Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1904-05-26

l have enjoyed Rome wondrously
The city is beautiful, well governe'
| and so far as one can observe, vel
behaved. But the chief objects o
interest are the ruins Of the forme
days-the days Of glory in Rome
The palace OF Nero, the baths, th'
forums, the temples, the bridges owe
the Tiber-how much they suggest tt
one even slightly acquainted will
Roman history.
Yesterday we were due to leave
Naples, after visit to the cathedral
the museum and the aquarium, at
o'clock, for Rome. 1t was nearly {
o'clock before our train left on thit
most enhancing trip Of 1866 miles
about as far as from Abilene to Kan.
sas City. l have heard Of close Guilt
walton and intensive farming, but
never saw it quite so intensely done
as upon the Neapolitau plains and up
the valleys toward the Apprentices.
Every inch, positively Of tillable soil.
is well titled. Nearly all trees are
trimmed high to protect the land
from excessive shade. The grape
vines are suspended from tree to tree
high above ground, for the same pur-
pose. Roads are narrow and uni
formly good, though seldom straight
for any great distance. Figs and
olives and stone fruits are plentiful.
Stately hills and mountains are near
by all the way. Many peaks are
crested with the ruins Oh ancient cas-
ties built for safety Of the occupant
and Of his dependents crouching at
the hillside below. Converts. and
monasteries, a somewhat later growth,
also abound. One Of thes9 is the
monastery Of St. Benedict, built upon
the spot rendered historic because
here the first OF all the monastic
orders was organized by St. Benedict
himself many hundreds Of years ago.
A school OF over 800 students is now
maintained here, a pretty high point
for students and teachers to climb to
higher than Mt. Dread at
Lawrence. We passed ancient Capua
also. Henry and Enos will remember
the "address Of Spartacus to his gladi'
Ators at Capua" which we used to re-
cite at school. Over these same
plains and valleys and through the
defles OF these mountains Hannibal
aLd'other wholesale manufacturers Of
history used to march their tremen.
ious armies. Tremendous, indeed,
in those days, but large armies have
been far more common in recent cen.
turies, particularly in our civil war.
But these European countries can't
get over the notion that their safety,
IS nations, lies in a big standing
army. Italian statesmen are much
concerned about it now. The sons OF
one Of the noblest patriots
ot Italy, are now agitating the idea Of
! militia for army service, same as
he United States and Canada are now
1oing. But | fear 1t will not be done.
Each country in Europe seems afraid
The others will take some advantage.
But this isn't telling you about Rome.
Darkness overlook US half way up.
d course the sunset among the noun
aims was glorious and we reveled in
he moonlight effects upon the noun
ain scenery, but we were all tired
md nearly all Of the eight persons
n our compartment-ior we have
he compartment cars in all these
asleep and 1t was mid
light when we reached our rooms In
he city.
Our trip, including the hotel as
ignments which were made in ad-
rance, is SO we'll planned that when
reached my room the mail was lying
Ipon my table.
Retiring so late, did not wake
arly, but should Of slept longer
till, but for the numberless bells on
me or another Of the $50 churchs in
be city. For this is Rome-modern
Iome-far larger and more glorious
han had supposed. The railway
tation suggests the one at St. Louis,
DR. there is an endless amount Of
ravel here. Germans, French, Swiss,
nplish and Americans and tourists