The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-04-16
WILL sEABRoOK's TRAVELS
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(By W. B. Seabrook. }

progress made by Italy since 1t De-
came a United Kindgom, the South
has been dragged along as dead
weight.' At least so say the poll
tical economists, but my recent OBJ
servations while rambling in the Nea-
politan Campania and on the Gala
brian coast almost lead me to be-
lieve that it has not "dragged along''
at all. The peasant population OF this
part Of the peninsula, enthincally dit
ferent from that Of northern Italy,
appears to be out Of touch with mod
ern influences, degraded, superstlt-
ious and illiterate, still cropping IN
the darkness of the middle ages,
though the fact is incontestible that
the race is physically one Of the finest
in Europe.
The Calabrian mountaineers, the
contadini Of the Basllicate, are endoW-
ed with figure so well proportioned,
a body so marvellously poised, and
with such supple grace, that one can
easily forgive them their smallness
of stature as compared with the
northern races. The physiongnomy
of the women, irregular but pleasing,
is mobile but full Of expression. The
faces of the children, with their great
black eyes and delicately chlselled
mouths, are often lighted by visit
full CLEAN, apparently full Of intel
ligenee but the sordid life to when
the majority are condemned usually
ends by extinguishing the flame and
coarsening the features.
The history Of these people partial
ly explains their present state. IN
the epoch Of the free cities and re-
publics, which formerly fiourished IN
certain parts Of Italy, the country
which composed the kindgom OF Ma
pies never enjoyed moment OF real
liberty, it simply changed. one master
for another. Every new conqueror'
turn by turn, either pillaged or meth
odically oppressed the unhappy peo-
Dle With the exception of Amalh,
no Neapolitan city was ever blessed,
with the privilege of administering
its own affairs. The geographical
position Of the country particularly
exposed it to degradation. Occupy
ing q: central point in the Medlter-
anean. it was visited by all the pl-
rates and most of the invaders whose
fleets from time to time coursed that
SEA. bv Saracens, Orientals, Spanish,
French and even their brethren OF the
Piedmont. The absence Of all natural
cohesion between the diverse regions
Of the country prevented its popula-
tions from achieving the combination
essential to effective existence; south
ern Italy has no great river basin IKE
those of Umbria, Tuscany, Lombaroy
and Rome. that is to say, it has no
"center of gravity" and its popula-
tion. like its streams, scatters and
flows pell-mell in a thousand direct
ions It is this lack of geographical
nnitv that has deprived the country
Of historic unity and retarded It's
progress.
The political regime under which
the subjects of the kingdom OF Naples
lived. not only a century ago, but
RIGHT up to the moment they were
deliverd by Victor Emmanuel Ii, was
little better than slavery; all desire
for progress, all personal initiative
was Systematically stifed.
"Mon peuple ms besoin de pen
ser!" my people have no need TO
think,) wrote in French the infamous
KNIGHT of Naples, Ferdinand II, and
the utterance of an idea or even
single word, which the royal censors
had forbidden through fear OF lgnor-
anee. was treated as a crime and pun
ished with cruel severity.
Schools were scarcely known, with
the exception Of the subsidized uni
versity, and the few other institutions
Of learning We're under the constant
surveillance of a suspicious and lgno-
rant police. This is in no sense An
GENT HISTORY. 1t is a true por-
trayal of conditions remembered Dy
men living. Only forty years ago
persons who could read and write
were looked upon with diSfavor, and
in order to be accused of belonging
to some secret society-a capltal
crime-were compelled to conceal
their knowledge. No wonder the mas
ses Of the common people are lIllt-
or.+, tnday, No wonder medlaeVat