Show OLD VESUVIUS dr snow visits naples pompeii and ana the big volcano EDITOR thial thinking ing a few lines from this part of the world might ie be of interest to some of your readers I 1 take pleasure in sending them the city of naples beautifully situated an aa the bay of naples an arm of the mediterranean sea is ia a typical southern italian city icv while the sanitary condition is ie n not at a model of cleanliness and the ili inhabitants are not dot models model 5 worthy the imitation olour of our advanced civilization isa iza tion yet this place presents many objects of interest and is the point from which a aich excursions to the ruins of pompeii and the noted volcano of vesuvius are usually made during the spring the climate is most delightful and it affords a plea pleasant sait resort i with ith its balmy nir air chile winter illions supreme in our northern tl n latitude during daring these seasons the comfortable hotels hotel bound found here are well patronized by americans amei leans and people from northern europe it in some respects respect sta t c neapolitans are quite uncivilized we bear their a ild cries on e eiery ery side arid and cannot fail to observe their taste for ornament oin ament contrasted with a total want of all that is useful diessel of red led or purple w whose base strong colors catch the eye their ragged cloaks dr draped so ar w bile their feet are fre bare give something eom ething picturesque tur esque to the populace and remind I 1 us that we are not in the center of civilization the shops are decked with fruit arid and flowers g giving quite a holiday appearance th the mild climate permits all kinda of labor to be done in the open streets shoemakers make their shoes cooks their pastry and these household tasks are performed out oat of doors often accompanied by songs dances and doi noisy sy 8 sports ports present ent rather a strange spectacle irso some of the people are extremely ignorant and it is claimed a few of triena do not know their 0 ow n name they are seen lying on the pavements by day and night or crouching in the wicker that serve ibern for dv dwellings ellings night and day J there is very little incentive to in duttry in this climate where food and raiment are so cheap idleness and ignorance combined ith this volcanic air pr prodica odice a ferocity rocity fo when their passions are excited still they rate aie usually generous but extremely impulsive we were conveyed from naples to the foot bills of mt it besu vesuvius ius by carria carriage band and as the recent active state of the volcano had tendered rendered the operation of the tram tramway way impossible horses were provided us at this point the v whole liale bare of the mountain is covered with nith orange and lemon trees that delicately embalm the air the olives and large lea leaded ad cactus that abound remind one of the gigantic vegetation of the torrid zone some m of the finest grapes and ch choicest obest figs flourish near the land totally I 1 Oeva devastated stated by lava As ai we a ascend I 1 an all excellent view is ia afford afforded eI of the surrounding country the ruins of pompeii which we had previous ly visited were readily recognized the volcano which buried it in ashes preserved it from decay nowhere can we behold such proofs of de deaths athi abrupt invasion the tracks of wheels are visible i in u the streets pictures Pic turca ani bronzes keep their primitive beauty while all do domestic mestie implements remain in startling perfection pei lection the remains of a female adorned perhaps for some festival but her fleshless arm no 0 longer fills filis the jeweled jen fled bracelet that yet hangs about it rhe public buildings of pompeii were sly handsome glancing towards naples and its beautiful surroundings the sea sparkles in the sun as if strewn with jewels but as ne ise ascend the luxuriant growth of vegetation is replaced by a more scanty growth aud ud ne ie ale aie soon in the region of abes a bes cinders and volcanic I 1 came rock I 1 I 1 the iron waves of other beltis I 1 I 1 have traced their large black fur rows in the soil coil and silent sentinels of white marble contrasting strangely e with the black surrounding surrounding indicate their date and distance botn the mountain side bide plants become J very scarce and finally disappear smoke and sulphurous fumes faines announce our approach to the volcano birds and insects are no longer seen and wo we enter the 0 of death great quantities of smoke sul pharous gases rind and vapor escape from the fissures and objects appear very indistinct the lava is of a lurid line hue aud arid issues asque forth foith in III st reams like molten iron iron the earth is ii unc eilam beneath our feet as ne ae step on hot resonant crusts war warping pint in all conceivable and filled fifles with fissures through which chean can be seen red h hot at lava and nd then again are sulphurous boulders that crumble beneath our feet one tre trembles tables to guess at w what hat is passing in the bosom of the earth whose fury shakes the ground beneath our steps it seems very reasonable that the poets should have drawn their pc pictures tules of the infernal einal re regions ions from such a 1 scene as this retracing our bourse down the mountain noun tain side we were soon in the beautiful village below which ze is minded us strongly of a sudden transfer froni from the infernal anal P to a land of paradise the volcano has been very active of late and everal earthquakes have occurred in this locality at night the na thies anes may be spen seen collected in large groups glancing intently it at the volcano and conversing in their own onn language concerning it A river of lurid flame I 1 oils down the mountain si side de and presents s a strange q spectacle that once seen is never dever forgotten yours truly L 11 Y sow snow NAPLES italy july 18 1895 1893 |