Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-01-10


tho nature here is so lovely, don't de-
spise America for you have many
blessings you don't realize until you
come to this land of inconvenience.
One can almost say all Italians are
robbers for they think it a fine art
to cheat others, particularly Americ-
ans, whom they think are all rich and
green. Everyone drinks wine here,
the doctors prescribe it for the
health but we cling to our American
principles and are still alive and
healthy We live in a house with an
Italian family, rent free, because they
like us for company. The father is
a retired colonel, the mother an inva-
lid and the son and daughter care for
her. They are of high rank and thru
them | am getting practical use of
the Italian language which is beauti-
full. From Paris we went thru Bel
GUM, to visit Uncle Arthur. A piano
manufactury was near Uncle Arthur's
and | had the pleasure of practicing
on fine Grand piano also an i'm
mense pipe organ with three manuals
besides the pedal key board.
We made our next stop at vi
emma, passing thru Cologne, seeing
the famous Cathedral there and many
other places. Venice we liked very
much, the most romantic of all with
the Rialto bridge, the narrow con-
tracted streets, some only a yard
and half wide, made one feel as
tho Shylock might come around some
corner sharpening his knife and that
Shakespeare must still be alive. 1t
is surely a dream-like city and the
last night we were there we went to
the Piazzo S. Marco to hear band
concert. Above us the full moon was
shining, to the east of the Piazzo Cor
square) was mosaics, south OF that
the Doge's Palace, all pink and white
marble. To the south of the square
another palace, where the king
stays when he visits Venice,
to the west big hotel with
brilliantly lighted shops on the
ground floor, and to the north an
other hotel, and most interest OF all
bell tower with an enormous bell on
top and two automatic iron figures OF
men-over life-size-with big mallets
in their hands, who strike the hours
alternately. | have made drawings OF
number of places where we have
been All of the railroad timetables
here are on a scale of "a hours, a
train is timed 10 or 81 o'clock.It seem
ed strange at first, but it is very nice,
as all confusion of a. m. and p. m. is
avoided. | do enjoy looking at the
many works of art of which you have
copies. Have seen the real Venus de
Milo, Venus de Medici and some of
Michael Angeles You know Prof.
Piersol is acting president of the col
lege now and he has lecture called
"Savonarola . and he wished the min
ute particulars of Savonarola's mon
astery, near Florence, called st. Mar
co. 1t is a grand old building where
that famous monk, Savonarola used
to live. He was burned alive in front
OF the Palazzo Verchio Gold palace)
and saw his crucifix, his hair shirt,
his rosar- desk, some handwriting,
and fragment of charred wood from
the death fire. 1t really gave me the
"shivers" to look at that bit of wood.
You ask me if have seen any of the
sights described by Victor Hugo.
Yes, indeed, for we were in Paris a
month.
Well, hoping to hear from you. as
often in the future as we have in the
past will close this lengthy letter.
Give our love to any inquiring friends.
Address my letters to my uncle, which
is the safest, think, as he forwards
them to us and we keep him informed
as to our whereabouts.
Lovingly your cousin
Albertina ScheiWe