Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-07
NAPLES|SALWAYS
A CITY OF NOISE
Auto Horns, Carts, Drivers and
Donkeys Contribute to
the Confusion
CLOUDS ABOUT VESUVlUS
BAR A LAST DAY VISIT
Inspection of Houses Discloses Why
Neapolitans Live in the
Open Air.
stan CORRESPONDENCE Of The Star.

Stan Correspondence Of The Star.
NAPLES, May 15.-The difficulty of
doing" Naples and its surrounding at
fractions and points Of interest within
Q positively limited time was demon
stIated this morning. when, with a trip
to the crater Of vesuvius in mind, I
surveyed the cone from my window
balcony. Thick clouds enveloped the
truncated cone, and there was no sign
Of q change of wind to clear away the
mist and smoke sufficiently to permit
. view Of the boiling depths. So. mas
much as there were other things that
must be done to prepare for the NOR
rows sailing for home, I regretfully
postponed my visit to the volcano until
some other time in the uncertain future.
Perhaps the bronze pledges given at
Rome will prove effective in insuring
. return, and then Vesuvius surely will
b seen.
But fortune was not altogether I'M
favorable, for by good chance during
American consul, Mr.. Jay White, two
scientists from Washington, who have
come over for the purpose of studying
the volcanic activities in Italy. Prof.
Arthur L. Day of the Carnegie Institu-
ton and Prof. Henry Stephens Wash
ington of the geophysical laboratory.
They will spend several months here
and in Sicily. observing conditions and
endeavoring to obtain specimens of the
gases emitted from Vesuvius. Etna and
Strambo.i, in their research into the
nature Of the forces which cause erup-
tons. 1t is to be hoped that they will
have the good fortune to gain tnforma-
ton to aid in the evolution of a sub
stantia1 working hypothesis explanatory
Of the most battling phenomenon now
confronting natural science.
Too Late for a Visit.
Later in the day Vesuvius cleared off
finely. tantalizing trick that made the
postponement of the trip to the top hard
to endure philosophically. But 1t is quite
well assured that the big chimney will
continue TO smoke for a long time to
come. and perhaps when l come again
1t will be performing more spectacularly
than at present. AS I write, in the even
ings rosy glow that makes the bay of
Naples indescribably beautiful, it is smok-
ing away grandly, rolling its white steam
high aloft before the wind carries 1t in
a streamer off to the southeast
! have been devotinS part of this last
full day in Italy to a study of street
conditions in this lively. noisy Naples. 1t
IL a continuous torment of temptations.
Every corner presents an inviting pros
pect of interesting scenes, but 1t is hard
TO know whether to turn or go straight
ahead. One street Is much like another,
in general aspect, save that some are
practicable for vehicles and others are
not. The latter ascend the precipitous
hillsides in series of stone steps. which
swarm with humanity. At the end of one
Of these ''gradoni." or step streets, where
II meets q thoroughfare. will often be a
group of flower stalls. giving a vivid
dash of color to the scene. Far above
stretches the steep stone staircase, with
the buildings SO close together that the
clothing hung out Of windows on sticks
and on wires. drying, almost obscure the
view Of the sky.
Neapolitans love the open. They go into
their houses to cook and sleep, and some
times to eat. but they spend practically
al! the remainder of the time out OF
doors. They sit in the doorways or on
the balconies or in the very street and
work. knitting. mending. even washing
artisans ply thir trades at the thresholds
of their shops, where they can gossip and
watch the passing multitude. Babies
sprawl over the dirty pavements, until
they are black with CRIME. The older
children play about, miraculously avoid
ing the heels OF horses and the feet OF
hurrying pedestrians.
Passing glances into the dwellings af-
ford ample explanation of this preference
for the street. They are dark and dis
NAL Without doubt they are cold. for
they are all built of stone or brick. with