The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1910-09-02

1919, but given up by them in 1860.
Our next important stop was 30.
logna. place of 10000 people and
an important railroad center. This is
the capital of Emilia and the seat of
the university, which was founded in
the fifth century There is fine ma
tional art gallery in the city.
High Taxes Make Beeears.
Our next stop was at Porretta, a
city noted for its baths and mineral
springs. Here we saw 1000 Italian
| may add If Italy did not keep so
many soldiers, there would not be so
many beggars and paupers, for the
taxes of this little kingdom are I'M
bearable by these downtrodden peo-
pie. yet there is no hope ahead and
no light of better day. am not
surprised that there are so many an.
archists developing in Italy. The re.
stricted measures in business are un.
Just and unfair. AS an example, we
were met at the station by the pro-
prietor of our hotel in his own car
riages, but because these did not con
tribute tips to the police for driving
in the station yard, the policemen
come out and cursed them very We
hemently. Just think of human beings
who must submit to such indignities.
We passed on to Passo dell Abetone,
a beautiful little city far up in the
Apennine mountains-in fact, this is
ha tnh 90
and after all it is wonderful how the
trains wind up among these lofty
peaks. Looking below we see the
valleys, rich in fruit and grain, but
the peaks are mostly barren, with
scattered shaggy trees along the
ridges.
Our next leap was to Pistola, city
which was anciently the capital of a
little republic which was conquered
by Florence in 1851. Many fine
churches and palaces now in ruins
attest the former greatness of this
capital. The manufactured articles
produced here are silk and linen goods
and pistols, its name being derived
from these weapons.
Each day the charms of these old
cities grow upon us and it is won
derful how things remain the same
for one or two thousand years. Even
the agricultural tools and the manner
of life could not have been much more
primitive than that seen in many cities
today. Yet in the face of all this, the
people seem happy, and the typical
Italian generally wears smile,
whether dressed in rags or in broad
cloth. 1t seems part of their nature
to look happy.
1t was just last evening that l saw
an old woman who sells matches on
the street, and her little boy fast
asleep on doorstep, no doubt wear.
for the day, they had fallen into that
land that has few ills and troubles.
Continuing our journey southwark.
we have reached the beautiful city of
Florence. In point of art and sculp-
ture masterpieces this is one of the
richest cities in the world. For eX-
ample, there is in the Vecchio palace
statue of small boy holding a fish,
which is so arranged that the water
from the fountain pOurs out of the
fish's mouth, and this little statue,
two feet high, is valued at $4,000, 600.
In fact, the Smithsonian Institute of
Washington offered this large sum for
it, but the money was refused.
The City of Florence.
Florence is a noted city because of
its past history and the noblemen who
have lived here. 1t was the home of
Dante, Michel Angelo, Zanobi, Romola,
Gorilla, Macchivelli, Rossini, Calico
and also Amerigo Vespucci, the Amer
lean discoverer, besides many more
who were just as illustrious as these
named. We stood upon the very spot
where the great preacher and reform
er Savonarola was burned because he
dared to reprove the Florentines of
their sins and to speak what he be-
lieved to be true. After he was burned
his ashes were thrown in the Arno
river and borne away to the Medit-
erranean sea to await the resurrection
day.
or the noted buildings / may men
ton the cathedral, Vecchio palace,
Campanile, Baptistery, Uffizi picture
gallery, the famous Pitt palace,
Church of Saint Lorenz, of the Annun-
ziata, Saint Croce, Maria Novella, pal.
ace of Riccardi, Bargello, and the
Ponte Vecchio, the wonderful bridge
which links the Uffizi and the Pitt pal
aces together.
We were very fortunate to be in
Florence when the beautiful Boboli
gardens were open, which happens
only two days during each week We
were guests at the Hotel Jennings
Riccioli, which was once famous old
palace, and what a fine time we did
have here. 1t was indeed a palace no.
tel and we have lived high for the few
days we have been here.
Florence is surrounded with beau
tiful mountains which at the foot are
skirted with hundreds of olive groves,
most of which fruit is shipped to