Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-12
ON THE CONTINENT.
PROF. MITCHELL on THE TRIP OF
RICHMOND COLLEGE PARTY.
IMPRESSIONS here AND THERE.
Naples and vesuvius Form an In
terestfng study-What IL Thought
of the italian and German Govern
ments-A Safe Return Home.

ments-A Safe Return Home.
OF all the places In Europe visited b.
the Richmond College party. England an
Italy were the most interesting-Eng
land because of its relation to us, ant
Italy because of its relation to the world
Naples the last place in Italy visited By
the Richmonders. is the nastiest. noisiest
and naturally the most beautifully stu
ated city, perhaps, in the world. 1t was
Greek In foundation; It is Italian In popu'
lation, and somewhat Oriental in appear
| ance. The great attraction Of Naples is
not so much the city in itself as its prox-
| unity to so many other places Of historic
or picturesque Importance. OF these, the
first day OF our stay was spent at Capri,
an island twenty-five miles distant, on
the southern side of the bay. and quite
plainly visible from the city. The little
steamer which carried us thither danced
ON the waves like a cork, with results
to several members of the party which
need not be specifically described. Capri
is noted chiefly as the place OF retirement
chosen by the suspicious and sullen En-
peror Tiberius, who though the ruler or
the civilized world, withdrew from the
populous capital and spent his time on
this barren rock, amid his favorite wo-
men and host Of Chaldean magicians.
We climbed In the heat OF the Italian sun
to the lofty. precipitous cliff upon which
his villa was situated, whose ruins still
tell Of its magnifcence and luxury. 1t
would have been hard for the tyrant to
ha. al Cd r-nf ocv,,ft q M m u
lovely view, or a place in itself more
barren and desolate. Across the entrance
OF the bay, in full view, lies the lofty
island of Ischia, and near by the sterile
Procida, to which Juvenal refers in his
caustc satire. Naples and Racina, the
latter Of which is built upon the lava
covering the ancient Herculaneum, lie in
the semicircular bay at the foot OF the
towering form OF Vesuyius, from whose
summit issue sulphurous volumes Of
smoke. filling the heavens.
THE VISIT TO VESUVIUS.
Immediately to your right is the pro-
montory Of Misenum, where Pliny the
Elder happened to be in his seaside villa
at the time OF the great eruption OF the
volcano, In 70 A. D., when Pompeii and
Herculaneum were buried beneath the
lava and pumice stone thrown up with
such suddenness. 1t will be remembered
that in order to enrich the worlds
store of knowledge he at once ordered
his slaves to get ready the galley, in
which the great scientist was rowed
swiftly so near TO the volcano that he
lost his own life. In the now desoate
spot where the ruler under whom Jesus
Christ was crucihed as common
criminal in remote and Insignificant
province Of tho Roman empire stands
the cell, with small chapel adjoining. OF
hermit priest, recalling TO your mind |
the world supremacy Of that spiritual
kingdom by whose might the Roman |
empire was displaced. AS we descended |
from the ruins we witnessed at road |
side inn the typical national dance OF the |
Italians Graceful in every movement, |
interpreting variously the emotions, 1t !
was not SO offensive IN most OF It's |
features as some dances of a people |
commonly regarded as less sensuous than
the jewellers In that southern clime. |
The trip to Vesuvius occupied an entire |
day. Beset by beggars on every hand, |
whose importunateucss can be but feebly |
realized we drove from Naples In car |
rages with three or four horses along |
the shore of the bay, until we reached |
the foot OF the mountain, whence the |
slow ascent was made interesting by |
the vast fields OF lava over which We |
passed. and by the delightful view which |
was presented from every point
Some portions Of the path run across |
beds OF lava, that were still cooling |
At this point we we're met by donkeys |
which we gladly mounted, and by dint |
of the beating OF the drivers were borne
safely to the foot of the inclined rail-
road. where we got lunch. made pala-
some OF the young men was relieved in |
part by the fact that our friend, Mr..
Coke. had succeeded in getting some
snap shots OF the camera Of certain
professor in amusing position on the
tiniest OF 'donkeys. The incline
shot us up the lava-lined sides OF the
mountain 10 within a short walk OF the
crater itself. Here and there the sui
phur had settled in such quantities that
1t rendered the ground yellow. a gov
eminent guide attended each one to the
very brink OF the furnace, In whose
abysses could be heard the roar Of a
thunder-storms, struggling TO
escape from the Aeolian prison beneath
our feet. At times there was a hushed
sound. as II the forces were gathering
their might, for a successful onslaught;
then In a moment a dreadful rumbling, a
crash. and vast masses OF lava enwrap-
ned in volumes Of sulphurous smoke
would be shot high into the heavens.
us TO draw back hastily. under
the direction of the trustful guide. till
the forces had somewhat spent them
selves. We got a view Of the crater
from two or three positions. and some-
times when the smoke won clear lit
tie. we could SEQ the Quilted sides and
the fires flashing In the depths far be-
meath us. In standing here the strangest
sensations were awakened In you as you
thought Of the fate OF Pompeli on that
August day or, as you thought of THE
permanent possibilities of matter" to use
Stuart MiPs phrase, which these up
leavals evinced.
ITALY AND GERMANY.
Italy excltes your keenest interest not
because It's national life is OF more con-
sequence than that OF other countries,
Ike Germany, for instance, but because
Italy's tendencies are more clearly de-
ined, and therefore more easily grasped.
rhe national life in both countries is a
strong current; but In Germany IT Is like
he Gulf stream, whose limits are indis-
,ernible, whereas In Italy it is river
icdged in by visible banks. The Italians
re polite, quick-witted, compassionate.
md these are qualities which count FOR
much in working out their new destiny
8 nation. Sixty per cent. OF the
Italian immigrants to America last
ear were unable either to read or write.
he taxes are enormous. the govern
tent maintaining a strict monopoly OF