El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-02-24

~ HE last census shows that Naples
still stands ahead OF all Italian
cities IN population. Rome has
had half a century in which to justify
It's selection as the capital Of new It.
ally Has it faileG2 1 think the an
sWer must be in the affirmative. OF
course IN one sense the choice Of Rome
was inevitable. Who could think Of
Rome relegated to the role OF second
place IN the government of Italy2
Anyone who has lived in Florence
must regret that the experiment OF
making that city the capital was
abandoned. Florence would have been
an ideal Italian Washington, as the
center Of government The history OF
Florence JuSufies its selection except
against Rome, while its art traditions
rendered 1t as worthy Of the highest
honor as any city could show.
Florence probably had lucky es-
cape It can now continue TO be the
shrine OF beauty IT always was. Mod
crn conditions have touched It little,
let il remain the gem of cities, holy
and dedicated to painting and sculp
ture- There are no streets in the
world like the Florentine streets with
their great openair sculptures. Now
that Michael Angeles immense nude
David again dazzles Us with its white
marble poetry in the open market
place we can well believe that Flor
ence is herself again David was re-
moved (wisely ] think TO the indoor
its fig-Ieayed confrere in the beautiful
Piazza Michael Angelo. exactly imi-
tates the original, and puts shame TO
shame" az the door OF the old palace
where SaVanarOla spent his last night
cid street Renamed.
Before leave Florence, must
mention that the principle street is TO
be rename ed Via Roma" Originally
Z was Archbishop street Two
years ago. in a fit of socialist enthu-
siasm. il WAS renamed Via Francesca
Fe-reT." Now it is more soberly re-
Christened by common consent
Rome is q ruin; that is the impor-
tart fact about Rome. II Is most
picturescue ruin and nobody wants us
ruins removed. But ruins DO not at an
harmonic with the needs OF great
city. The imperial Romans, When
Rome was at its zenith, did not nave 10
fashion their city in accordance win
the ruins Of earlier buildings, altnousn
we know there were sucn ruins men
They either destroyed the ruins or
built new temples on their sites Inc
historical value Of ROmes ruins qe-
mands their careful preserFalloh- ~
deed every decade adds to their vast
immensely. for eXca VatOrs ana eAplor
ers are constantly finding more and IN
teresting additions 10 these relics o.
past civiliza tions. Rome can pc an
art gallery. museum, library OF an
Equities. X can never become great
modern city unless it swept into limbo
its own wonderful monuments, which
are its only claim to fame
Millions Spent On Ruins.
Naturally Rome spends so many
millions on its ruins. IL cannot afford
money for its own streets Rome IS
the dirtiest, drabbest and most depress-
ing capital city in Europe. Hardly
street has a sidewalk. You scramble
among street cars. wagons and omni-
buses while you gaze in its poor shop
window, except in the Corso, the one
Promenade street, where there Is not
room for two people to walk abreast, /
so narrow is the sidewalk. Twice a day
/ barely escaped being crushed to
death between the electric car and the
walk in the tiny space allowed for
traffic beside the wide square OF Ira
JAMS Forum There is that magnifi-