The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-04-10

b. Platt-ED
NAPLES. ITALY, March 10. 1896.
We have been here nearly week and
have seen all the sights.
The museum here is very interesting, be-
ing full of relics from Pompeii-but that is
about the only thing of interest in the town.
We drove one day to Pompeii, and saw
them at work excavating there. They had
just discovered new frescOe on the wall
OF one of the houses. From the amOJnt of
frescOe in the museum all the houses must
have been decorated In that way. The trip
was very interesting. but the poverty and
filth of the people is fearful. We cannot go
out In the street anywhere, without being
besieged by beggars; men, women, boys,
babies, and even priests and nuns, all beg.
do not believe that in the worst part of the
city of New York, or any other great city,
there would be found such filth and wretch
edness as we have seen here. The view
from the steamer, of the bay and mountains
and city, is very lovely. We see soldiers
everywhere preparing to go to the war in
Africa. Poor fellows-going for hopeless
cause.
We have been, by steamer, to the island
of Capri and into the beautiful Blue Grotto,
stopping at Sorrento. 1t is wonderful what
these people will do to earn money. While
waiting for the steamer to start for Capri,
two men jumped into the water from little
boat and swan about, diving for pennies
throw at them. 1t was early morning and
the water must have been like Ice, but they
swan about till we started and they do that
every day.
Yesterday, to crown all, we assembled
Vesuylus. Four months ago the carriage
road which leads up to the station OF the Flu
nicolare railroad was destroyed by lava,
so we could not drive up more than half
way. The Misses Orr are with us you know,
so we all went together in large carriage,
and then each took horse or mule or
donkey, and a man to lead each one up over
the rough lava beds, for hard climb of
over an hour to the Funicolare road.
wish you could have seen us, Lester-boy,
seated. in sort of box, strapped in safely
on mule, led the way as happy as king;
| Beach next, astride grey horse, the rest
of us following single file, Let. (Mr PlatD
bringing up the rear on a sOrrel mare, which
we chrlstened THE Old Horse-hair Trunk, "
because, as l said, it only needed to be
| trimmed up with brass tacks, to look like
the old trunk we used to have. My donkey
was named Macaroni. We got up at last,
lame and halt. After leaving the Funi-
colera, baby and 1 and Miss e. Orr took
Sedan chairs and were carried, while the
rest walked up to the Crater. The air was
full of sulphur, and the rocks yellow with
it; but we were i'm a cloud and could not
see much. The old crater is entirely smoth-
cred, filled in, and new one is forming
We could hear the roar of the inner fire,
and the smoke was hot. picked up some
pieces of hot ashes and lava. But it was not
not to have seen more of a crater. 1t was a
very hard trip and am tired and sore to-
day from the two hours or more in the sad
die. The miles of black, ugly lava, twisted
desolation, never to be seen elsewhere (un-
less it is at the valcano in the Sandwich
Islands) and yet all up the mountains, as
far as vegetation extends there are houses
I mn hnx 10
can live there. A II along the road we were
accosted by beggars or musicians, who
would begin to play or sing, or sometimes
whistle to get few pennies. We have to
go with plenty of coppers everywhere here.
The children enjoyed the trip. Lester-boy
nearly went to sleep on his donkey on the
way down, but kept awake bravely till we
got into the carriages. l think, without
doubt, he is the smallest child ever taken up
old "Suvius," as he calls it.. He asked his
papa if we were going to see an 'incorrup-
ton" (eruption.)
Tomorrow we go back to Rome and then
on to Florence the next day, if we are not
too tired. The weather here is bright and
warm, and we enjoy being near the sea.
We all feel better than we did on the
Rivera; but travelling in Italy is not pleas
ant; the cars are dirty and the stations also.
The officials, as rule, are more polite than
the French Our visit to this part of Italy
is enough for me. hope the northern
part will be cleaner We shall enjoy being
in Venice in the spring, and the Italian
lakes too, will be lovely. We plan to spend
the summer in England, Scotland and
Wales. Then if we should decide to stay
over another winter to go to Egypt and the
Holy Land and Greece. But we may de-
eide to go home in the fall.
We are all very well and the boys splen-
did travellers. They are happy every where
we go. Beach has his bird which he caught
in Geneva; and enjoys taking 1t about. So
we are great party-two boys and bird
the most interesting part of it.
Lucy Ii. PLATT.