The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-07-19
WRITES OF ANCIENT CITY.
Senator Latimer Tells of Reception by
Klng--Visits Cotton Mill and
Travels on Apian Way.
GrCemvillc News.


Naples. We took boat from the for
mer place at 7.30 p. m.. reaching
Naples the next morning, leaving Mr..
Bcnnet ut Palermo to return along
the north side Of the island of Stella
to MeSsina, and then to investigate
conditions in Calabria and Basilica.
On our arrival at Naples we gathered
our baggage and proceeded TO Rome,
where an audience had been arranged
with the king and with the minister of
agriculture and commerce.
Our reception by the kin" was very
pleasant. He spoke English fluently,
and we found him well posted with
regard to conditions in the United
States. He had considerable know
ledge Of the climatic conditions, as
we'll as Of the crops grown in the DIFF
ferent sections Of our country, and de-
plored the fact that most Of the Ital-
ian immigrants to the United States
are settling in the cities instead Of 60
ing to the rural districts and en"ag-
ing IN agricultural pursuits, with
which they are familiar. He refer
red t" the fact that the criminal clas-
ses in Italy predcminate in the eli
ties. as in the United States, adding
that the peasants made better citiz-
ems for us than those WI" come from
the cities.
The disposition Of the king I found
to be that Of plain. unassuminw man.
1t was easy to sec that he was avcrsc
TO pomp and glamour and the usual
trappinoS Of royalty, and in his con-
versation with us he cvinccl deep
interest in the welfare Of the com
mon people. If is customary when
Approaching the king during an aud
trncc to make three bows; one on
entering the door. the other two while
drawing near him; but in our case
Immediately after we had made Oul'
bow on entering the door he came for
ward and shook hands. The conversa-
tion went alon" in an easy and infor-
nal manner for about an hour. touch
in@ upon the comparative condition of
the peasants Of this country and our
farming classes. as we'll as the pro-
-ducls Of the farm. the amount Of land
cultivated and the remuneration of
the laboriny man.
After our audience with the king
We visited the minister Of agriculture
and commerce. It was necessary to
have the services of an interpreter, as
he knew no English. We found him
thoroughly, posted on agricultural mat
tcrS, and he agreed to furnish an
swcrs to list Of questions that we
left with him. Mr.. Rossi, one of the
Italian commissioners Of emigration,
was very courteous to us and gave us
Il great deal of information in regard
to the whole subject. We gathered
from these officials that Italy is a
great deal more prosperous than it was
eight to ten years ago. and that the
people here are sharing somewhat in
the prosperous condition that pre-
walls in the United States.
While in Rome we could not fail to
observe on every hand the ruins of
the ancient city. There was abund-
ant evidence Of its early richness and
greatncss-of the times when Rome
was mistress Of the worll-the mag
niliccnt Coliseum. the palaces Of the
old cmpcrors. the forum and the IA
nous Apian Way. the military road
built by the Romans more than two
thousanI years AGO. This road was
once lined with beautiful palaces and
villas and tombs all the way from
Rome to Naples, but now there is
nothing but ruins all along the road,
This road, by the way, has been con-
stantly in use for upwards Of 1000
years and is in fine condition today,
showing in spots the old Roman meth
od Of paving, and the country ad-
joining the road is now used only for
farms and pasture lands.
While at Rome the commission held
a meeting and decided to divide the
territory, giving to Mcssrs. Bcnnct
and Howell Greece, Turkey, Smyrna
Asia Minor, Southwestern Russia and
the country thcrcabouts; to Mr.. Bur
nett and myself Northern Italy,
France, Switzerland, Germany, part
Of Russia, workin" back along the