Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1955-05-06
8 OUR
"a TOWN

FLORENCE - IhlS Flor-
ence, the home of the Medicis,
Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci,
and the man that Italy rever-
es above all others Michel
angelo. This city of busy shops
and the finest leather goods in
the world. The great author
Dante, also was Florence
great. Florence is a city of
business and industry and;
from the looks of things, per-
hapS the most productive in
the entire nation. Florence
features a different architec-
ture from the Roman in that
the influence here is of the
Estruscan variety. The Etrus-
can, you will remember, were
a flourishing state way back
when, but had the misfortune
to get caught between the am
bitions of the Gauls and the
Romans and were, therefore.
becalmed. The result shows in
the austere design of the
churches and the old buildings
here. The old city reminds
one of Spain in that it is a
labyrinth of narrow streets
and narrower side streets. AL
together it is an interesting
place where the shopkeeper
opens when he damned well
feels like it and closes at
/ pm. on the dot. He reopens
again at four in the manner
afore mentioned and will stay
open as long as there are GUS
toners around. sometimes as
late as eleven at night.
On the way here from Rome,
near Assist, the wonderful
little mountain town where
st. Francis started his profit
less good toward the world, we
were listening to our guide,
Emilio, express his knowledge
of the area. He had just fin
ished telling us of the sad fate
of the Romans and the Etrus-
cans and the Gauls explain
ing that all three were now a
more or less extinct civiliza-
ton when we passed a build
ing upon which were written
the words, "Duce-Duce-Duce!"
We asked, Hey Emilio, look
there II Duce!' AS quick as
a wink Emilio replied, "And
there is another example of an
extinct civilization" Only this
and nothing more.
Sam and I both regret that
we have not the money nor
the shoe leather to see all of
Firenze, as the Italianos call
it. The Arno river makes
a beautiful background for
some of the finest shops we
have seen. The shops are in
great contrast to the moulder-
ing spirit of the ages of which
Italy fairly reeks. But if you
we're here, you would perhaps
feel the same. 1t is odd that
the so-called busy American
takes so kindly to the lazy
ways of Florence but it's
truei
Oh yes, before / forget, this
is a place where the wild chill
dren lived following the last
war, tshould I say recent
since the Italians are pretty
sure that there will be another
one soon?) These homeless
and parentless wretches OF
very tender years roamed the
streets of Florence in gangs
only a few short years ago
and terrorized the citizens by
robbing and beating anyone
who ventured out alone. The
local monks made a visit to
the late Father Flanagan's
Boys Town" out in Nebraska
and came home with the an
swer. they now have a set
up like Boys Town here where
the boys learn useful trade
and the terrorism has come to
a complete standstill. Good
thing, huh?
The active Communist is
looked upon as a necessary
evil here. An odd thing to say
but, like us, it is looked upon
as another political party
and. therefore, is an accepted
part of things. .politics-wise.
Florence is full of the
Northerns right now Swedes,
Norwegians. English. A few
French too but they are out
numbered. It is nice to see SO
many blue-eyed people after
a drouth of same. Everyone is
on their best behavior and
courtesy is almost overdone
although no one, I'm sure un-
derstands the other. It takes
what seems like hours to go
through a doorway!
Food? All yes! But plenty
and always the vino. From
here comes the famous Chianti
known the world over. To-
night we feasted on Gnacchi,
roast veal, tiny Italian peas,
cauliflower, salads, pastry and
cheese plus blood-red oranges
Good and good for you!