The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1910-01-15


1 France and Germany for its spas
l and watering places. There are
n two reasons for this-tirst the
places are further off and more dltfi-
cult OF access, and, secondly, 1t Is only
Of recent years that the medicinal wa
ters of Italy were redisCovered and in
troduced to the European public. In
the days of the Roman empire, before
the invasion of the barbarians, these
waters were we'll known and highly
esteemed but later they fell into dis
use among a people who cared little
Tor water, either for drinking or for
washing. Not the least of the benefits
conferred by renasCent Italy is the re-
opening of these springs and health
resorts, which are gradually making
their way to the knowledge of Europe,
and only need to be more widely
known to be as favorite places of re.
sort as the most popular French or
German spas. Salsomaggiore is per-
laps the most frequented Of the water
ing places in northern Italy, for its
medicinal waters have effected some
wonderful cures and, indeed they are
strong cough to cure anything, If the
neathy visitor may be allowed to
Judge from cursory inspection. The
little town lies on one of the most
northern spurs of the Apennines, just
off the line half way between Piacenza
and Parma, and is 'eached by a light
railway from the station of Borgo San
Domino. 1t is a merry little place,
which has been discovered by the Rus
SLAMS and Germans especially, but
would be very glad to see more Eng
lish visitors. Its bathing establish
ments are quite magnificent and have
the reputation of having set many ap.
parently hopeless cripples and inva.
lids on their legs again. It is very
warm spot and rejoices in the Italian
sky in all its beauty and marvellous
depths OF blue.
The other spas of northern Italy are
situated in the southern gorges of the
Alps. The most beautiful of them all
is San Pellegrino. which is reached by
winding mountain railway from the
charming little old world city of Ber.
gamo San Pellegrino is so new that
it is not marked on any but the most
modern maps. Three or four years
ago it was nothing but a mountain
hamlet, only known to the people who
nved close by. 1t had perhaps some
500 inhabitants. and lay hidden away
on the banks of its river, shut in by
mountains and completely out of the
world. Then the famous San Pelle
grino mineral water was rediscoyered
which has now become the fayorite
drink with visitors to northern italy
and the value of its baths was rea
lized; monster hotel was built on
the banks Of the river, and across the
stream a magnificent casino was SET
up. The casino has a splendid stair
case and wonderfully fine rooms. and
It Is quite surprising to find such q
building in little mountain valley. By
the side OF the casino a funicular rail
way runs up to the top of the noun
tain, and provides beautiful views over
the most southerly ranges of the Aims
san SI'SSl mo iS d. lutdI pace Tor Z
rest CIR and we can imagine nothina
more delightful than to be lulleu tc
sleep by the murmuring of the noun
tain stream FLASHING over its stony
bed in the autumn before the rain:
nave swollen it to its winter volume.
,irmione, the eye Of Garda," one O,
the loveliest spots on earth, which has
been sung OF by poets so far apart al
Catullus and Giuseppe Carducci, ha.
also its more prosaic side The spo
OF which Catullus sang:
"Peninsulayum, sirmio, insularumQu,
oCelle.
Possesses, besides the marvellous beau
ties oil its position on Lake Garda, sui
phur baths OF a most penetrating odor
and It is said OF potent efficacy. Poetry
and prose are thus harmoniously
blended, but the poetry overcomes the
prose, for one might travel far anc
not come upon such a view as tha
across and UP Lake Garda from tht
peninsula OF Sirmione, where tn,
legendary grottos Of Catullus mark tbs
site OF the poets villa to which he re