Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-09-23

with the fact that II IL the capital OF the
Italian government and the headquarters
Of the Roman Catholic church throughout
the world. I am told that Il Is behind
Genoa and Milan as q progressive city;
second, Notwithstanding the many churches
and multitudes Of employed priests and
other religions workers. Christian life Is
at low ebb and lacks what Jesus de-
clared the Father wanted-worship in the
spirit and In truth. There Is unlimited
form Of worship, but It lacks the kind en-
phasized by the Lord Himself.
left Rome for Florence July II at $50
a. m. The train was a fast express. II
ran up the valley OF the Tiber crossed
over into the valley OF the River Arno
and followed down that river a Yong dts
lance before we reached Florence. The
trip was through a good country where
much wheat, HAY and considerable ctrn
were raised and many vineyards The farm
ers were busy with their harvest and hay
ing. Florence has population of 10000
inhabitants. 1t is styled the Athens of
Italy. 1t has no marked ancient ruins,
but is noted for Its nne streets, public
squares, public and private buildings, it's
magnificent churches, second perhaps only
to Rome. It's picture galleries rank with
the first. and fits museums are of a high
order .of the churches the cathedral is
first with it's magnificent front, artistically
ornamented doors and an equally adorned
interior. Its baptistry, the first of it's
kind in the world, Is noted for many things,
but particularly for the bronze door Of
Ghiberti's facing the cathedral, which
Michael Angelo declared worthy of being
the gate of paradise. The Campanile of
the cathedral is a splendid structure and
very high. 1t can be assembled by over 100
steps. From it's top the best panoramic
view of the city can be secured. The
Santa Croce church is a grand structure
and may be styled the Florence Pantheon
or Westminster abbey. on account of the
grand store of monuments to the most
celebrated artists, scientists and men OF
letters.
The Uffizi picture gallery is the largest
and without. doubt the best. II Is con-
nected with the great Palace Patti on The
other side Of the Arno river by a long
corridor over the bridge, Ponte vecchio
This bridge, by the way, is quite novel
1t consists of three arches, and besides
the corridor just mentioned has two rows
Of goldsmith and jewelry shops, one row
on each side OF the bridge, all the way
across the river. The ancient and modern
gallery, besides many other fine specimens
OF art, contains the deservedly popular
colossal statue of David, sculptured by
Michael Angelo when quite a youth. II
stood at the entrance of the Palace Vec-
chic as far back as 1904, but was removed
to this gallery in 1878 to insure it's preserva-
ton. With all its exposure It requires the
guide book to tell you what part OF the
statue has been affected by the weather.
In the cells of the clolster OF San Marco
church, which were formerly occupied by
"a rota IN ha % ~
great friar's manuscripts and other OBJ
jects belonging to him, his portrait painted
by Fra. Bartolommeo and the crucihx
painted by Beato Angelica, that Savonarola
carried through the city, when calling the
people to his preaching. In the large
square or piazza in front of the palace
Vecchio is a bronze slab bearing the ef-
flgy of Savonarola and marking the spot
and time, May q. 1893, when Savonarola
and his two companions were hung and
their bodies burned.
The house where Dante was born is now
kept in good condition, with a number of
things that belonged to HIM In 1t is the
| bedroom in which the great poet was born
and can be entered by visitors I had the
pleasure of meeting many Americans in
Naples, Rome and Florence. Among these
were Dr. Richard of the Lutheran Theologi-
cal seminary at Gettysburg Pa, whom I
met in the Sixtine chapel Of the vatican
picture gallery in Rome, and Miss Eliza
beth Nilsson of the American committee of
Young women's Christian associations In
st. Marco church, Florence. Italy.
Reluctantly 1 left Florence Monday even
ing, July 10, 1906, changed cars at Milan,
Italy, in the morning. passed by the beau
tiful Lake Majora, through the Smplon
L fitnnaI mir Y,,ila he Ioro
mel in the world. and through many other
long tunnels. then passed down the pic
turesque Alpine valley of the Rhone and
by the unsurpassed Lake Geneva TO the
city of Geneva, Switzerland, my destina-
ton. ROBERT WEIDENSALL,
| Copenhagen, Denmark Sept. l. 1906.