The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1901-08-31
OmIctal journal Of the Parish Of West Fe,;ciar.
d. fKANTu14 WEST HLICM PARISH La SATURDAY AnGUN um
ABOUT ITALIAN PEOPLE,
Noted by Professor F. S. Luther After
Three Months in Italy,

Noted by Professor F. S. Luther Ate
Three Months in Italy.
! One can find districts in the larg,
cities where strangers are uncommon
and can sometimes visit little coun
TRY villages where the natural life
of the people has not been greatly
disturbed by the apparition with 6
guide-book. 1t is such experiences
all too new AMI fragmentary, t.
which / owe a new and most sincere
admiration for the Italian people
They are so courteous, so honest, Sc
efficient in their crude haniicrafts
that one earnestly wishes them more
prosperity than seems likely to come
to them. Where the tourists go, beg.
ging and petty fraud are greatly In
evidence. Move ever so little out of
the main stream c. foreign travel and
you md polite and dependable ma.
1--WE population. Undoubtedly these
people are sinners most of them, like
other Christians; but one need not
be constantly on the lookout for the
lead Ira nor be afraid to smile upon
a child lest the mother demand a
fee.
| think we often forget that Italy
Is one of the youngest of the nations;
that in only 40 years she has had to
do almost all those things whose ac-
complishment marks the material
separation of present civilization
from that of the middle ages. The
work that has been done is simply
enormous. Cities have been torn
down and rebuilt, splendid roads have
been constructed, railways and cleo
trio tram lines are reaching in every
direction. Except in unhappy Naples
these things seem to have been done
by the Italians themselves. The towns
are well lighted and generally are fur
nlshed with an adequate supply Of
excellent water. Great progress has
been made in the hygienic drainage
of the principal cities. Travelling is
easy and pleasant wherever | have
been, though certainly the trains are
slow. This, however, helps reconcile
one to the rather high price Of tickets
and to the charge for carrying bag
gage. The traveller remains so long
On the train that he can justly regard
4 part Of the expense as house rent.
Many stories are in circulation about
he opening and robbing of trunks
n the baggage cars, but l have not
been able to fix a definite instance,
,hough | have tried. l dare say such
l thing may have happened, but 1
should regard trunk as being quite
IS safe in an Italian car or station as
anywhere else out of sight. Possibly
he stories are circulated by the tour
st agencies that are quite ready, for
consideration, ito insure the safe
delivery of luggage"
Evidently these internal improve
nents thus far mentioned were posi- |
lie only by reason of the amazing
heapness of labor. Twenty cents a
lay is the usual wages of the I'm
killed workman. Think of it! Yet |
and this is the darkest side of the
ituation-in spite of these starvation
wages, in spite of the tremendous
axing of all property and incomes,
he natural poverty Of the country is
UGH that the public works are at
tandstill. No more can be paid for
t present. At the same time there
re strikes in most of the' cities Tin
luding Pompeii, which certainly
GEMS old enough), and there has
cen serious trouble in Genoa and
lilan. In the present phase of indus
rial competition, what is a nation to
o that has no coal or iron and which
annot live on it's own products? Well,
can take boarders. This is what
tally is doing. But it is not good for a
eople to be mainly dependent on
1urists.
In one way and another l have been
BILE to see a good deal Of the Italian
oldier, and have come to entertain
great respect for him. AS a pri-
ate, he is of just the right size for
and he is as strong as iron.
he officers, too, are exceptionally
ne-looking fellows. Perhaps there is
mong them the usual proportion of
audy, tin soldiers, but for the most
art they are quiet, self-poised men,
ith the keen, intellectual look of
ne who knows how;-the face of the
)nfident engineer at whose instance
lings begin to happen. These gen.
emen will pretty surely be heard
ON if Italy ever comes to blows with
er neighbors, thing of which, for
lnately, there seems to no immediate
'obability.-From a Letter from the
artford Courant.
A Literary Revelation.