Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-04-10
MAR NAPLES CHARMS.
Customs Of Inhabitants That Detract
From Enjoyment of Tourists.

/ Popuiaiiou VI ppVsVuO, anu, III
cluding dozen or more suburban
towns, more than 100000 The terri
tory surrounding the Gulf of Naples
! is one of the most densely populated
in the world and the birth rate and
death rate are both higher than in
any other European city. The ac-
cumulation of children are among the
lazzaroni is astonishing and the poor
er people are and the less able to take
seems to be. The natural growth of
the population is Offset by high
death rate, particularly among child
| rem. which is due to insufficient and
| improper diet. to the filth and squalor
in which they live, to atmospheric
conditions that promotes the growth
of germs of disease and to disregard
of all sanitary laws.
The natural beauties of Naples are
described, for they have been the
theme of poets and painters from the
/ beginning of civilization. The most
ancient written literature concerns
the glory of the sunsets, the lovelness
of the bay and the sublime scenery
that surrounds it, Naples is spattered
over three or four hills and the streets
run in terraces one above the other
like streets in an amphitheater, with
two or three bold promontories which
poke their heads above the rest and
are crowned with hoary castles, Along
the edge of the bay for several miles
is driveway which many people con
slider unsurpassed both for the beau
ties of nature and the picturesqueness
of the artificial surroundings. You
can drive to Sorrento in one direction
and almost any distance in the other,
and the towns are so closely situated
that a stranger never knows when he
is passing from one into another Be
hind Naples is great plain known as
the Campagna, which. is inclosed in
a semi-circle of mountains. and We
suvius, the volcano, occupies the most
conspicuous position, upon the eX-
treme right flank
Naples would be much more agree
able as a place of resort if the inhabi
tants were not such swindlers. An
1T would not do to assert that
everybody in Naples is dishonest. but
the exceptions are very few. Even
foreigners fall into the habit after
they have been here a little while and
apologize for it; sometimes by saying
that they are compelled to adopt the
customs of the country and do as the
Neapolitans" do.
Anybody who has had experience
with Neapolitan hotelkeepers and mer
chants will accept this statement
without question. In every part of
Italy it is customary to demand con
siderably more than will ultimately
be accepted, and knowledge of this
custom is very soon acquired. 1t Is
perhaps due quite as much to natur-
al and keen pleasure in trading as to
desire to cheat the customer. But
| it is very annoying, and unless a per-
son knows exactly the value of the ar
| ticle he desires he is at the mercy of
the merchant. Everytraveler is re-
garded by all classes without eXcep-
ton, particularly the hotel-keepers
and the merchants. as their natural
and Legitimate prey, and success in
swindling is regarded as proof of SUI
perior sagacity The suidebooks ad-
ish people that those who compla-
Gently submit to extortion are less re-
spected than those who resist" and
undoubtedly that is true, because If
you fire a few savage CALCULATIONS In
any language at a hackman who de-
mands more than his proper fare he is
pretty apt to retire in good order.
Even the officials, who come directly
in contact with the everyday life of
the public, are always under suspicion.
At Christmas time people do not re-
ceive half the gifts that are sent
through the mails, and If you take a
| package to the postotfice to be weigh
ed and stamped and registered the
clerk in charge will invariably de
mand more than the amount required
and put the difference in his pocket
He looks at you sharply, and then
having estimated the degree OF youi
credulity acts accordingly. Bae
decker's guidebook says: THE trav
eler is recommended to ascertain the
weight of his luggage if possible be
fore going to the station, in order tC
guard against imposition" which
means that the baggaage master will
rob you by asking more than is due
for extra luggage. "ln crossing the
frontier" continues Baedeker, travel
ers should travel in the same train as
their luggage and superintend the
hpp in of in
Articles of great value should not bt
intrusted to the safe keeping Of an,
trunk or portmanteau, however stroni
and secure it may SEEM" This meani
that the custom-house inspectors ant
porters will snatch articles from
trunks they are examining, If they car
do so without detection. IF possible,
said Baedeker, luggage should neve
be sent by goods train, except through
the medium of trustworthy agent,
which means that the freight servic,
upon the railways cannot be depended
} upon, and to prove it the newspaper
are continually printing paragraph
! about peopele who have been robbe'
and complaints about the loss of va
uables for which there is no remedy.
met a Chicago man the other da
: who told of friend who had dia
= mond min worth a thousand dollars eN