and Scenery Under
the Blue Skies of Italy.
ROME, August 7th, 1892.

ROME, August 7th, 1892.
The ride on the steamer to the other
end of lake Lugano was very enjoyable.
and even more so from Menagg:o to
Como. There was a peculiar delight
in seeing again a place We had seen
before. We could hardly bear to pass
Bellagio without getting off again.
On reaching Milan, after supper, we
went out to see the cathedral by moon
light. 1t is imposing from the side;
the front is comparatively insignif-
cant, not showing the real beauty or
size of the building. The entrance to
the arcades is near the cathedral, and
consists of fine arch. AS we passed
through we came into an open place
where we saw Leonardo da Vinci's
statute. / like it better than almost
| anything of that sort we have seen. 1t
| is more than life size, and around him
on the high pedestal are four of his
pupils. They have expressive attitudes
and their faces are noble ones.
Tuesday, some OF us climbed to the
| top of the cathedral. three hundred
and sixty feet. 1t was not nearly so
| tiresome as the Cologne cathedral, be-
cause the stairs are not circular, or at
least have little landing places, and
part of the climb is out in the open air,
| was very glad / went to the top and
got the effect of the many statues and
carvings. The view of the surround
ing country was extensive, including
tho Monte Rosa chain. They had a
pink tinge that is indescribable.
We visited the church of Santa Maria
dele Grazie where Leonardo da Viuci' S
Last Supper" is. The picture is SO
worn by time that the features of
Chrlst's face are hardly discernible.
Probably by long study one could get
the expression, but didn't have time,
and so was somewhat disappointed in
the picture. 1t is such d misfortune
that the work hasn't been taken care
Of. You know Napoleon once used the
room it is in for a stable; he even cut a
door through the lower part of it. The
art gallery was not very fruitful for me.
| was interested in comparing Ruben's
Last Supper" with Leonardo's. Then
there was IL very, beautiful bust. The
Vestal Virgin,7 by Canova.
Tuesday, after supper, we took d
drive out to the magnificent triumphal
arch which ends the Simplon route.
We saw many of the streets of Milan
and were surprised, or at least, | was,
TO see such fine city.
The next day at Rapallo we had a
thoroughly Italian dinner. We were
as dirty as could be, from riding in the
dusty car all morning, aud wanted to
wash before eating. We went to a
where the meals were serv-
ed out under a grape covered trellis.
We asked for water and they filled two
or three strange bowls with water out
back of the house on a bench and
brought us two or three towels. Water
was never more welcome. The first
course fo.. lunch w;ls two large platters
Of long stringy maccaroni with cheese
on top-very good. The second course
was some kind of fried vegetable, Gu
cumbeI's | think. 1t had a taste new
to most OF us. but could learn to like |
it. Tho next course was a salad of
dressed with olive oil, and |
olives of peculiar kind. Ihave found |
but one dish that / did not like; that |
was pudding with brandy in it. At
ter our Italian lunch we took carriages |
and drove for an hour through scenery
so new to me, and SO charming that
shall never forget it. Nearly all the |
time the Mediterranean was in sight |
and it is really blue. Twas afraid that |
what | had heard of the color of the |
was a myth, but it is |
bluer than any water | have ever seen
.bluer than the sky. Then the foli-
age was ali of olive or fig trees. Whole |
were covered with that |
peculiar gray tinge of the olive trees |
We could see on the trees near the |
road side the half grown olives. We
rode over hills from which we could |
ook down on the sea coming up into
The land in a beautiful bay, or gently |
lashing its waters on some cliff. After
We got on the train at Chiavari at three
We enjoyed the same scenery, but were
tormented by having to go
through tunnels. Some were several
niles long, the air was smoky and the
noise of the train deafening. We pass
ID the marble quaries of Carrar, look
ng exactly like snow. so white in the
,revices of the mountains. We reached
Pisa about ten o'clock, but our hotel
vas very near the station and we were
oon asleep.
Our morning in Pisa was satisfactory.