PREFACE. THIS book is a record of a pleasure-trip. If it were a record of a solemn scientific expedition, it would have about it that gravity, that profundity, and that impressive incomprehensibility which are so proper to works of that kind, and withal so attractive. Yet notwithstanding it is only a record of a pic-nic, it has a purpose, which is, to suggest to the reader how he would be likely to see Europe and the East if he looked at them with his own eyes instead of the eyes of those who travelled in those countries before him. I make small pretence of showing any one how he ought to look at objects of interest beyond the sea-other books do that, and therefore, even if I were competent to do it, there is no need. I offer no apologies for any departures from the usual style of travel-writing that may be charged against me-for I think I have seen with impartial eyes, and I am sure I have written at least honestly, whether wisely or not. In this volume I have used portions of letters which I wrote for the Daily Alta California, of San Francisco, the proprietors of that journal having waived their rights and given me the necessary permission. I have also inserted portions of several letters written for the New York Tribune and the New York Herald. THE AUTHOR. SAN FRANCISCO, 1869. ROOF AND SPIRES OF CATHEDRAL AT MILAN (FULL PAGE), FACE PAGE.. 59. CENTRAL DOOR OF CATHEDRAL AT MILAN........ 60. INTERIOR OF CATHEDRAL AT MILAN.. 6. BOYHOOD'S EXPERIENCE....... 62 TREASURES OF THE CATHEDRAL... 6. CATHEDRAL AT MILAN 64. LA SCALA THEATRE 65. COPYING FROM OLD MASTERS 64 FACIAL EXPRESSION. 6. THE ECHO.. 68. NOTE BOOK - . A KISS FOR A FRANO.. 70. THE FUMIGATION. 71. LAKE COMO. 72. GARDEN, LAKE COMO (FULL PAGE), FACE PAGE 73. SOCIAL DEIVER....... 74 WAYSIDE SHRINE 75. PEACE AND HAPPINESS.. vii PAGE 110 111 115 117 119 122 124 126 126 132 135 136 141 142 144 148 150 151 154 161 163 164 168 169 172 173 174 176 179 181 ...... 184 191 194 196 197 198 200 202 204 207 208 209 210 216 220 226 229 230 234 236 238 285 235 76. CASTLE OF COUNT LUIGI.. 77. THE WICKED BROTHER.. DISGUSTED GONDOLIER. 79. CATHEDEAL OF ST. MARK. 80. THE PEG $1. "GOOD-BY 82. M'SIEUR GOR-R-DONG.... $3. MONUMENT TO THE DOGE.. 88. ST. UNKNOWN. BY THE OLD MASTERS 239 239 |