The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-04-06
AKANSAN ABROAD
COncOrdian Pays Visit to Genoa,
the Superb.
Finds the Birthplace of Column
bus a Beautiful City.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Are Narrow Like American AL
leys and Crowded.
Family Washing Hanging Out
of the Front Window.

Concordia, Kan. April 6.-The
Blade says:
we'll to my friends in Concordia and
set forth on this long journey now of
more than 5000 miles. l have not
heard from any one, nor have L seen
newspaper that gave any American
news save the Thaw trial, since I left
Boston. I feel like a stranger in a
strange land
On Friday, March 8, about o'clock
p. M, our steamer entered the beauti-
full Bay of Genoa, and drew up to one
land we saw a great crowd on the pier
waiting our approach. There was on
our ship an Italian family, a man,
going home to die, as he supposed, and
with him his wife and a little babe,
eight or ten months old, the only baby
on board. We all fell in love with this
little child and sympathized deeply
with the entire family in their fears
for the future. However, the man
grew better as We journeyed along
and hope began to be seen in his eyes
when the ships doctor told him there
was a chance for him yet. This fam
lily was in the crowd on board, as the
huge "Canopfc' drew up to the pier.
Presently they saw in the throng be-
low some of their friends. This was
more than they could stand and tears
flowed down their cheeks, literally like
rain All but the baby-she was an
American citizen, and saw no occasion
for weeping, but squealed and kicked
and pounded with her fists in an
that family with their friends, showed
that all the world is of kindred clay.
What 1 saw of Genoa was rather
favorable. 1t is in the northern part
of Italy in what was once Sardinia L
could not forget that in that province
the poor WaIdenses felt the heavy
hand of religious persecution. The
immortal Milton begins one of his
poems thus:
"Avenge Lord. thy slaughtered
saints,
Whose bones lie scattered on the
Alpine mountains cold"
They are a sturdier people than
some of the tribes of Italy.
Genoa has g. larger trade now than
any CITY in that country. On APP
proac ching the place from the sea,
there is sameness about the build
ings that strikes one unfavorably But
leave the ship and sally forth as some
of us did and you Will find that the
Genoese have done their work Well
The houses are built on solid founda-
tfons. Even the street railroads show
the completeness of this work. The
inside of the tracks. as we'll as the out
is left loose or in a condition to loosen
others And then the streets are
clean. They are almost polished.
I went that evening with a company
city for, two or three hours. They
seemed to be wild with delight to get
away from the steamer, where they
had been imprisoned for two long
weeks. We followed a narrow street
for a time and then turned into one
which was no wider than a Concordia
alley. Both streets were crowded with
people We sauntered on and on till
began to urge a return, but the others
thought freedom from the ship de-
light and did not want to return any
sooner than was necessary. l then
asked each one which way the steamer
lay, and all but one had paid no at
tention to the directions in which we |
had been going. 1t was rather late |
before had my little company safe on
board the ship again.
We have since learned that our cap
tain had been troubled that very night |
by the conduct of some of his sailors. |
who went on shore, drank too much |
and had a scrimmage with the police. !
The people of Genoa boast Of their !
many great men and patriotic women, |
but among these there has risen no |
Carrie Nation. I was pleased with |
what 1 saw of the good order dis |
played everywhere, but if more kegs |
Of beer could be sacrificed 1t would be |
better still.
There is one custom or usage in this