The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-09-26

: IO,pOO skyscrapers before Peter Minuit
bought Manhattan Island for the pres
ont price of supper at a Broad
way cabaret.
A city that warred and traded with
empires, yet plunged into disastrous
struggle with rival city over the
rights to q lapdog.
"A city which was seized after n
F'orentine Hobson bottled up its har-
Dor entrance with sunken boats six
centuries before the battle Of Santiago
Bay
Such. according to a bulletin from
the Washington, ID. c.. headquarters
of tho National Geographic Society
is Pisa. whose leaning tower was en-
dangered by recent earthquake trem-
ors in Italy.
'Pisa's record abounds in incidents
MS freak!sh as its famous tower; yet
II possesses a history necessarily
more significant than any British
or American city. For the English
speaking town may be rich in NUM-
cpal annals but Pisa attained ma
tional status and conquered coveted
territory.
"A flourishing town when Rome
was n very mean city indeed, l.
was nurtured during the heyday of
the empire, and was among the first
of the Italian cities to emerge from
that chrysalis into robust inde-
pendence.
indicative of Pisa's Importance in
the thirteenth century was her send
ing an ambassador to Rome. There
by hangs the story Of the lapdog.
During the coronation ceremonies OF
Frederick II of the Florentine ennis
sary admired the lapdog of certain
cardinal. so that dignitary promised
TO give the tiny animal to its admir-
er. Next day the Psan ambassador
said n few kind words about the same
dog, and the cardinal Just as readily
promised it to him. The Florentine
sent for his gift, and got IT. the Pisan
sent, and received an apology. Flor
entines began joking the Pisans about
this incident, and fights ensued on
the Roman streets. When the Pisan
home folks heard this ii gave them
an excellent chance to pick quar-
rel that had long been simmer!ng. A
sort of medieval Boston Tea Party
was staged by the Pisans, who seized
all tho enemy merchandise within
their reach, and thus prccipitated the
first of series of wars with Florence
which eliminated in the subjectlon OF
Pisa by her longtime rival.
The lapdog story seems trivial,
vet characteristic of n certain childish
quality noticeable among the juvenile
civic nationaites that preceded ma
tional Italy. As further proof one
might recall the occasion when the
victorious army cf Lucca hung upon
q Pisan tower a mirror with the IN
scriptiun oh women Of Pisa. use
these to look at yourselves. NO
other challenge was needed for the
pisans TO march to the gate Of
Lucca. and there to plant poles, topped
with mirrors, bearing retaiatory COM
mcnt.
During one of the wars between
florence and Pisa-William Dean
Howells counted seven. but admits
he may have missed few-thc Flor
cntincs 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
10 the enemy camp. The bird was
killed, dragged back to Florence. and
there great was the rejoicing over the
omen of Pisa's capture.
We're super Rip Van Wrinkle
of medieval Pisa to come with his
latter day to Ellis Island in 1870
not only the national bird Of his
adopted land, but the skyscraper lire
Of New York might make him feel
at home.
Towers they We're called these
pisa skyscrapers. huddled together
for all the world like groups OF tall
opor.mcnt houses. Two reasons are
assigned for this method of build
ing, common to Italian towns of the
twelfth century. Ono was that the
walls pcrmitted only vertical ex'
mansion 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-
cursors OF the modern fire escape
many q 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 hurtling through
the air, whistling arbalest bolts anc
clothyard shafts flew IN thick show
ers. boiling oil or lead rained dowr
on the heads Of those who venturec
down to attack the doors, and ar
rows, with greek fire attached, wer,
shot with nice aim into the wooder
balconies and bridges. The shout;
and shrieks Of the combatants were
mingled with the crash of fallinl
tower or with the Kissing OF fire
arrow. Where those struck n rec
glow arose and thick cloud of smoke
.nveloped the defenders
"All Of which goes to prove tina
pisa's interest lies far deeper thar
the architectural curiosity that ha'
made It famous. Even the toweI
served humanity well. aside from be
coming the most effective bit OF cit,
advertising yet devised, for It permit