The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-07-02

church, which itself dates back many
centuries, Il printed subscription list
of over 300 former residents of Ges-
SO, who now live in the United States,
and had sent the money back to assist
liz the restoration of the church in
the village of their childhood. Gcsso
is on top of a mountain which over
looks the Mediterranean. Going to
the boundary of the village we came
to a place where we had the unusual
spectacle of seeing two smoking VOL
canoci, Aetna and Stromboli, which
still have frequent eruptions. We re-
turned to Gcsso by the same road,
reaching our hotel about eight o'clock
One thing that impressed me very
lpcplv was the immense amount Of
work necessary in the utilization of
every available inch Of ground ON the
steep hill sides. There are terraces
constructed with stone walls anywhere
from three to twenty feet high, which
protect the soil, the terraces being not
much wider than the walls are high.
and such erraccs extend TO the tops Of
the mountains. On these terraces are
grown all the crops that are raised in
the Southern part of South Carolina
We were taken to dinner by the
American Consul and his charming
and estimable wife. and given an op-
3ortumty TO taste some purely Sici-
liam dishes. one of which made of
rice. chicken giblctS. and solid ynlks
Of eggs, mixed with meat gravy,
Mas IL very delicious dish.
The Perfetlo called ON The next
m"rning ut our hotel and we had il
very Interesting interview Of more
than al hour with him. He brought
several minor officials with him. and
;luring his visit the chief Of police.
called here the Srqucstors. dropped
in. as the local inspector of emf
grafton.
AT two O'Clock we started for Taor-
NINA, Il typical Sicilian village three
miles mp the mountain side from the
railroad station, where we made in
Iurlcs relative 10 emigration, and also
were shown some noteworthy antiuui-
lies. 1t is a most beautiful place and
one which is frequently visited by
American Tourists during the winter.
The next mornin" we went to Sir
acusa, the ancient Syracuse, Of which
history speaks so much, and which
was formerly city Of over a million
inhabitants. but now contains about
10000. We held some important IN
tcrviewS with the Perfctto, and the
British Vice Consul, Mr. Joseph Iobb,
who is we'll Informed on the subject
of emigration. lie also gave me a
great deal of information in regard
to the farm products and the condi-
ton of the Sicilan in his native land.
We were in conference with Mr.. Lobb
well on to midnight. We also met
here Mr.. Frank Murphy, Of Arizona,
VIII" gave glowing account of the
fine trip he and his wife have had
through Sicily in an automobile. Dur
ing the afternoon, Mr.. Caughy who
accompanied us. took us to see some
of the celebrated antiquities of an
c'cnt Syracuse, including the ear Of
Dionysius, which is a marvellous de-
vclopmcnt in acoustics. We stood at
the entrance and our guide gave us
4 test OF the echoes Of the cave, and
made the statement that Dionysius us
ed ii as a Jail for political prisoners,
and where, from a station above, his
guards could hear the slightest whis-
perS Of those confined therein. As TO
the truth of this | make no statement.
We also visited the catacombs said
to have been con: .'ucted by the Chris
tians of Syracuse in the first century,
and which offers evidence Of great
II was much impressed
with the catacombs which extend for
some three miles through solid rock,
and cut in three tiers. There is Il diff
ference Of opinion as to their ori gin.
One is that they were quarries from
which stone was taken to build an
cient Syracuse while it is also claimed
that they weer constructed during the
persecution Of the Christians in the
first century, who took refuge there
in. 1t is evident from paintings made
on the ceilings of the church connect