Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-09-18

for herself the triumphs of Scipio and
great Pompey. We heard the voice of
Antony in burning words as when he
spoke above the body of dead Caesar.
But beyond all other ruins. mighty and
majestic. stands the Coliseum. Who so
indifferent as to behold it without a mois-
tened eye and quicker beating of the
hearth Those walls have seen the GEN.
turtles come and go and still they stand;
the hand of time lies heavy on them, yet
even,in ruin they mean-ROme!
We awoke one morning to find our
selves confronted by the questiOn-For
the sake of visiting Pompeii will you
travel from s A. M. to 6 p. M. save for
the three hours in which to walk through
that long buried city? What power the
early morning hours possess to damp ar
dor and Quench enthusiasm. We had al
ways supposed We lOnged for Pompeii
with an unquenchable longing. but when
the visit meant loss of morning nap,
Pompeii was to us as to its unfortunate
inhabitants but dust and ashes. wen
bitterly regret 1t If We don't Co." was the
spur with which we urged each other on,
and in a few hours. the smoking noun
tain came in view. and the lava strewn
country told us where we were. How
real it made the city seem, to walk those
narrow streets and see the rut-worn
stones where chariots passed before the
birth of Christ. THE new house." I'M
earthed not more than eighteen months
ago. surpassed all IN preservation and at
Effectiveness. Thes Atrium with the very
fountains and figures standing as the
owner placed them. looked as it did two
thousand years ago. The brilliant red
of the walls. the still fresh frescoes. made
it difficult to realize that they had been
sealed from sun and air for centuries.
VeSuviuS was ON best behavior. though
occa siOnal sullen puffs. of smoke told us
of smOldering wrath. Our plans were
made for the ascent. but when we found
that meant to forego Capri and Sorren-
to the latter places conquered.
We have had many red letter days
throughout our trip, but that day when
We sailed upon the Bay of Naples was a
heavenly one, not only for enjoyment but
as making known to us the meaning of
celestial hue The blue depths of sky
We're mirrored in the same bright color,
of the water that cleaned about our ship,
many sister peaks, then Naples to which
our distance lent not only enchantment
but much needed and appreciated
sweetness-while music from guitar and
mandolin with singing voices added the
one charm desired. Some fellow passen-
gers amused themselves by dropping
coins into the water, for which the ma
tives would quickly dive; all at once,
shrieks and Italian cries made the at
mosphere a deeper blue. Rushing to the
side of the ship we saw a boy of about
eighteen grasp a knife and make furi-
GUS lunge at his companion who, he
thought, had deprived him of an eighth
of cent! The man barely saved himself
by jumping overheard. Then oars were
pitched right and left, children yelled and
screamed and pandemonium reigned un-
I'll we steamed away. In thinking back,
We find we've pictured so many perfect
days 1t may be thought that we are tell
ing fairy tales, but we have witnesses to
prove that our captain told us. we had
the one day Of the year for visiting the
Blue Grotto. Yes" he added 'it is
the very finest; again and again I've
brought my ship here loaded with passen-
gers and been obliged to carry them back
without making the entrance, the waters
were SO turbulent; and often tourists re-
main in Capri for weeks and leave with
out being able to gain the 1onged-for
sight" While he was speaking, small
each one allowed by law to carry only
two. The entrance to this enchanted
cavern is SO low that we were obliged to
lie at full length in the boat. and we
could well understand the difficulties. IL
not impossibilities. of entering at high
tide. No one has the faintest compre-
hension of the color-blue-who has not
seen the exquisite translucent hue that
glistens there. The rover dipped his oar
and million sparkling sprays of brilliant
blue Quivered around us. TT Is a silvery
blue. we cried, gazing down into clear
depths of hitherto undreamed of blue.
We looked far off into the darkness. and
exclaimed 1T is an icy. glacial bluev'
Above. the rocky roof was blue with
tinge of heaven, the only things that were
not blue were our exultant hearts
NOW that we are ourselves In Italy,
Claude MelnOtte's famous lOwery sem
fences and impassiOned words seem nat
urai speech, and we are tempted to say