The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1915-09-25

Danubian plain were welcomed on the
other side of the Alps. But salt was
the main article os trade brought
south. 1t came from the great mines
at Hall, which are still in operation,
and are said to contain sufficient sa-
line rock to keep up the normal output
for another thousand years.
AS the traveller leaves the saddle of
the pass and trudges on southwards
the whole character of the surround
ings begins to change. He is coming
into Latin territory and moving among
Latin folk. The language changes.
first to a dialect of the old Roman
tongue and hen to the lingua liquida
of modern Italy. When he stands in
the Piazza at Trent he is in the heart
of things Italian. And if he have
sense he will linger longer in Trent;
for every stone will tell him a story,
and he will learn more of Italy here
in this Alpine stronghold than he
might learn in Rome, for the people
are yearning to be once more in the
lap of their mother Italy, and their
Italian fervor has a strong absorbing
atmosphere.
Trent's Commanding Site.
The city of Trent assumed a place
of prominence in Roman life soon af-
ter the Bremen road had been con-
structed. 1t was the first military
fortress built by the Romans on the
southern slope of the pass, and from
then to now it has been the most
important stronghold commanding the
entrance to Italy.
Perched on the shoulder of the
mountain, commanding the road and
the river valley, it offered an excel
lent site for the balliste and catapults
OF the Romans, the trebuchets and
mangonels of the middle ages, and the
muzzle-loading cannon of Napoleon.
The redeeming of Trent is one of
the great objects of the Italian cam
paign today, just for the same rea-
son as led the Romans first to build
it on the slope of the Bremen. Who
ever holds Trent commands the en-
trance to Italy. Up to now it has been
in Austria's hands and Italy has been
at her mercy. Until Italy shall have
PAAhbSu bhO SlOoo vi odNOy On IT'D lOM-
ers, where the Eagles of Rome were
first planted two thousand years ago.
she cannot feel safe in her own house.
But there is another and deeper rea-
son urging the Italian on towards
Trent. 1t Is a priceless jewel from
his crown and he must have it back.
For not only is Trent thoroughly Ital-
ian in it's people and modes of life,
but all its artistic beauty is due to
the genius of Italy.
The famous Castillo di Buon Con-
siglio was first erected by Roman
hands. 1t was a soldiers barrack. In
the middle ages it was rebuilt and be-
came the palace of the prince bishop
of Trent. OF late years it has re-
passed into secular control, and now
the soldiers of Austria stand sentinel
within it.
Little of the original fortress re
mains, beyond the main foundation
walls and the massive round tower.
Loggie and battlements, in the style
of the fourteenth century. have been
added; and such a wealth of sculpture
and fresco was lavished on the walls
during the Cinquecento that not a
bare spot of the old wall remains.
The result is a marvelously pictur-
ssque effect.
In the Piazza di Dante stands a mon
ument to the great Florentine. Dante
lived through part of his exile here
in Trent, and the people of Trent
have raised this monument to be the
outer expression of that yearning for
mother Italy which they have in COM
mon with the soul of the great poet.
Southwards he looks, toward Italy, as
IL calling for deliverance.