The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-07-25
A WICHITA MAN In NAPLES.
TO the Editor of the Eagle.

world finds, very often, that IMPRESSION
of place or bit of scenery do not come
up to expectations. This may be due Il
a variety of circumstances among which
may be mentioned an unfavorable state
of the weather, biliousness, or, and more
probably, too vivid imagination on the
part of the traveller who publishes {
book.
Ihad always pictured Naples as it lay
as the most lovely spot on the face OF
the globe and as our train slowly ap
preached the city, on hot afternoon in
April, / wondered whether l was to
meet with disappointment. l was
treasured, in great part, by the mighty
form of Vesuvius which soon appeared
to view. Its size and the great column
of smoke which rose slowly from,
its crater satisfied completely my
| ideas Of an active volcano:
and when later in the afternoon we
stood on the shore of the bay. | was
| forced to admit that the reality far ex-
ceeded my liveliest anticipations.
Twilight came all too quickly and we
returned 10 the hotel resolved to get up
! early and climb the hills back of the
CITY. After an Italian breakfast of rolls
I and coffee my friend and | started for
the castle of st. Elmo. l am not fond
of climbing for the exercise there is in
it, but the knowledge that beautiful
view could be obtained from the top,
kept me to the work and in about an
hour we arrived, perspirlng and out of
breath, at the entrance to the castle.
We then learned two facts which did
not tend TO cool our already overheated
blood. First, that cable road ran to
the summit, and second that no one
was allowed inside the castle without a
permisso, to be obtained at the govern
ment office in the city. We sat down
by the road to rest with nothing to look at
but high stone wall. We then skirted
the castle and on the side facing the sea
found more stone walls and the entrances
to half dozen villas, but no view. Per-
severance is the watch word of west
ern American, and as my friend halls
from Halena and l from Wichita, you
can readily understand that we did not
climb that stiff hill to look at stone
wall, so we knocked at the gate OF the
were shown into the drawing room and
French. We bowed, smiled and asked
her if she spoke English. NO" SAID
she, "but wait moment" ard disap-
and said: ''Well, gentlemen, what can
l do for you?" We explained our pre-
dicament and requested the favor of
he, II 4
he, land if you will wait one moment /
will get the key and go with you"
SO he took us down into his
house built on the very edge of the
cliff. The day was bright and warm,
with just enough air stirring to make a
perfect day, and as we looked down
upon the charming scene we seemed as
if in fairy land. To our right stretched
the beautiful shore Of the Italian
riviera, with ito splendid villas nesting
among the subtropical trees. At our
feet and stretching up the hills and far
away to the left along the curve OF the
bay was the picturesque city of Naples.
Far out (twenty niles yet seeming very
near, rose the island of Capri; and to
make the picture, if possible, more com.
plete way TO the left beyond the city, |
stood historic Nesuvius. The smoke |
issued very slowly from the crater, by |
fits and starts and hung like a great, |
dark cloud above the mountain. Our |
new found friend was an interesting |
talker and when | congratulated him on !
his good English, he said. Yes, | spent |
ten years of my life in Galveston, and
in fact am a citizen of Texas. About one |
year ago | returned 10 France, married |
and as my wife did not care to try
Texas life we came to Naples and took |
this villa. But you Know" continued |
he, 81 am getting a bit tired of this idle |
sort of All existence, and long TO get |
back to work. Yes, this view is very
lovely but then. you know. | can't sit !
here day after day and look at the view. |
like the southwest and long to get back !
among those pushing and go ahead peo-
pie. But Of course, If my wife wont let |
me 60, what can | do? We svmpathlz- |
ed with him and urged him to make a |
stand for liberty, which he promised To
do.
Speaking OF the financial condition of |
Italy, he said: The bank notes III gen
eral circulation are at big discount be- !
cause the treasury officer had put into |
circulation about twice as much money |
as was authorized by the government. |
The official was imprisoned but the gov
eminent was responsible and had to |
honor the notes. We thanked our
Texas friend for his kindness and re-
turned to the city after cordially invit-
ING him TO come TO Wichita on his next
visitto the United States.
We spent the next few DAYS roaming
-
Naples We never tired OF these excur-
sions, as each house was picture. each /
ruin had lis history, and each street, its
own peculiar smell. The climate is so
mild and even that the greater part of
Neapoliton's life is spent in the streets.
Seated at a small table outside the cafe
he eats, drinks, smokes and leads life
of peace and contentmenL the streets
are narrow ami the tall houses afford j
ample protection from the fierce heat
OF the sun. OF course the men work,
they must work, but it is in l;Stless.
lazy, perfunctory manner. The chief
pleasure Of the small boy is pitching
pennies.
Naples is notorious for her beggarS
They meet YOU at every turn and haunt
your footsteps all day long. ] once
read, somewhere, that the only way to
get rid of them was 10 make 4 gesture
OF go way. with the forefnger pointing
downward. tried this nIaneuver sew
eral times, but /, did not seem 10 work /
well. Even the chldrep are early taught /
or initiate their elders in this degrading
occupation. II Is very amusing 10 come
upon lot of merry. ronp.ng children,
who. the moment they spy you, put or 4
Z, most GolefUl look aud whine OUT 4 plea
for pennies.