The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-04-27
oeRs. DOWNS TALK ON GENOA

The friends who gathered at the home of Mrs. W. T. Chandler on Thursday af- kernoon to hear her friend, Mrs. P. T. Downs, talk on Genoa and other points In Italy, enjoyed a rare treat. Mrs. Downs's delivery is most pleasing and her subject from beginning to end was handled in a thoroughly interesting man. ner.
 Mrs. Downs spoke principally of Genoa hnd said in part:
 T shall speak to you about Genoa for Ehe reason that less seems to be known by pur tourists about this city than any other city in Italy. The reason for this is that Genoa is the commercial seaport ef ataly-in fact, the seagate for the com merciaI interests of Southern Europe. Consequently, they advertise less for the benefit of tourists than do the other cities of Italy. yet her art treasures are innu- merable.
 ''On the morning of the thirteenth day after leaving New York. we entered the Bay of Naples-that bay immortalized in song and story. What a pity that the poets who wrote of the Bay of Naples never looked through our Golden Gate! Surely, there they could have found a subject equally worthy of their themes! "A strange feeling comes over one when nearing the shores of Italy which has Furnished us so many illustrious men that country considered the fountain head of Knowledge, where the very springs of art bubbled forth. where the olive and fhe cypress grew side by side, as If to memorialize how near to each other are joy and sorrow. life and wealth. From the bay. Naples appears to nestle right at the base of Mt Vesuvius. Not so, for it is nearly ten miles to the foot of the mountain.
 "The morning of the fourteenth day we entered the harbor of Genoa. To the left Nc fhof af,6 nth ,i irp1 said to use 100 gallons of oil every night. serving as a beacon, throwing rays of light over twenty miles. Just back of this Lanterna is the grave of man to whomf every American owes debt of Eratitude-a man who travelled and studied with the idea of instructing him. self and benefiting mankind What an enviable road to distinction--a road found ed on the blessings conferred upon ones fellow man. Truly, the glory of such distinction Is thoroughly independent of vulgar tastes and caprices. This grave is the last resting place of James Louis Massey Smithson. who died in Genoa J June, aS26 He left his entire fortune to a male relative in England with the stipulation should the latter die without heirs. his entire fortune should be given to found an institution in America, for the dissem- tnation of scientific knowledge among men. Today his monument is our Smith,
 
 Almost opposite this Lanterna is a min hture man-of-war. Strains of martial music come to we were being towed 10 the pier. 1 afterward visited this ship twice. The ship is in charge of an Ital- Ian philanthropist, Professor Corvette. He has had a private select school for boys in Genoa for years. He has devot- ed his private means to the good work of training boys for sea-faring life. On this ship only illegitimate children taken and children of criminals. It took Professor Corvette some years to get the Government interested in his worthy eff forts. King Humbert finally recognized the good Corvette was accomplishing, and now he receives annually an income for the support of this institution. The boys are taught to read and write-given a common school education, and taught the duties of d common sailor. Professor Corvette tells with great deal of pride that over 1.200 boys have been sent out as sailors to all parts of the world, and not one of them has been known to be- come criminal.
 '.The early history of Genoa seems very much shrouded in mystery. Today in one of the old palaces may be seen bronze tablet bearing the inscription 29o B. C. Various inscriptions of this sort may be seen upon the walls and domes of churches all of which in this age are considered more important for their bold ness than the historical accuracy of their statements.
 Tt must be said of Napoleon's short reign that 1t was connected with recog- milton of intellect and encouragement of philanthropy. He assisted Father As- soratti in the establishment of the fa- nous institution for the deaf mutes Sta tistics show that Italy has more deaf mutes according to population than any other country, and the majority are fe- males. If I were talking to our young men, I would omit this point, fearing they might feel inclined all to rush over to Italy in search of a wife. In one of the churches can be seen beautiful glass bowl. said to have been used at the Last Supper. Napoleon thought the dish was emerald-took it mp to Paris, but after chipping q piece found 1t was green glass; so he returned it to the Genoese. l never lost any time question: ing the genuineness of all the relics to be seen in Italy. For instance, when standing near the Santa Scala or Holy Stairs. said to have been brought from the Palace of Pontius Pilate. many were looking and commenting upon the fresh ness of the marble etc. Skepticism is not R-thirst for knowledge and is a very much heavier load to carry than is desire to improve ones mind, All the world believes that Jesus Christ was be- fore Pilate. Now. whether our Savior,