The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-16
IMPRESSIONS OF EUROPE
X r.. S. ROBERTSON SPEAKS EN-
TERTAININGLY OF HER TRIP.
Napoleon and the Campanile-A Re-
viving ~ItaIy-The Pope and n
Polish Pilgrimage.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
FORT WAYNE, Ind, Aug. B.-Mrs. r.
S. Robertson. the art critic, lecturer and
traveller, has just arrived home from a
three months trip in Europe, whittier she
escorted a party of eight ladies through
Italy. France, Switzerland and England.
The ladies were Mrs. Edward White and
Miss Florence B. Barrett. of Fort Wayne;
Miss Grace Johnson. of Muncie; the Misses
Alice and Anna Roberts, of Danville, H.;
Mrs. Herman Human. jr.. of Terre Haute,
and Miss Winifred Knight and Miss Louise
Harrison. of st. Louis. Mrs. Robertson
said to-day that her party visited Venice
and viewed the Campanile of st. Marks
only a few days before it fell.
I'VE saw no evidence of danger and no
one seemed to have any warning at ALL
she said to the Journal. we did not learn
an explanation Of the cause Of the collapse
while we were abroad. and / know of no
better explanation than that given by an
architect friend of Colonel Robertson. 1t is
a matter of history that Napoleon 1 rode
his horse up the stairway OF the Campanile
and that in order TO do so he had several
timbers in the upper construction removed.
This architect says 1t is altogether PROBABLE
that the slow weakening of a century has
at last done its work. GravitatiOn tugged
at the Weakene point until the tower
TOPPED over. The foundation was discovered
TO be uninjured in any way and perhaps
there is no better explanation of the &C
cident than the Napoleon incident-that i'm
perlal arouse
The ladies witnessed the benediction of
a Polish pilgrimage by Pope Leo. III
any one believes the Pope is dying, said
Mrs. Robertson, "he would change his
mind had he seen the Pope on that day.
Owing to Mrs. Hulman having infuen-
tlal letters Of Introduction we obtained
seats in the chapel where the beRediction
was given. The approach of the Pope
was made known first to us by the distant
murmur of the vast crowd. The sound
sWelled as the bearers OF the papal chair
drew nearer, and when the procession
came In view the noise was like the roar
of the ocean. The people were in a wilc
state OF enthusiasm, crying 'Nlve IL Papa
and 'Nive IL pap Re-, the last IN recog-
milton of his former temporal power. The
service lasted for several hours, and the
Pope at its conclusion seemed as strong
as at the beginning. He is almost trans
parently pale. but his eye was as bright
as 1t ever was. His magnetic presence
made the service more like a political con-
vention than an occasion OF Worship
Mrs. Robertson said IL was a reViving
Italy that she encountered on this trip.
Having made seven trips prior TO this she
had always been able 10 secure a large
premium IN the exchange Of American
for Italian money, but this time the situa-
ton was hanged. Italy she said, has
gained so much in credit by the reduction
of her national debt that exchange at this
time was very small. A banker at Pisa
told me that great improvement in bust,
ness was being felt all over the kingdom
Think of it From my window in a hote
at Pisa, a city that has been industrially
dead for centuries, l counted nine new
smokestacks."
While walking in Hyde Park, London
one morning Mrs. Robertson and her paTty
saw two gentlemen OF distinguished APP
pearance passing them. Meeting a police
man, they asked who the men were: The
are Lord Kitchener and Lord Rosebery.'
was the reply. They walk in the parl
every mornig about this time"
Il wanted 70 see Lord Kitchener NOR,
than any other man in Europe" said Mrs
Robertson.