The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1913-09-25
OVER SEAS.

Taking our train August 4th for the
Savoy and southwestern Alps, we reach
ed Torino (Turin,) a fine modern town
among the Italian Alps, with history
dating back Of the Caesars 1t is at the
confluence of the Dora Repaira and the
20 rivers, with spacious squares, the
Piazza del CASTILLO being surrounded by
palaces, Piazza di San Carlo almost sur
rounded by arcades. Piazza di San
Giovanni and Piazza del 'Erbe are at
tractive. The cathedral and churches
are repositories of sacred paintings by
the old masters. Other objects of in
terest are the Royal Palace, the Royal
Armory, the old palace of the dukes of
Savoy, the Town House with unfinished
tower, the university and great library,
an academy of fine arts, seminary, a
royal military academy, two colleges and
various chools. Charitable institutions
with rich endowments are numerous.
That of Retro dele Rosine has 400 girls,
a1ow disappearing. Manufacturers of
paper, iron, leather, glass, carriages,
printers type, philosophical and musical
instruments, and mills for other work
are there. The staple is silk
The Romans took this place from the
%iauls after the expulsion of Hannibal.
It was later sacked by the Goths, and
Charlemagne gave it as feudal tenure
to the Bishops. In 14lS it was declared
by Amades 5th the capital of the States
of Savoy, and it rose to be the capital of
Sardinia, and in 1860 to 1865 the capital
Of the Kingdom of Italy. Under the
French it was the capital of the Depart
ment of the Pc. The Piedmont valley
from this town to Mourl Gents tunnel,
the one railway pass from Italy through
the Alps into France, is strikingly rich
and fair TO the eye. Vineyards and
grain fields and tree culture and lovely
villages, hamlets and country villas,
make up the scene between the noun
vains, drawing closer and rising higher
on both sides, till the eternaly snow
crested SUBMITS appear; they and the
Italian garrison being the last objects in
view before we plunge under the great
barrier for 7 12 mile tunnel railway
ride from the Kingdom of Italy to the
Republic of France.
On arriving at Modane, the first station
IN the French side of the Mount Gents
eunnel, the military establishment of
France was also iii evidence There the
mountain tops were fortified, and We see
noted airships flying from station to
station on the SUBMITS. Our night at
me little village of Modane was inter
1=sting, but the high altitude and rare
ar made me as nimble as a rabbit in
clover. By train the next day we grad
Ially got down to common levels at
Chambery, and made Geneva, Switzer-
land, before dark.
The Savoy is a country rich in natural
resources. as in history, this region once
being the seat of the Aedui, of whom
Caesar made note, and of the later pow
ssrful Burgundians. Their ancient king
dom occupied the whole basin of the
Rhone. Later it became a Dukedom
the Dukes of Burgundy being hailed as
most formidable. On the death of
Charles, the Bod, at the siege of Nancy,
MS son-in-law, Louis XI, succeeded. 1t
has since been part of France known
as the Departments, Cote d. Or, Laone
ct Loire, Yonne, port of Ain and port of
Aube.
However many of the people in the
Savoy are poor, especially those in the
Alpine Mountain dells. Life there has
simple and quaint aspects. A surerin-
r5endent Of Methodist Missions in that
country travelled with US half day on
the railway, and gave interesting ac-
counts of the life and needs Of the peo-
OLE. hose who listen to Protestant
teaching are practically infidel, bat find
IL its practical portrayal rational basis
OF HE est philosophy. Their hard
ships command Its sympathies. He
says. however that the great mass Of
Inc people still looa for standards of au-
thorty IN both civil ard religious spheres;
and he predicts wave of popular return
n France to the bosom of the Roman
church, that in the long run will result
IN another revulsion against corruption,
that 50 naturally 70 lows success. May
We not rather precict, what seems to
many reasonable hope, that the history
Of human ethics is to continue on the up
grade, and that all institutions will so
have their trend.
On the line of railway from Mount
Cents tunnel to Lyons and Geneva are
several attractive summering places, the
most attractive, it seems to me, being
AK les Bains, with its railway encircled
axe of wonderful beauty, dropped as
from the clouds among the hills, its
charming hotels and 1riveways into the
surrounding picturesque country Roads!
Oh, such roads. Fruit, what paradisel
From Chambery up to Geneva the rail-
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