Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-09-03

abroad July 18th party OF four,
Rev. and Mrs. WalZ, Mrs. Hines ana
myself. sailed from New York on the
Princess Irene The voyage was pleas
ant turnout. No demands for eontribu-
tions We're made on any OF our party
by Neptune. which experience we were
all willing to forego We took the
Southern or Mediterranean route, lana
ing in Naples, July %. To one who mas
spent his life west of Chicago, and most
of the past twenty years west OF the
Missouri river. the east has many at
fractions, and / saw much to awaken
interest long before reaching New
York.
LAS we reached Harrisburg, Pa we
cast longing glances toward U. NV.
Headquarters but we had time only for
change OF cars and in few hours we
were enjoying the sights of Washns-
ton, d. C. To westerner who mas
never before been east Of Chicago there
was much to awaken emotions and SUR
the Imagination. But it was not uflt'
we were six days out at sea, and pass
ing the Azores, that we truly expert
enced new and thrilling scores. ana
looked upon different civilization. IL
seems. were wealthy, and had leisure,
l should like to spend winter there.
..Gibraltar the mighty fortress
guarding all southern Europe. the
Mediterranean, and North Africa, IS a
veritable magazine. We spent nearly
a half day at the great fortress, then'
with intensified interest we stealthily
glide into the Mediterranean. A CAIN
sea, a full moon and inspiring music
by full band. was all conducive TO
a pleasant journey. One must VISIT
Naples to know 1t. 1t cannot be told
to him. cannot conceive OF another
place in the world where one can meet
contrasts at so close range ELS In Ma
pies. In step you pass from splen-
dor to degradation, from the sublime
to the ridiculous, from luxury and re-
finement to sQualor and vice. think
there are reasons for such conditions.
Historic places were visited, and homes
and business houses also, to- gain at
first hand actual conditions. To be
shown where Paul landed, and other
such interesting data, naturally stirs
the emotions Of one who feels,
Our ride per train from Naples to
Rome was thru a most picturesque
country, with constantly changing
scenes; here an old fortifcation. there
villa; yonder mountain, cultivated
with grapes and olives, or other fruit.
An Iowa farmer could learn much on
intensified farming by VISIT to this
land of vineyards, churches. shrtnes.
images and crosses.
Rome is beautiful. like It. even to
its ST. Peters, st. Paul and the Vatf-
can. SO much has been said Of those
splendid edificcs and what they con-
tain and stand for, that you would not
thank me to send you even a word.
When one passing from the Coliseum
to the Forum, then to the ruined pail
aces Of the mighty Romans, then to the
tomb where Paul and Peter were en-
tombed, then where they parted, then
to the Catacombs, and look upon the
bones of the martyrs, then, back again
and look, once more upon the gigantic
remains of an age of power, and pas
sion ard splendor, and then quietly re-
visit the sistine chapel, slnd study
there the paintings Of the masters. he
can but exclaim, surely, Christ has
conquered-He is conauering.
From Rome to Florenc. via Pisa.
the city of the Leaning Tower, our
route lay thru a productive farming
community. Much that Isl still very
primitive, and again some things that
we Americans would do we'll to emu
late. / was especially struck by the
apparent economy employed. and the
stability Of all public improvements.
The public highways, the bridges over
streams-aM look as tho they were
built for all time. There is not much
in Pisa to interest the traveller, out
side the Leaning Tower and the ca
thedral The chandelier that suggested
to Gallileo the idea of the pendulum
with it's related subjects still swings
from the ceiling Of the cathedral. And
with him we will agree: The World
Does Move
I'VE have now been but a, few hours
! i'm Florence and after few days we go
on toward Venice. Our itinerary will
take us thru Switzerland, down the
Rhine, visiting en- route e. number of
| the German cities, then Paris, lastly
London and environs, sailing, from
Southampton for home. With assur-
ances Of most beneficial trip, close
these hastily penned words.
"P. H. HINES"
sF1nrenca ItaJvn