Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-07-18

Florence with her treasures. Here we
saw Raphael's famous "Madonna., Of
which ] have seen many copies IN oil
and steel engraving.
Saw the fountain of Neptune. This
is an important place marking the spot
where Sayonarols suffered martyrdom.
Then to the town hall whose history
dates from the Thirteenth Century,
Were shown through the old apart.
ments of state Of that time very inter
esting. The upper floor contains many
works Of art in statuary and paintings.
Here we saw an elegant silk American
flag, q present from the u. s. A. 1 can
assure you it had two sincere admirers.
From this hall to the cathedral, . church
ofimmense size and grandeur, only three
larger in the world. The exterior is of
black and white and pink marble-very
striking but handsome. The interior is
very plain but impressive owing to It's
grand dimensions. Then to the baptis.
terry, another church, for the express
purpose of seeing the bronze doors, rep.
resenting ten scenes from scrlptural
history. They are q marvel. We have
picture of them and by the aid of q
glass we hope they can be seen very
we'll.
I must not forget the Uflizi gallery
containing one of the largest and
choicest collections of art in the world.
No description can 1 offer. Here are
the works of old as we'll as modern
painters. Also the academy of fine
arts. Here are many noted paintings
and statues. Here we were shown
Michael Angeles famous statue
"Davld", that good judges say is super
ior to all ancient or modern statues.
To us 1t appears wonderful creation
in marble. Went to the church and
monastery of San Marco. Here We
were shown the cell and study of Sa-
vonarola and model Of his desk and
air. Here were frescoes of Fra An
gelico and others, all of interest.
Drove to Cascine, park of Florence.
Most of the way is q shady drive, fine
for walking or driving. The boys and
girls were improving the morning with
their bicycles. This place is boon to
the city. We visited the Protestant
Cemetery where are buried Elizabeth
Barrett Browning. Theodore Parker
and w. s. Landon. The cemetery II
small and each grave covers the entire
lot, no space save for narrow walks.
\ Although much remains to be told OF
Florence yet must hasten on. June
End. we left Florence and were soon
on the way to Pisa. The scenery wal
delightful, more hills and far away
mountains, cultivated valleys and farm
homes, villages and villas. Larg,
white oxen used in place of horses OF
the farms. This looks peculiar, but O
the oxen will say they are the best OF
their kind that / ever saw. We reached
Pisa before noon and took q lunch
The city looks all dried up, and not one
fountain did we see. Coming from
Rome go recently, where fountainl
were so numerous and water so plenti
full, 1t seemed all the worse. At oil
events the city has little life and seem
ingly little business. We drove to thu
Piazza del Duomo to which every visl-
tor directs his steps The Cathedral
Leaning tower, Baptistery and the
Campo Santo, these four form grouI
of buildings without parallel. Tn,
Cathedral is constructed entirely Of
white marble ornamented by black anc
colored bands. The elegant house
lamp that hangs in the church first
gave Gallileo ty Its swaying the idea Of
the pendulum. The carved marble
pulpit is beautiful work Of art. The
ceilingis guided carved wood. The
affairs are enriched with silver and lapis
lasuli and there are rare and beautiful
pictures. There are also slxty-five an
tique columns, trophies of Pisan con-
quests. The architecture is Tuscan
Gothic. The Bsptistery is the finest il
the world. 1t is round, one hundred
feet IN diameter and one-hundred and
ninety feet high. of marble surrounded
with ancient columns. The front ii
very handsome. During our short stay
ia tiny babe received the rites Of baptism.
The leaning tower OF Campanile is on,
hundred and seventy-nine feet high
eight stories, surrounded by colonades
and contains seven bells. We climbed
to the top. 1893 steps. 1 know you viii
say "How foolishl" OF at least that II
what you ought to say. There is nc
mistake in saying there is grand view
from the top. the city below, the rive
, Arno, the Apennines and the Pisa1
mountains. The Campo santo is al
enclosure filled with scores of shipload
of sacred earth from Mt. Calvary and
consecrated to burial of great men
The walls which surround 1t hay,
beautiful windows openinp on the YER