Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-04-21

American novelist, on the Bay of Ma
pies. The article appears in the Bridg-
ION News of last week.
We had just visited the delightful is
land of Capri and the fairy-like Blue
CrottO, in the Bay of Naples. Italy
Several of our number We're stretched
out in the attitude of not caring what
happened next. for the choppy waves
had tossed the little boats in most
uncomfortable manner, and NAL de me1
held many in its unlovely grasp. I re-
call how daZlingly blue was the water
how enhancing the scenery and how
enjoyable the sail, to those who were
fortunate enough to find such things
interesting. There We're musicians or
board the steamer and they sang and
played various catchy airs, Adieu, Ma
poll, and others, in soft. sweet Ital-
ian voices, mingled with the notes
Of the guitar. There We're vendors OF
coral. tortoise shell and souvenirs all in
terestine. if for no other reason than to
sec how long one could induce the pro-
prietors to sell their high-priced wares
We We're on our way to Sorrento, which
is half days ride by boat from Ma
Piles, and one of the popular watering
places fer Europeans, as we'll as the
numerous American tourists. We
looked off across the blue water and
saw the towering cliffs of the place. on
whose very edge are located several
large. redroofed hotels, with tinted
awnings spread to keep out the glare
of the sun at MONDAY. Farther back
arc private villas and other buildings
The landing place is far below the ho-
tel offices, but they are reached by a
lift. or as many of us preferred. by a
covered walk. ending on the veranda of
the Hotel Tralnontano. where we We're
to have lunch and spend part of the
warm afternoon on the breezy porches
oVerhanging the Bay, or wandering
about the town and visiting the shops
where inlaid work of delicate design.
gay silk scarfs and other souvenirs
could be purchased.
Have Nou ever visited place. the
scenes of which. as you close your
eyes in retrospection. come flooding
back to fill you with joy. as you recall
the delights of sea. and sky and dis
tant landscape, and the dreamy pleas
IRE OF it all T.? If so, you can appreciate
my feelings. whenever I think of that
day at Sorrento, where our party sat
on the hotel porch and rtveled in the
beauty all around us
But one of the most delightful asso-
Citations of Sorrento to us was the sight
of Villa F. Marion Crawford, where
last week the noted novelist. whose
name it bears, said goodbye to the
beauties of landscape and home, which
ne had loved for SO many years. The
large white house is in the village of
SAINT Agnelio, a few miles from the ho-
tells of Sorrento, and is situated on a
high bluff, far above the Bay, with a
great bluff at it's base against which the
waves beat with soothing music. With
its great tower and high enclosures, it
has something the appearance of the
German castles we viewed that other
day on the Rhine. 1t has the usual
encircljng wall which shuts off the
view OF the grounds from the passerby,
and hut for the autograph card to the
gardener. forwarded to the writer by
the late author, who at the time of
our visit was cruising in southern wa
tiers, we would have been obliged to
stand on the outside looking in A ring
at the gate brought the porter, who
looked at the card and very kindly con-
Quoted the small party of Americans
friends of Signorina Shorey" through
the beautiful gardens portion of the
villa. and out on the porch over the
water. where the view was magnificent.
The graceful outlines of the Bay of Ma
pies. the Island Of Capri, the distant
Vesuvius, possessed the same charm
as on the other porch. some miles away.
Added to this was the association of the
distinguished author, who has made
these scenes live in some of his Italian
novels. In the high tower is the study,
where he has written so many of his
books. and which must be a place Of
sad memory for the family left to
mourn him. .-.@
But it was in the gardens where the
most restful spot was found. with the
sound Of water in the fountains, the
sweet scent Of flowers and the cool
shade of the great trees whose branch
es hung prctectingly down. Here were
rustic seats, where one could sit and
enjoy the quiet beauty of the place and
note the carefully kept lawn. the varie-
ty Of fruit trees-orange, lemon, olive
ana ethers-or look at the flowers and