Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1904-05-27
LETTER FROM ROME.
Miss Mamie Davies Writes Interestingly Of the
External City" and Other Places,
To Her Grandmother, Mrs. A. J. Sober.


we saw on the trip, but there is so much yet to
tell, hardly know where to begin.
We left two weeks ago Wednesday, and that
night we spent in Lucerne, at magnificent
hotel he Schwe,E -rhot-of which I'm send.
ing You the pictures. The next morning, we
s,w bi, of the town before starting for Milan
among other things, the famous lion OF Lu-
rne cnt in great wall of stone; the OLD
houses decorated in the style of the Renais.
sance, and the funny little wooden bridges
ac o.s the river just inll OF little chapels to
III Virgin
When we left Lucerne, it was foggy and
clndy and even a bit cold, but immedia'el
we had passed through Saint Gothard tunnel,
there was blue sky and sunshine on the other
side.
By O'Clock we were IN Milan, where we
passed the night and the next day. sent you
views from there-several. Besides the cathe-
dral we saw the original OF "The Last Sup
per-" the statue of Leonardo De Venci and the
cemetery, which IS really very interesting.
Then came an all.night's ride in train, which
was painfully uncomfortable, it is needless to
say We had lunch in Rome, and then went
on to Naples, the most fascinating place I've
ever been in. I'd just love to live there, and
only hope 1 can some dap. 1t certainly is
gleat-the bay so blue and sparkling in the
sun; Vesuvius to one side, with the soumn of
smoke always coming up from the crater. And
such people!-happy as can be in the midst of
~, nd ;rt
day seems to be fete of some sort, and little
children, as if to give vent to the joy which
fairly overAows, ,iblow on little tin horns from
morning till night, and stick bright-colored
feathers in their hats or in their hair. And
that reminds me: the coiffures of the Neapoli-
tan women are true works of art, and no matter
how dirty and ragged the gown, the curls and
puffs and coils surmount it all and give sort
of dressed-up appearance to the poorest and
most i'll clad. Soldiers! Never saw so many
in all my life-and in the most dazzling and
striking uniforms imaginable. The streets are
full of them, and it would seem that the whole
of Italy was in service for the summer.
The Neapoltans never have anything to do.
Perhaps work is beneath their dignity; but at
any rate, it's far from being in their line, and
they spend their time in begging or singing or
playing There is always music, and the pop
ular songs OF Naples are quite renowned. Ev-
cry night, we had serenaders under our win
kows, and OH all the excursions we went, the
musicians never once failed to appear, and
"La Bella Margareita" seemed as essential as
essential as the very air and light
One day, we went to Pompeii, and had our
lunch on the steps OF the Theatre, with only
the lizards and one lone dog to take the place
of all the old Latins who had once filled the
tiers of seats. While we were there, bunch
of French people came into the building, and
two of the fellows Immediately began bull
fight down in the arena one stamping and
his coat about. 1t was bit off, historically,
I'm afraid. Unfortunately, or perhaps ought
to say fortunately, the old Pompeiians were un.
acquainted with the exciting sport, and nothing
but gladiators appeared in the ring to amuse
them by calmly cutting each other to pieces or
performing some other equally interesting
stunt. We spent the whole day in the ruins,
and I'm only sorry we couldn't have seen them
in the moonlight, for I'm sure there must be
sort of enchantment about them then; and
who knows hut what the old inhabitants come
back and stroll about the deserted dwellings or
meet in the little crooked streets to discuss the
progress of the world, or, more likely, the old
days before Vesuvius burst into action and
buried the city in its ashes and cinders?,
[Concluded on editorial page]