The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1915-03-26

Austrian war and came near involving San Ma
rino in a war with the dual monarchy
Since San Marino's streets all run at some
precipitous angie drainage and sewerage is no
worry Nature handles that. Few horses are
owned in the republic and in many cases the
family COWS have to climb down stairways to
get their daily pasturng.
Both Monaco and San Marino part OF
the group OF Italian republics and principalities
which maintained their independence until the
middle OF last century. The other little nations
were united as Italy but Monaco and San Ma
rIno kept their independence. The little republics
and principaties of northern Italy were noted
for their thrift and industry.
J. c. L. de Sismondi says in THE Italian Re-
publics:"
The 'navigilo grande of Milan, which spreads
the clear waters Of the Ticno over the finest
parts OF Lombardy, was begun in 1179. resumed
in 1857, and terminated few years afterVa ards.
Men who medtated, and who applied to the arts
the fruits Of their study practiced, he says, that
skillful agriculture OF Lombardy and Tuscany
which became model to other nations"
He says that the cities, surrounded with thick
walls, terraced and guarded by towers, were for
the most part paved with broad lagstones; while
the inhabitants of Paris could not stir out Of
their houses without plunging into the mud
Stone bridges of elegant and bold architecture
we're thrown rivers; aqueducts carried
pure water to the fountains The palace of the
pedestas and signorie united strength with maj
esty The most admirable Of those of Florence,
the Palazzo- Vecchio built in 1898 The Log
ga in the same city, the church Of Santa Croce,
that Of Santa Maria del Fiore with its DOME
admired by Michael Angelo, begun by the
architect Arnolfo. scholar of Nicolas di Pisa, be-
tween the years 1884 and 1900.
THE prodigies Of the first born of the fine
arts multiplied in Italy: pure taste. boldness
and grandeur struck the eye In all public mon
uments and finally reached private dwell
ings; while the princes Of France, England and
Germany, In building their castles seemed to
think only OF shelter and defense. Sculpture In
marble and bronze soon followed the progress OF
architecture; In 1900, Andrea di Pisa. of the
architect Nicolas, cast the admirable bronze
gates of the Baptistery at Florence; about the
same time. Cimabue and Gotte revived the art
OF painting. Casea music, and Dante gave to
Italy his 'Divina Commedia, unequaled in sue
ceeding generations. History written hon
estly, with scrupulous research, and with grace
ful simplicity, by Giovanni viani. and his
school: the study OF morals and philosophy be-
gan: and Italy, ennobed by freedom enlightened
nations till then sunk in darkness.
THE Republic OF Pisa was one OF the first to
make known to the world the riches and the
power which small state might acquire by the
aid of commerce and liberty Pisa had aston
ished the shores OF tRe Mediterranean by the
number OF vessels ano galleys that sailed under
her hag by the succor she had given the cru
saders by the fear she had inspired at CCnstan-
tinople. and by the conquest of Sardinia and the
Balearc isles. Pisa the first to introduce
into Tuscany the arts that ennobe wealth; her
dome her baptistery. her leaning tower, and her
Campo Santo, which the travellers eye en-
braces ct one glance but does not weary OF be-
holding. had been successfully built from the
year 1868 TO the end Of the twelfth century
These chefs.d'oeuvre had animated the genius OF
the Pisans: the great architects OF the thirteenth
century were, for the most part, pupils OF
Nicholas di Pisa"