The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-08-11
(Dictated by Senator Tillman.)

sincerely yours, J. W. Babcock.
dictated by Senator Tillman.)
Geneva, July 19, '0S.
Tt is practically a month now since
We left Naples, and the time has
been most pleasantly, and I hope pro-
fitably, passed, both mentally and
physically. The journey mas been
leisurely, which brought us to Gene
va, but the sightseeing has been
quite arduous. Rome was especially
and necessarily the most exactlng IN
it's points of interest, mad the WORK
necessary to see them. We remain
ed there twelve days and then, IN
despair, decided that it would take
years hard work to gain any ade-
ouate idea of things, and then moV-
| ed on to Florence. Moreover, there
was a constant desire for BOOKS,
which were at home, to refresh our
memories, which was provoking.
The one thing which is incompre-
hensible, even now, is the smallness
of the Roman Forum; and why SO
many temples and other MASSIVE
buildings were crowded into such
small space, and that in hollo"
between hills, is a question winch
every thoughtful traveller will ask
himself, | am sure the entire area
known as the Forum, implies, baslll-
cas- ETC.. is not ten acres, This IN
c,udes the space from the Tarpelan
Rock on which the Capitol stood'
to the Arch of Titus. But canhot
undertake any description and only
mention this surprising fact as th'
most striking thing in our visit TO
the former mistress Of the world. we
noticed a marked difference in tn
Roman people from the Neapolltans
They are larger in stature, ana tRs
berears which are so pestlterous al
Nanles are very rarely seen al
Rome.
In the City Of Florence.
We reached Florence on the even
ing Of July 8, and spent the fourth
in this beautiful city. 1t has nc
rnins. and the bridge across the Arnt
is perhaps the only structure when
has came down from the Roman
period. There is sculpture ever!
where. and we absolutely bcame
surfeited on great paintings.
Near the edge of the princlpa.
square and in front of the OLD palace
which then, as now, was the seat o.
the city government, there is CIR
cular bronze tablet let into the pave
ment over which passengers and Ve'
hicles pass, with the picture Oh Sa
yonarola and the legend marking
that as the spot on which he was e.
ecuted, and his body afterwards
burned along with the two monks
ira Salvestro and Fra Domenlco
who were his principal lieutenants
in the effort to reform the abuses
Catholicism. He was equally braV1
and fearless with Luther, whom he
antedated by a half century or more
I will confess to a greater feellne
of solemnity in looking at tins taD'
let, which may be likened to large
bronze medal. than l have on enter.
ing any church since ! have been IN
Europe.
Again ] would mention the marked
Improvement in the type OF the peo-
Die as compared with the southern
Italians. The Florentines are full!
as large in stature as the Americans
and the impression made on me by
the people in the streets is that they
are of a highly intelligent, courte'
Gus and admirable citizenship.
It is straining on the muscles o
the neck to gaze at pictures and there
are so many in the two great gal
leries here-the Pitt and the Ufiizz
that we were glad to move on tc
Venice, which city we reached on
July Z.
The Far.Famed Valley of the Po.
The route carried us across tht
Appennines, through a large mum
Der Of tunnels and through pictures
que scenery. after which we des
!, cended into the garden of Italy. the
| far!famed: valley of the Pc, though
the land is no richer than the plail
extending from Venice to Milan
which Is designated as the plain o
Lombardy. 1t is difficult to anyone
who has not seen the rich praries eX
tending from Indiana westward tc
conceive the richness Of this land
| III. 1,ndcoona hnweyer IL very diff