The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-10-11
"Hill Towns OF Italy" by Egcrton
r. Williams-It' is One of the
Most Readable Books of the
Season, Instructive as
Well as Enjoyable.
REBECCA OF SUNNY BROOK
a Good Story by tho Author of "The
Birds Christmas Carol 49, The Black
Chanter," by Ni1nmo Christie-"An
Apache Princess" by Con. Charles
Kng-"The Pine Grove House."
by Ruth Hall John Esten
Cookies Virginia" Lit
crary Notes of More
or Less Interest.

HILL TOWNS OF ITALY. BY Egerton
Il. Williams. Jr.. published by Hough-
ton. Mlfliin & Co., of Boston, For sale
In Richm ond by the Bell Book and Sta
tioncry Co. Price 80.
One Of the most charming Of the autumn
publications is that brought out under
the title given above. 1t Is the account
OF journey through central italy, the
birthplace of the Renaissance and a re-
gon ricn In stores of interest for the
students of art and history. but until
very lately not exploited by the pen or
the tourist. because its lack of modern
comforts caused 1t to be avoided by those
who otherwise would have written VOL
umes about it long ago.
Mr.. Williams possesses the power Of
making himself remarkably Interesting
In description. Ho looks upon his Italy
with. the eyes OF q lover and tells OF her
many charms with an enthusiasm that
communicates itself to his reader,
His book is beautifully illustrated from
photographs and into what the author
has TO say Of natural beauty, is inter-
woven all the legendary traditions, al
tine IassocI Nations f.hioh make the hill
country hattlemented castle and town. in
Italy unlike those In any other country
or period he has interviewer as we'll ali
the historical events which tho hands Of
Italian masters have transferred In their
passing to canvas. from the face Of which
they still look out to link tho present with
Italy's imperisha bio past.
Scattered here and there throughout
the pages OF the book are bits which spe-
cialy enchaine the eye and rvet the
attention. Such is tho picture drawn OF
the castle Of Bracciano In southern Etru-
ria, which says:
I'm tho inner courtyard Of the castle,
fronted on one side by a two.stored log
gia, on another by a quaint covered stair
way. I found the keeper who conducted
me through the interior. Opening upon
the old hall Of justice, with lofty wooden
ceiling and a semi-royal throne covered
with slken canopy, where the Orsini
sat for centuries to judge their depend
ents. l passed through a long series Of
81 mediaeval apartments which are still
used by the Odeschalchi. bedrooms llv-
,ng-rooms. fireplaces, recessed windows
with stone benches on each side OF the
recess, and furniture several centuries
old. All Of the beds were four posted
and deliberately though rudely carved in
bas-reliefs.
tMost interesting of all was the ancient
Kitchen AS we proceeded to this by dark
passages, which wound In and out, and
up and down, with light from an occa1
sional window dcep-set In six-foot wall
and strongly barred, I ceased to wonder
at Sir Walter Scott's so great desire to
visit this castle that he proceeded hither
before he had seen Rome. The remem-
brance Of his descriptions of medieval
chambers and corridors, dungeons and
battiements. In "Ivanhoe" and ''The
Talisman," Was brought viVidly back"
The reader will pause again at this bit
in relation to Spoleto: ACROSS the vale
of the Tessin lay spotleto, sloping with
brown roofs up to the cathedral tower far
above; the facades curved genetly In con.
centric lines; dome scared here and
there above the thing. Hemming 1t all
In, the ancient grey stone wall crept up
the hillside in broken steps. to the vast
crag of the castle on the left; that Won
derful old castle which the Romans
used two thousand years ago, where tho
dukes Of Spolcto roigned In State for
centuries, and the Papal vlceroys for
panoply and pomp Of power. what
glIstenIng OF shields and spears 1T has
seem!
"Lucret!a Borgla lived there for a year
before she went to Nepi could not help
thinking how sorry she must have been
to exchange this beautiful prospect for
the gloom Of that Etruscan town"
The chapter entitled From Lake
Thrasymene to San Quirico" contains
the following reference to the memora-
BILE defeat of the Romans by the Cartha-
glnans under Hannibal in June. B. G.
2l7
"Hamnius, the Roman consul, was
hurry!ng on without thought Of am
buscade. believing that Hannibal was
proceeding directly to Rome, Then the
main body OF the Carthagnians and