The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-04-05

commencement of the Christian era and 1t has been for centuries the focus of learning and highly cultivated art
 There Is an increase profusion of art treasure here, which together with de- lightful suburbs, and the fact that mighty influences have emanated from this city affecting the history of all Eu- rope, renders Florence one of the most interesting centers in Europe. Its pop ulation is about one hundred and sev- enty thousand and at one time 1t was
 the capital city of Italy, There are
 very many churches filled with mex haustiblo treasures; many palaces which, with their frowning Tuscan walls, seem more like mighty fortresses than houses of the nobles. Many tow CTS stretching their symmetrical pro portions high in air, and no less than six historic bridges spanning the Arno which divides the city into two une- qual parts.
 The streets of Florence were paved as long ago as 1250, and I was astonished to see the solldity of the paving blocks, some of these requiring the united en- ergy of two men to raise them into po- sition.
 Some of these paved streets I think surpass anything of the kind I have ever seen. Florence Is clean city, which in Italy means a great deal, and the supply of fresh water Is inexhausti- ble and of excellent quality. The sub urbs are delightful and the views are of inaffable loveliness. The Appenines, and Fiesole with it's surroundings gar dens and the more distant peaks of blue mountain ranges make a scene of in- comparable loveliness: add to this the charming effect of the the blue vault above and the gliding of every object by the rays of the sun. Let us cross the "Ponte dalla Carra1a" built in 121S and pay our first visit to the "Palazzo Vecchio." This is a peculiarly Tuscan structure of great strength and solidity, erected about 1900; it has a castellated tower 30S feet high This is the most beautiful tower in Italy and perhaps it has no equal in the world The cele- brated statue of David by M Angelo formerly stood at the entrance of this palace in fact David guarded the doors from 15O4 to 1873 when it was placed under the cover in the academy. Right in front of the palace is the Piazza della Signoria,'' a great center of busi ness and general activity. Near the center of this piazza the great Savan- arola was. for no good reason, shame fully burned to death in 149S. Florence burned him and afterwards deified him, the great preacher whose voice thundered daily in the great Duomo and San Marco, the martyr who prayed when Florence revelled, who sealed his faith with his life's blood and shed 1t willingly for his dear city of Florence. Florence not only burned Savanarola, but banished Dante and drove him into exile to die at Ravenna, and then built a grand tomb to his memory in the Church of Santa Croce. The interior of the palace is quite interesting; there are many halls and immense apartments filled with ancient frescoes, and d won- derful array of works of art Outside of the palace are many bronze statues an immense fountain with Neptune and Tritoris and a fine equestrian statue in bronze of Cosimo I. These have been set up for more than three hundred years and are highly praised by all who behold them. On one side of the Piazza is the "Loggia dei Lanzl," sort of open vaulted hall; this was built in 1376 and so called from the fact that the German Iancers were posted here as guards by Cosimo I. The marble statutes in the Loggia are deserving of special atten- tion. The Rape of the Sabines," by Giovanni Bologna, was executed in 15SS. The Rape of Polyexena," Judith and Holopernes," by Donatello, Ajax bear ing off the body of Achilles" which was brought from Rome in 1870, and the fine in bronze by Benveunto Cellini, representing "Perseus with head of Medusa," are among a few of the fine works to be seen here, Other statues and two marble lions on the steps render the Logia a popular loung ing place, and many resort here to read up the history of Florence surrounded with the relics of past generations. The portico of the Uffizzi, which is over two hundred and fifty feet long and fif ty feet wide, is lined with inches on either side and they contain an array of most distinguished Tuscans.
 I know of no city in the world which can boast of such an assembly of great men whose names are known in every land. I will repeat few of the thirty or more immortal Tuscans whose mar ble statues are erected in this spot
 Cosimo the elder Lorenzo the Mag those two celebrated members of the Medicf family. I add to these Orcagua, Giotti, Donatello, Alberti, Le- 1nardi da Vinci, Galllleo, M. Angelo Dante, Boccaccio, Machianelli, Ameri- io Vespucci What city would not be proud of such glorious names. | the portico we enter wide loor, and ascending one hundred and | .wenty-six steps (tourists in Europe be- come famous climbers climbed no less han eight hundred one morning in | Rome), we come to the celebrated Ufflz- l li gallery; this gallery originated with | he Medici collections, and as it has been constantly added to, 1t has become | )ne of the choicest collections in. the | world. It consists of 8 vast series of | 'ooms and large halls completely filled | with statues in marble and bronze and | magnificent paintings. The heart or nucleus of the collection is, to be found l n the room called the Tribuna, which | an unparalleled collection of | Here IS placed the Ve- rus de Medici; this is very ancient ,iece of Greek sculpture by Cleomenes, on of Apollodoro the Athenian. It