The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-10-10
IN FOREIGN LANDS.
anto. its Cities and the Apulean PENN
sula.
rCorrespondence of the Press !

correspondence OF the PfeSS.l
BAsLE, SWITZERLAND, Sebtember %.
AS one alights from the train
at Lareto looking far above,
the sacred village bursts upon the
view, rather as fortress for defense in
war than as the site of the tabled house
of the Prince of Peace. This house of
Nazareth, this "sonta cdsa," is hedged
in above and around by sacred temple,
built over it, and no man except the
priests can enter into the holy place.
The story of this house runs thus.
1t was conveyed miraculously according
to the legend from Dalmatia thither and
placed in the grounds of certain widow
by the name of Laureta; for in the time
of Constantine, his mother, the Empress
Helena, out of veneration for this house
of God made pilgrimage to Nazareth
and had, as now, a basilica built above it
to protect it from decay The temple
having fallen away, the Angels in the
latter part of the 18th century conveyed
this sacred house to Dalmatia, and thence
in the night by the same angelic band it
was brought to this hallowed spot.
Houses for the accommodation of the
thousands Of believers, who make their
| annual pilgrimage here, soon sprung up
on this lovely hill and formed a city dedi-
Gated to God. Tasso once visited the
place and celebrated it in Italian verse.
The light of this sacred city, with its
| monks and sanity nuns and holy people
who frequent its streets will not easily
be put out. for the yearly pilgrim fanatics
who journey thither from all parts of
Italy and who sacrifice so much in COM
ing here, carry. the legends of the Christ
house into many a home, where out of
the reverence engendered by it, who
knows but that the essence of true piety
and love of holiness may spring UP bear
ing real fruit for the garner of God.
In these regions summer mildness
pervaded all. The climate must be
equitable even in winter since vegetable
gardens were mature and the air was
soft and balmy even in March. Every
body was out of doors attending to agri-
cultural pursuits, training vines planting
new crops as we'll as looking after the
old-a delightful contrast to the expert
ence of a few days before in Northern
Italy, which was no doubt entirely ex-
ceptional, though am convinced that
the climate of all the Alpine regions is
very trying to delicate constitutions and
weak nerves, for on reaching these milder
regions, one feels as peaceful as though
enjoying dose of some narcotic.
The Customs of the Adriatic People,
People travel here, since there are very
few important stations, equipped as for a
voyage around the world with unspeak
| able accoutrements for both the inner
and the outer man. They take along
articles for an extensive menage, in huge
round baskets, some of which are filed
with fruit and wines, also queer kinds of
cakes and candies, which they offer to
all. Dried jellies and conglomerate pre-
parations, which look like pomades, and
sweet meats are found in their stock of
provisions, but all these queer looking
preparations usually proved to be of the
sausage kind. Were these people on a
vestibule train with dining room and the
usual complement of cars on such trains
they would not dine and sup more regu-
larly or in more ceremonious manner,
only that they eat much oftener, taking
four or five meals a day. They are very
hospitable, and qnsuspecting, spreading
their money out before everybody, reck-
oning it and counting their OUTLAWS.
They leave their purses and reticules on
the seats when they chance for moment
to leave the train, and when they finally
depart they shake hands all around with
hearty Chronological to all. But they
have no idea of art descended from the
old Romans though they are, and they
are entirely Indifferent to the beauties of
nature. They close all the curtains tight
against the sun crossing and buttoning
| them down, until one is frantic over
| glimpses of beautiful views every mo-
ment left behind.
| 1t was along here that the lovely drab
| cattle were first seen, small, but of fine
| form, grazing in the meadows, and also
the snow white oxen seemingly too dainty
for use, yoled and driven by, and some
times with, a peasant woman not half so
human as themselves.
Termoli.
On passing out of the station at Ter
moli, we espied a luxuriant cactus tree,
which reminded us that the cactus plant
was first found here. 1t seemed an in
territorial cynicism to see in this very
place one solitary isolated growth of
this same plant which we afterward
found growing in abundance and wild,
all along this coast and in other parts of
Italy as far as the Gulf of Naples.
After passing inland for time we
came to Foggia which seems rather I'M
cultured place. Just before we reached
it, two of the most agreeable Italian
ladies I ever met came into the car, and
after remaining for little time they
shook hands all around bidding us
cordial adleu and meeting friends out
size they went away out of sight by a
road to some mountain resort. At Foggia
a boy refused fee, and noted it down.
Twice and thrice he refused it for bring
ing water to some ladies whose thirst no
wine could relieve. Twice afterwards
in Italy saw fee discarded-but in the
latter cases there were neutrality-suspicious.
stances and motives to explain so unac-
countable lapse. Otherwise, except as
junction for Naples, the Brindisi and
| Calabria roads. Foggia was unmarked,
| ocro,, ~, in +l,o 61.,