La Junta tribune., 1908-08-15
many parts as the prairies of nli-

| usossS fS 90 SuC PtobiSS Va Ah
nois. l have never seen more luxu-
RANT crops grown anywhere. The
shocks of wheat. with great sheaves.
were thick and heavy. There were
stacks of alfalfa and thousands of
acres OF heavy hemp. The farms
here. as everywhere in Italy. are
laid out in rectangles of say from
six to ten rods wide and from ten to
twenty rods long. separated not by
fences but rows of trees. growing
thick like fences. while trees are
also grown in rows generally in
these fields. In the lower valley of
the 20 there were bitches every
where and large canals. but rather
for drainage. as the land is level
and low and was once marshy, but
practically all the rest of this valley
is irrigated. The farmers are pros
porous in this valley and we do not
see the scenes above described. but
houses. with stacks of hay and grain
and an appearance of comfort.
Florence is a beautiful city of
$50. 600, with a large magnificent
cathedral of white and black mar
BILE and is the greatest art center in
Italy. 1t produced some of the
greatest painters and sculptors,
among whom is Michael Angelo. 1t
has great art galleries and museums,
many beautiful villas or homes of
the aristocracy and the wealthy.
manufactures the celebrated Floren-
tine frames of heavy. scroll like
gilt. Here are some of the great
art studios where marble and bronze
statuary is produced. I visited a
studio that employs $50 men. saw
the artists at work on beautiful
marble statuary. from the artist
with nude child on a pedestal
making a model, tosthe artist who
executed the finishing touches. to a
copy of the statue of boy pulling
thorn out of his foot-''The Boy and
the Thorne." The marble comes in
huge blocks which is sawed in blocks
of the size and rough shape desired.
One artist, with mallet and chisel,
chips it out roughly and turns it
over generally to another who gives
the figure desired but does not fin
ish it. This one uses an instrument
that measures every part. thou
sand points being taken, so as to
give it perfect form. even to the
curve of muscle of the arm or
hand, the cheek, ear and every part.
The experienced and finest artist
finish the statue. In this studio
were many hundreds of the most
beautiful statuary in Italy. made of
Carrara and Castelline marble. The
former is the hardest. the more dur
able, and is used for all large statu-
AIRY and all statuary to be exposed,
while the latter is winter and softer
and is used only on small statuary.
Notwithstanding this is where statu-
ary is made, l found the prices
high. OF course, had l desired to
buy, | could have, no doubt. pur-
chased at very low price. for you
are always asked in Italy about
double what you can purchase for.
if you drive bargain. One must
never pay what i s asked anywhere
or for anything. The Italians are
Jews in their manner of trade, and.
more than that, they will beat you
in every way possible, will short
change you. and when discovered.
will beg your pardon with such an
air of grace and sincerity. you al
most think it was an accidental mis-
take.
Venice is the world renowned city,
built out in the sea, with canals for
its streets, the gondola for cabs and
carriages, and little, swift steamers
for street cars and tramways. There
is not horse in Venice nor car
riage or wheeled vehicle. You can,
however, go all over the city on
foot, for there are narrow, crooked
dark byways everywhere. 1t IS the
most embarrassing city to find your
way in that ever saw, for these
alleys are, many of them, so narrow
that you can stretch your arms
across them. nor can you see any
where except straight up. There