Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-12-13

dens on their heads, great goitres
hang from their necks. The men
beside being in the army drive for
tourists in summer, then carve wood
and make music boxes and watches in
the winter.
One day while on hillside | at
tempted to take picture Of a girl
with long basket strapped to her
back. She, Of course, did not under
stand me and shot down steep path
before ! could focus the kodak.
A whole days trip in coaches over
the famous Simplon Pass, on the road
Napoleon built across the Alps,
brought us from I'rieg to Damo o.
sofia,
IN ITALY
| do not wonder that the Italians
are romantic, for the blue sky, balmy
breezes, the blue lakes with noun
tains in the distance and the profuse
vegetation entranccd us. Our first
Sunday was spent in Stresa. A short
gondola ride on Lake Maggiore took
Us to lsola Bella, a small beautiful
island on which are palace and
hanging gardens, made as were
Nebuchadnezzar's. The Italians
dress gaily and are gaudy in all their
tastes, for the houses are painted a
terra Gotta and faescoed.
We visited Milan, Genoa, Pisa,
Rome, Naples, Florence, Venice and
Turin. Time forbids description Of
each for all abound in glorious works
Of painting, sculpture and architec-
ture. In Milan we walked over the
roof Of the white carrara marble
Cathedral, with its thousands Of pin
nacles and statues.
In Genoa the house and statue Of
Columbus were the. principal points
Of attraction.
In Pisa we assembled the Leaning
Tower, 1870 feet high and leaning 10
feet from the perpendicular, and some
became dizzy. The Cathedral con-
tains Galleo's lamp from which he
obtained the idea Of our pendulum.
The Baptistry has the finest echo in
the world.
In that oft described city Of Rome
we spent four days and n half, and
enjoyed six fine lectures at the ruins
by Dr. Forbes, an Englishman. New
as well as ancient Rome thrive with
interest. Aqueducts, sewers and
some buildings are in use that were
built in the year |, A. D. The age Of
buildings is told from style Of ma
sonry. Many stories were told Of pa
gan temples. The Pantheon has a
hole in the center of the roof to let
the dietics pass through. Many Of
the people are very ignorant and do
things Of which we never dreamed.
While in st. Peters we saw four wom-
en- come and kiss the almost worn
off toe Of the bronze statue Of St. |
Peter. Catholicism reigns supreme
and monks and priests in robes Of
different colors were constantly seen. /
Naples is the place to see sights Of |
a lifetime The English say "See
Naples and die" but We preferred to
leave and live. Such filth has per-
haps never existed elsewhere. All |
occupations are carried on in the
street. Macaroni is made and hung
up to dry in the dusty highways; DON
keys. goats, cows are driven along
the street and MIXED at the door
women sit beside their fruit stands
and comb their hair; children run
around almost nude; cripples and
monstrosties, begging, follow tourist
carriages and ilaunt their deiormities
before you; horses, cows and donkeys
are hitched together promiscuously
and bleed from the cruel way in which
they are harnessed. Add to this de-
graduation, filth and poverty, and you
have u picture most deplorable.
While in Naples we visited Pompeii
and Mt. Vesuyius, both extremely in
teresting While we were standing
at the verge of the crater our guide
took special delight in telling us that
"two Dutchmen were suilocated and
killed by falling into the crater last
summer
Venice Is novel, a charming city
with its network of canals, and bril-
liant colors. We saw James Gordon
BENEFITS yacht in harbor there, and
felt we had met a friend Feeding
the pigeons and a moonlight ride on
the grand canal following serenaders
ere two Of the things to do, and we
enjoyed both. There are $50 bridges
and many narrow streets. The Rialto
with its q stores sthe largest bridge.
Our hotel was formerly the palace of