Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-09-19
P|SAISCUR|OS7Y
TOWN Of HISTORY
Warred and Traded With En-.
/ pires, Yet Fought Over
7 a Lapdog.

"a city of 10000 skyscrapers before
Peter Minuit bought Manhattan Is
land for the present price of sup
per at a Broadway cabaret:
"A city that warred and traded
with empires. yet plunged into
disastrous struggle with a rival CITY
over the rights to lapdog;
"A city which was seized after
Florentine Hobson bottled up l.s
harbor entrance with sunken poaIs
six centuries before the battle OH
Santiago bay"
Such is Pisa. whose leaning tower
was endangered by recent earthquake
"Pisa's record abounds in incidents
it possesses a history necessariiy
more significant than any British or
American city. For the Engilsn-
speaking town may be rich In muhlc-
ipaI annals but Pisa attained a ma,
tional status and conquered coveted
territory.
First to Gain Independence.
was a very mean city; indeed, It was
nurtured during the heyday OF the
empire. and was among the nrst OIL
the Italian cities to emerge from that
chrysalis into a robust independence.
indicative of Pisa's Importance In
ing an ambassador to Rome. Thereby
hangs the story OF the lapdog During
the coronation ceremonies OF FREEZER
lex II the Florentine emissary admired
the lapdoS of a certain cardinal, SO
that dignitary promised to give the
tiny animal to it's admirer. Next DAY
the Pisan ambassador said few kind
words about the same dog and the
cardinal just as readily promised 1t TO
him. The Florentine sent for his gift,
and got it: the Pisan sent and. re-
ceived an apology. Florentines began
Joking the Pisans about this incident.
and fights ensued on the Roman
streets.
when the Pisan nome folks heard
this it, gave them an excellent
chance to pick quarrel that had
long been simmeHng. A sort OF
medieval Boston tea party was staged
by the Pisans. who seized all the
enemy merchandise within their
reach. and thus precipitated the first
of a series of wars with Florence
which eliminated in the subsection
of Pisa by her longtime rival.
LapAox story Seems Trivial.
''rhe lapdog story, seems trivial.
yet characteristic Of q certain child
ish quality noticeable among the
juvenile civic nationaiities that pre-
coded national. Italy. As further
proof one might recall the occasion
when the victorious army OF LuccA
hung upon a Pisan toWsr a mirror
with the inscription ,OtS Women of
selves NO other challenge was
needed for the Pisans to march to
the gate Of Lucca. and there to plant
poles. topped with mirrors, bearing re-
taliatory comments -.
During one of the wars between
1fav naa
Howells counted seven but admits
he may have missed a few-the
Florentines had chased the Pisans
back to their own city. An eagle.
revered by the Pisans. as were wolves
in Rome and lions in Florence, escaped
to the enemy camp. The bird was
killed. dragged back to Florence. and
there great was the rejoicing over
the omen of Pisa's capture.
Were super Rip Van Wrinkle OF
medieval Pisa to come with his latter
day compatriots to Ellis Island. In
adopted land, but the skyscraper line
of New York might make him feel at
home.
Skyseraper Called Towers.
flowers they were called. these
Pisa skyscrapers, huddled together
for all the world like groups of tall
apartment houses. Two reasons are
common to Italian towns Of the
twelfth century. One was that the
walls permitted only vertical expan-
sion when population pressure in
creased. Another. believable in view
of the constant factional fights and
family feuds. attributed them to the
necessity for protection.
Bridges that could be thrown from
tower to tower further suggested the
skyscraper likeness. On these pre-
crrsors Of the modern fire-escape
many a community battle has ragged.
To quote one vivid description: Man
gonels. or catapults. huge engines
stationed on the roofs Of the towers,
sent masses of stone hurting through
the air, whistling arbelast bolts and
clothyard shafts few in thick show
ers. boiling oil or lead rained down
on the heads of those who sventured
down to attack the doors. and arrows.
with Greek fire attached. were shot
with nice aim into the wooden bal
comics and bridges. The shouts and
shrieks of the combatants were min
gled with the crash of a falling tower
or with the kissing Of a fire arrow
Where those struck a red glow arose
and thick cloud Of smoke enveloped
the defenders