Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-11-01
WRITES OF sunny ITALY

Y.
mind, was none the worse as we made
the descent from their lofty slopes into
Italy. Just before reaching Milan |
had concrete illustration of the need
young women have of being careful Of
offers OF assistance when travelling. A
young Geman lady and a dark haired,
very handsome Russian girl for whom
she seemed to be travelling companion,
were friendly disposed to their fellow
travellers, but kept their dignity. The
Russian girl could speak French and
Russian. The German girl spoke. French,
German and few words of English.
After travelling in the same cars all
day and having loaned them m, field.
glasses at their wish, several times, we
were pretty good friends, such as trav-
elers become. Two dressy 'tmashers"
in the party mistook the courtesies of
these young women and offered indig-
mites that leads me to moralize on this
theme of being courteous, yet careful,
lest misjudged
A CATHEDRAL OF MOST RENowN
My first glimpse of the world-famed
cathedral of Milan was on the night of
my arrival, through my field glasses
from the window of my hotel, which was
not far off. Ii was a dim vision and
yet the white marble gothic spires
towering into the night Impressed me
with their majesty. Next morning il
was my pleasure to visit it in broad
daylight. 1t is truly a marvellous archi-
tectural achievement. When one as
eends TO the roof and wanders around
among the many spires il is like walk
ing IN forest of stone. Rain inter-
rupted the second day in Milan and
more or less rain, generally more, has
broken into the sightseeing ever since.
But saw the best of Milan, including
the magnificent view Of the Alps from
the cathedral tower and the celebrated
picture of The Last Supper" by Leo.
Rardi Da Vinci.
GoNoA IS A CITY OF PALACES
1t was not my intention to stop at
Genoa, but going to my hotel for din
ner It seemed so comfortable that |
decided to stay for the night This
gave me an opportunity to look around
Genoa the next morning. 1t is preemi-
nently a city of palaces, has some very
fine paintings and beautiful surround
ings. | visited the cathedral. The ex-
terror is of vari-colored marbles ar
ranged in geometrical designs. This
was the first architecture of the kind
had seen, but il did not impress me
very much. Neither did the interior.
The Church of the Annunciation has a
very gorgeous interior. In the picture
gallery of the Palazzo Rosso (Red Palace,
named from the color of the stone used)
the guards watch very closely and sus.
piciously. They do so everywhere in
Italy and do not have manners to con-
caafeit. ln--fset---it-ehepld make the
most innocent nun feel uncomfortable
On my way home 10 lunch | noticed
what seemed to be general public
wash place. A court off the street
considerable IN size. he'd lang wide
cemshtaa trough. ana along IL 81 5ots.
sides busy with their washiHr,~were a
number of women. The court was Full
of clothes lines crossing this way and
that and burdened with drying gar
ments. ] have noticed a number Of
these troughs in both town and country
in Italy. Always there were several wo-
men washing, If any. Perhaps they
have set times to meet and while they
wash their clothes besmirch their
neighbors good character. II they
gossip as we do 10 America, they GER
tainly couldn't miss the opportunity.
On my way from Genoa TO Florence
two young Englishmen, who said they
were studying to sing in Lucia di Lam
mermoore, the next Wednesday, made
things lively. One was buying wine,
soda water or something to eat at near
ly every station The journey was in
teresting without this, however, for the
scenery as we followed the shore was
grand. Several score OF tunnels, how
ever, spoiled the enjoyment. Before
reaching Pisa we passed the Carrara
marble gusrries. Tremendous gaps in
the mountains can be seen even from
the train where thousands of tons of
marble have been removed. Great
quarried blocks and sawn slabs line the
railroad in places OF course we saw
the light looking, graceful, leaning
tower Of Pisa. 1t certainly does lean
A COUNTRY DIFFICULT TO DESCRIBE
The general appearance Of Italy Is
hard to describe. Vineyards abound,
the vines trellisei and otherwise; many
trees and shrubs, too often in neglected
profusion: teams of two white or cream
oxen are common; women work great
deal in the fields; olive groves are num-
the slow, go esIsy way of the Italians.
miss the bright cleanliness of Swift
zerland. Meals are not cooked sUf.
ficiently at times; sometimes the feath
ers are abundant on the chickens legs
or scales are left on the fish. Yet every
where you SIZE evidence of the artistic
spirit Of Italy; painted and frescoed
houses, patterned stone pavements,
windows, etc. Old buildings are every
where, many Of them quantity built.
Primitive 'cethJds abound, such as the
sight / witnessed Of women washing
their clothes in tho river, beating them
on the stones ami Siretching The out
on the pebbles to d-y. In general the
rural scenery is not pleasantly varied
as II is in England or Switzerland
A lack or ordinary deccrcy Is found
everywhere IN Italy as it is in Paris.
Indeed modesty seems a very rare quail
ity In Milan, am told, the govern
ment keeps houses Of III fame and makes
them q source Of revenue.
NURSERY or ART AND CULTURE
Florence the beautiful, nursery Of art
and culture, was certainly treat in
these respects. The wonderful cathe-
dral with it's elaborate exterior of many
colored marble, the Campsnile, more re-
markable still. and the baptisterg we're
all intensely interesting In many of
the early Italian cities, church, bell
tower and babtistery were separate
The Florence baptistery has
bronze gates, Of which copies
nav be found IN many Of the greatest
museums I was Interested to note /
hat my guide stated that IN this bsp