New-York tribune., 1909-03-14

grississTai grisiss1zi Town Series) I6Ino, pp Xii, as
-~e Macmillan Company
17,riliar TO every student of history is the
+.le Of provincial ana communal rfvalries
|5 ,s,reds lying behind the great modern fact
nnited Italy. To this day the various
rs and cities of the peninsula are so many
+-es Of the most intense local patriotism
~ has paid something for the immemorfal
--.rrels cf her sons. Even in her unity there
y elements Of obstruction to true national
.oress But il IS not OF the political aspect
= bs- evolution across the centuries that We
80 reminded by the present volume. a charm
r addition 10 a useful series We think rather
r the benefit derived by an Italian town from
the Jealous pride of its makers, of the individ-
,-ality stamped upon its physiognomy. Mrs
aoss. who is responsible for the historical part
# this book on Pisa, lays stress upon its an
,i9uity and speaks of the small evidence left
If this OF that nomentous period in its extraor-
sfuarily diversified past 1t is true that Pisa
has lost many Of its monuments especially
those belonging TO its heroic ages vet in what
IS left We can read the story of a very long life
story clearly defined. In all Italy there is not
town richer in character. more dign;fedlv itself
There is a certain fine simplicity about Pisan
Rarranesque architecture and the whole toyyr,
takes on peculiar attractiveness from the
sweep Of TIE Arno as it cleayes its way through
The quiet mass Of palaces and churches.
Pisa is very quiet to-day. She dwells in \
kind Of calm as though exhausted by her
tumultuoUs past Her citizens were among
the most warlike of the Italian peoples. ever
ready 10 1y at the throat Of Genoa, to swoop
down upon Sicily, - hght wherever there were
sgoils 70 De won good conflict was to be
had for its own sake. Their military annals are
rEFr- tod in, ba
this book. but Mrs Ross does not confine her
self to names and dates Here and there she IN
troduces some picturesque episode. to show what
manner of men the Pisans were Here is a
Characteristic anecdote, relating to Dante's
J-guccione della Faggiuola, appointed 10 the
lorlship Of Pisa:
Ugoccione al once proclaimed war against Iucca
which Wls popular on account OF the insulting
words written 10y Dat under big mirrors he hung
round the tower Of Asciano. to show the Pisans
what a strong place they had lost: 20 women of
Pisa, Use these 10 look at yourselves" Buonconti
hery tIsan suggested that two large mirrors
should be hung on tall poles outside Lucca TO
50 the Fisan army marched to the very gates of
t !t1ecL SCI up poles with mirrors hanging from
these, Fonturo Dati who insultec by saying
cur cur Women % had mad no mirrors We send them to
thee out OF courtesy IN order that thou maySt see
thyselL Arrows were also shot into the town,
said the Flsan women bad no mirrors On their
return the tlslLls seized cattle, and took banners
oessful raid
Thus humorously the Pisans went about many
Of their quarrelsome expeditions but they Were
q grim race, given 20 cruel as well as satirical
practices. Il VAS u Pisa that Usolino and his
sons and graudsous were thrust into a tower
the keys Of which were then flung into the Arno
while no man dared To give food 10 the prison
ers In q few days all the captives died of star
vation leaving .hvir prison t. be- known
through the centuries as the Tower of Famine
Yet il WAS this same Pisan people that erected
The great Campo Santo bringing for The purpose
from the Holy Land ffty-three gsllleys laden
with sacred soil The descrlrtion OF the
cemetery is admirably written by Miss
I--ichstn, her pages forming a convenient
guide IN fact the book is a whole is
well calculated 70 be Of service to the tray
eller, giving him such historical data as may
aid him IN understanding the special character
Of the town, and leading him in Illuminating
fashion amid the important buildings, sacred
and rrofane- The appropriate legend is brought
il at more than one point and attention is paid
TO the conditions from which divers monu-
Inents sprang il old days.
The Psans were notable builders Of towers,
for example, thus gratifying their pride and
assuring themselves strong places of defence.
height q two hundred feet had an ugly habit Of
collapsing under storm in time Of strife.
and in the long rUn eGiCts were framed reducing
these structures 10 a height OF tifty-two feet.
it IS amusing 10 find the skyscraper problem