The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-08-05


is no richer than the plain extending
from Venice to Milan, which is des-
lgnated as the plain Of Lombardy. II
is difficult to anyone who has not
seen the rich prairies extending from
Indiana westward, to conceive the
richness Of this land. The landscape,
however, is very different. There are
no large fields or open spaces. The
mulberry trees, whose leaves are
used to feed silk worms, are every
where in evidence, while avenues Of
Lombardy poplars and rows Of elms
10 support grape vines give the ap-
Hsarance Of a wooded country. The
tees are kept pruned to small heads,
Fand crops of corn. wheat and clover
are grown right up to their roots.
Every foot Of land is utilized.
We had seen comparatively little
Indian corn till we reached this fer.
tile region and, considering the intel
iigence OF the people, it is a very strik.
ing commentary on their lack of ex-
perimentation and initiative that they
are such poor farmers in corn cul-
ture. The corn is absolutely broad.
cast, and when you see any rows at all
they are from IL to Is inches wide
with Just room for one furrow with a
plough. The corn must be cultivated
mainly with hoe, but as it is in full
silk and tassel now no work is being
done In 1t. AS 1t averages about one
foot In the drill there must be from
10000 to 10000 stalks to the acre.
However rich the land, or however
perfect the cultivation, the light and
air are shut out by this method Of
culture. While have no statistics as
to the yield In grain, it must be rela.
lively small, and there is no wonder
that the disease, pellagra, prevails to
such an alarming extent in this coun-
try. We were told by the government
ofhcial at Rome, who corresponds to
the head Of the United States marine
hospital service, and who has good
use Of the English language and evil
IDENTIFY Is a man Of scientific attain
ment, that there is no doubt that this
terrible disease is due entirely to the
using Of unsound Indian corn as food,
and that this must be due entirely to
|crowding, as the climate OF Milan IL
about the same as that of Charlotte.
~. c.. II anything warmer. with full
opportunity for the corn to mature
thoroughly. We bought some corn in
the Palace St. Mark. in Venice, to
feed the pigeons with, and the grains
were nearly round, as though COM
ing from nubbins. And, of course,
with the corn crowded as they grow
1t in italy nothing but nubbins are
possible. AS the peasants depend
largely on corn for food in Northern
Italy. and their poverty suggests or
compels eating whatever grain they
can get, the good and the bad are
ground together, hence the disease
pellagra.
Venice is little too much for an
invalid to attempt to describe. 1t has
no streets, only alleys six to ten feet
wide and canals from ten to thirty
feet wide. The alleys cross the canals,
when necessary, on bridges, always
high arched for the passage Of gon.
dolas and lighters. And everything,
including people, transported in the
city, is either carried on the back or
in boat by water. We did not see
a single vehicle OF any kind or horse
The paving problem is relatively un.
important in Venice, and there is no
necessity. for dodging street cars, au-
tomobiles, cabs or trucks, all Of which
we found to be very necessary when
We reached Milan.
Undoubtedly there is nothing in the
way OF contrast greater than that
which exists between these two Ital-
ian cities-Venice and Milan. Decay
and former grandeur are written all
over Venice, and the silence which
one finds there is typical of the grave.
Milan, with its half million people,
the commercial and manufacturing
metropolis OF the Kingdom OF Italy,
Is in every respect, barring the mar
rowness Of some Of it's streets,
bustling, progressive city, and one
can easily imagine himself in st.
Louis or Cincinnati or Pittsburg, bar
ring the smoke. Its cathedral is to
my mind, even more pleasing than
st. Peters, at Rome. While that is
stupendous and magnificent. there is
something garish about it, and such a
studied effort to substitute some pom