Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1907-08-07
.VELMA SHARPS TRAVELS THROUGH ITALY
Some Very Interesting Tales from the Memoranda Of Miss vema
Sharp who Spent Some Time in Sunny Italy
Her Return Home from Austria.

say threateningly 'Bastal" That, accom-
panied by a flourish of his long dashed
whip, would usually prove effective. We
reached Annals at about GAS p. ~. and
learned that we had three-quarters of an
hour before dinner, so decided to walk
through the town. II is a town of ap-
proximately 5000 inhabitants whose
chief occupations are the manufacture of
paper, soap and macaroni, we saw much
of the latter drying in the sun-some
hung up and some spread on the ground.
We walked only a little distance down
the principal street as it was narrow and
quite too dirty TO make walking pleasant,
which did not trouble the natives
in the least, however-and then went
to the Cathedral of St. Andrew. 1t
is approached by broad fight of sixty
steps and is an interesting structure of
the Eleventh Century. In the crypt the
body Of thu apostle is said to have reposed
since the 18th Century when it was
brought here from Constantinople. We
went back to our rhotel-Cappuccini- Con-
vento-which is just outside Of the town,
just in time for dinner, where we found
many other American tourists, The
building; which stands in the hollow of
rock rising abruptly from the sea to
height of 2so feet, was formerly the old
Capuchn Monastery and contains fine
cloisters, has a charming veranda run
ming along the face of the cliff and COM
mands magnificent views. 1t is reached
by flight of steps cut from the rock.
slept that night in a room which had
once served as the cell of a Capuchin
monk, and could imagine him standing
at the little window, gazing out over the
blue water and watching the fishing
boats OIL the beach far below. The next
morning at eight O'Clock our carriage
called for us and ~e continued our Jour
ney. II was a continuation of that Of
the preceding day-wondrously beautiful
aud picturesque drive never TO be for
gotten. We reached SSoTIeiito az noon
and went at once to the hotel, the Cocum-
ella. never saw town which gave me
the impression of 0.iaess as did Sorrento.
The day was very warm the streets de-
sertel, and an atmosphere OF sleepiness
and lassitude seemed to permeate every
thing. There is a fhe orchard Of oranges
in connection with the hotel and after
dinner we went out and having lofty as
pirations climbed up into tree and
picked some of the delicious fruit. Amer
leans are naught unless aspiring and per-
spring. Then we went to the edge Of
the cliff on which the hotel stands,
stretched out in the shade, and with
splendid view of the bay of Naples before
us, ate our oranges. We bought some Of
the beautiful inlaid wood which is a spe-
cialty of the town. and at three o'clock
boarded the little excursion steamer for
Naples, which we reached an hour later.
The Madame" at the Pension seemed
table we compared notes with the other
"Pensionaires" as TO the impressions re-
ceived on our trip. The next morning
my two companions declared themselves
too tired to go hunting sights in such
blistering heat, so | said, 'all right you
rest this morning: feel in frst-class con-
dition and I'm going to see the Cathedral
and the royal palace" They scoffed at
my enthusiasm but with my head
swathed in a veil and an umbrella elevat-
ed between me and the blazing sun,
started dauntlessly forth and engaged a
cab by the hour and first visited churches
which were delightfully."- cool inside
san Francesca di Paolo, which contains
splendid marble columns and high altar
inlaid with jasper and lapis lazuli Santa
Chiora, which contains the burial chapel
Of the Bourbons; San Domenico Maggiore
where the most distinguished families in
Naples have their chepels, and the Ca
thedral. The Cathedral contains the
tombs Of several rulers and two Popes:
relics of St. Januarius, and a splendid
Assumption" by Perugino. Leaving
the Cathedral I next visited the royal
palace, secured permission to go through
il and found an official who spoke French
to act as my guide, passing through the
magnificent dining-room; throne-room,
drswing-roons. chambers of state, and
Garden Terrace with its fine view of the
harbor, and saw the Grand Stair case,
built entirely of white marble and em-
bellished with statutes and reliefs. In
the afternoon, after a siesta, we visited
the fine aquarium and then secured
carriage and drove out the Posilipo--a
slightly drive which ascends the hill west
OF Naples and affords a splendid view Of
the bay. AS we drove along we saw the
homes of some of the peasant class
merely caves followed out of the solid
rock-some comparatively large, consist
ing of three or four rooms, and some only
one small room. And drill never
would have believed that human beings
could live in such condition. We saw
one tiny child playing in a mud hole be-
fore the door. and then 1t ran into the
"house" and jumped upon the one bed
which the place afforded. II was a vivid
contrast-on one side the living glories
Of nature and en- the other the degreda-
ton of man. We reached home in time
for dinner and completed our arrange
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