Mexico weekly ledger., 1902-02-20

Pristine simplicity continued longer
In Florence than in other Italian ci-
ties. Here art fiourished as nowhere
else, here literature thrived. Indeed,
the history OF art and literature, IS
far as Italy Is concerned, centers In
Florence. Dante, author OF the d.
vine comedy, which everybody prries
though few read; Boccaccio, whose
somewhat Outre Decameron isnot al
together ft for a Sunday school libra
~; Macchievelli, master Of the fine art
OF lying; Calico, who said the earth
moved around the sun and then took
1t back to save mis- neck; GiOtto, the
only man who ever drew a perfect cir
Gle at a single pencil-stroke, hence the
cathedral dome; Brumallischi, who
made an egg to stand on end before
Columbus did and D~onatello, superb
sculptor-these are Florentines, while
lnseparably associated with Its life are
Raphael, Botticelli, Leonardo de Vim
CT and Michael Angelo.
Even on the throne, princes in all
but the name, were the Medici, chief
among them Lorenzo the magnificent,
poet statesman, patron Of art, whose
burial, at his own request, was as SIM
pie as that Of a convict In the pawpaw
phatch OF the prison at Jefferson City,
and whose tomb Is marked by q single
r~ough-hewn slab.
Down to the very latest times Flor
ence has retained Its love for liberty
and literature, libeEty's twin-sister OF
blessing for the human race. For
only yesterday. as time runs In this
land OF long centuries, 1t was Florence,
at great risk, that came 70 the rescue
Of the struggling states OF Southern
Italy, and gave to Garibaldi the help
ne needs TO found the new Italian
Kingdom free from priestly rule.
WHERE sAvoSARoLA WON A eIoRI-
Gus DEATH.
We found that the chief charm In
Florence attaching to all that con
cerned Savonarola, that early anc
eloquent priest Of liberty. We visit
ed the streets where with Latin Tesla
ment in hand he walked. We sat In
his cell at the suppressed monastery Of
San Marco, nov : civic museum, from
which be went forth to preach, as thu
great martyr did, ''the gospel TO thu
poor, deliverance to the captatiyes, u
set at liberty them that are bruised
Here Is enshrined a rather indiifer
ent bronze bust Of the monk, here AR
autographs, bis crucifx and acopy o
an old portrait Of his execution. No
improperly Just across the marrow
street from the monastery is the frs
public library founded in Italy.
From here we went to the nationa
library, with its $50. 900 volumes, and
by special permission Of the austen
librarian, turned the pages OF the Ri
Bile owned By SayOnarola which bear
many marginal notes made by him
The gospel Of St John vas the mos
marked, while opposite the thirI
chapter OF St Luke was an entire Sci
mon In manuscript. A block ava.
stands the Oratory OF the MlsericOr
dia through the dingy portals Of whicl
still 90 10 and out the brothers OF tn
order with black cowles covering thei
heads with apertures only for tbei
eyes.
From the windows Of the nationa
library, where the Savonarola Bible
held with sacred care, we looked on
upon the Piazza della Slgnoria.a large
open square, surrounded by historic
edihceS. This square was the forum
Of the Republic Of Venice All th
popular tumults we're In this centra
space. on yonder amid the exclte'
plaudIts Of a tickle multitude Savons
rola was hurried for high treason anS
on this very spot unmarked by peni
tent people be was burned at tn
stake. Too late the populace foun'
they had slain their best friend AM
then they sought TO reestablish tn
ideas which be preached 80 powerful
by. Because be lived and died In fai
Florence away across the sea, mel
have larger freedom 70 think AM
speak and worship as they will 4
glorious death was that Of GirolamI
Savonarola, Dominican monk AM
martyr.
PICTURES or WHICH ALL THE woRLl
KNOWS.
There are miles Of pictures In Flor
ence. Simply 70 walk through the twl
greatest gallaries requires some day
time and considerable physica
strength for the pedestrian. We did
not undertake the task, we NV tn
most important and passed on. II
the Tribuna, . single small room II
the UNI gallery, are gathered an up
PARALLEL collection Of painting ans
sculpture. Medlci Venus is here. W,
were more interested In the so-callet
Grinder, a marble representation OF ;
Scythian Whetting his knife 10 ial
MarsyaS He could take the hide Of
as skillfully as any modern McCullagt
with a pencil. Raphaels "Madonn;
with the Child and the goldhnch,'
Titians "Venus Of Urbino," Durer'l
Alteration Of the hsgi," Ruben,
isabella Bzndt' and Michael An.
gelo's Holy Family are all In this
room with Others almost equally a
famous Sturdy little John, the Bap'
fist, looking meFrily at the Madonna
In Michael Angeles painting, Is a
masterpiece Of beauty. 10 otheI
rooms Of this gallery and the connect,
Cd one Of the Pitt Palace are pictures
Of fabulous value Here is no place
10 catalogue them. Indeed pictures
are common in Florence. They are
met In the sbopsindows, over the
doors, on the stairway landings In the
hotels Al the street corners, IN The