The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1918-01-24
Foro del Mereantl, Bologna.

beginning Of the war 1t was for short
time the seat of the general staff.
Even today its streets. cafes and ho-
tells are thronged with soldiers. They
monopolize everything. They have Ia
ken one Of the eight churches which
go to make up the intensely interesting
basilica Of Santo Stefano. Tearfully
the sacristan's wife told me how they
are using the building for storeroom,
how they have damaged the walls and
ruined the paintings. AS the guide book
fails to give even the merest descrip-
ton Of the church in question. 1t is
doubtful II II contains { lything worth
special protection. Possibly the sacris-
tan's wife exaggerates. But she is
nntimilitarist and wound up a long re-
cital Of her woes with the reiterated
ejaculation: "And to think that there
are some people who wanted this
wari" Since the war began hardly
soul has visited the tombs of Saint
vitalis and Martyr Agricola. Churches
Seven and Eight are closed. Life is
indeed askew.
The military have occupied the park
above the Piazza DELI Agosto--a re-
minder Of the heroic days Of 1S4s and
Italian ''risorgimento." Here as
throughout the entire European world
the military are the masters.
II 10 market day. All Bologna Is in
the streets. The Piazza di Re EMO is
the scene Of a motley throng. The
Bolcsnese are handsome and intelli-
gent. The town is the center Of the
book trade. 1t breathes culture. It Is
also a center Of industry and has q
socialist administration. This fact has
undoubtedly emblttered the struggle
between Catholic and freethinker.
Crusade Against Profanity On.
On the walls of the cathedral I no
ticed a strange announcement. Tomor-
row. II Informed me, the church would
witness the Inauguration Of a crusade
against blasphemy and foul speaking.
to be undertaken by none other than
his eminence Giorgio Gusmini, cardi--
nal prince Of the church and arch
bishop Of Bologna. Cardinal Gusmini
has recently opened school Of re-
ligion" In his own archiepiscopal PAL
ace. intending thus TO inculcate more
firmly the rudlments of Christian the
ology among the lay youth.
But the cardinal has outlined no easy
task. The ancient motto of Bologna 10
'libertas." easily taken to mean free
dom from restraint. The Bolognese are
additionally turbulent. Early In their
history they embraced the cause Of
Guelf against Ghibelline. burgher
against knight. and though they bore
the yoke Of the proud Bentivoglio fam
lily. theirs was no herbivorous submis-
sion. The civic theater today occupies
the former site OF the Bentivoglio pal
ace. burned In 1907 by an angry mob.
With Milan. Bologna pours forth ever
fresh life to the socialist liberalist cur
rents In Italian politics. And. coinci.
dcntally. Milan and Bologna are the
only two towns In Italy where there
exists anything like the so-called night
life Of great capitals. In this respect
as In many others Bologna "feels big
GER 10 the visitor than the number of
Its Inhabitants would imply.
Accidentally. the entire city IL In
contrast with the ardent pleasure-lov-
ing character of the inhabitants. The
gothic municipal buildings. which tes-
tify TO an ancient and intense COM
munal life. the many fine churches. the
hundreds Of fine private palaces. the
towers. the miles Of arcades. the WELL
supplied yet severe display windows.
give a thoroughly monastic air 10 the
place. Alas for externalsi One soon
discovers that cafes are numerous and
well frequented. The eusy freedom Of
Bologna might be taken by pietist for
simple godlessness. Yet Bologna 10 to-
day one of the most interesting cities
IN Italy. Too long II has been buried
under the reputation Of Florence. rich
er In museums surely. but not nearly
80 interesting modern city. nor SO fine
a specimen OF the antique. Externally
Bologna bears comparison with its
Tuscan rival