TWO UNANSWERED LETTERS
During the night the yacht "Hallena" had steamed down through the Channel
Piombino, and the Tuscan Archipelago, studded with islands, and had
passed Rome, the Eternal City.
"Naples cannot be far off," thought Leo, for to the southeast is seen the
smoking torch of Mt. Vesuvius, southwest is the island of Ischia with its
extinct volcano, and beyond is Cape Miseno. The "Hallena" cautiously felt
her way among the luxuriant islands that guard the broad and beautiful
Bay of Naples and the Siren City. Her passengers had ample opportunity
to study the attractions of this justly celebrated locality.
Vesuvius, reflected in the smooth waters of the bay, lifts high her peak,
the ascending smoke coloring the white clouds above. At her feet lies
ancient Hurculaneum, submerged on the 24th of August, A.D. 79, by a flood
of molten lava.
Nearer the bay and only five miles from the volcano, is ancient Pompeii,
which was overwhelmed by the same eruption of Vesuvius. Pompeii was
buried, not with lava, but with tufa, ashes and scoriæ, and since 1755
has thus been the more easily and extensively uncovered. This ancient
Roman city was enclosed by walls and entered by several gates. Its
numerous streets were paved with lava. The traveler of to-day beholds
uncovered the one story and terraced houses, shops, mansions, the market
place, temples, theatres, and baths. In some of the houses were found
furniture, statues, paintings, books, medals, urns, jewels, utensils,
manuscripts, etc., all less injured than one would suppose.
Today more modern towns are located about the curved shore of this
unrivaled bay. The sparkling waters, the winding shore, the bold cliffs,
the threatening lava cone, the buried cities, all combine under the
bluest skies to make the Bay of Naples a Mecca for worshipers of the
beautiful.
On the deck of the "Hallena" stood the group of American tourists,
enchanted with the picturesque environment of historic Naples. The city
is built along the shore and up the sides of adjacent mountains. A mole,
with lighthouse, projects into the bay and forms a small harbor.
The sun had climbed towards the zenith, and shone full upon this fair
city, as the yacht entered the harbor. Many of the buildings are white,
five or six stories in height, with flat roofs covered with plants and
shrubbery. If the weather is favorable the inmates resort at sunset to
their roof-gardens to enjoy lovely views and the cool breezes from the
bay.
The Spiaggia, a popular thoroughfare, is adorned with statues, and
extends along the shore to the Tomb of Virgil, and the mole. It is
crowded every evening with Neapolitans in equipages, some elegant, and
some grotesque.
Two or three days were spent in studying the palaces and art galleries of
Naples. Of special interest is the national Museo Borbonico, which is
remarkable for its collection of antiquities. In the palmy days of Borne,
Naples was a luxurious retreat for emperors and wealthy citizens of the
great empire. Naples was the scene of a most disgraceful outrage in May,
1848, when it was plundered by the Lazzaroni, or Begging Community, and
fifteen hundred lives were lost.
When the sight-seeing in Naples was completed Captain Hall offered to
take the Harrises in his yacht back to Rome, but his offer was declined.
Good-byes were cordially exchanged and the "Hallena" steamed south to
Palermo, en route to Athens and other Levantine cities, while the
Harrises took the express for Rome.
Leo was glad to see the "Hallena" steam away, and to be with Lucille
aboard a train moving towards Rome. When the station in the eastern part
of the city was reached, a carriage conveyed the Harrises along the Corso
which at the hour of their driving was enlivened by many vehicles and
foot-passengers.
Leo told Lucille of the popular festivals at Rome, especially of the
Carnival that extends over several days, which consists of daily
processions in the Corso, accompanied by the throwing of bouquets and
comfits; the whole concluding with a horse race from the Piazza del
Popolo to Piazza di Venezia, upwards of a mile. On the last, or the
Moccoli evening, tapers are lighted immediately after sunset. Balconies
most suitable for observing these animated scenes are expensive, but
always in great demand, especially by tourists.
Colonel Harris took his family and Leo to an excellent hotel on the
Piazza de Popolo. The weather being uncomfortably warm, it was decided
to spend only a few days in the city, and go as soon as possible to the
country. Leo was very familiar with Rome, ancient and modern, and he
felt that weeks were absolutely necessary to study and comprehend the
grandeur of a city that for so many centuries had been mistress of the
world. He agreed with Niebuhr, "As the streams lose themselves in the
mightier ocean, so the history of the people once distributed along the
Mediterranean shores is absorbed in that of the mighty mistress of the
world."
Leo back again in Rome was in an ecstasy of joy. Here Greece had laid at
the feet of Rome her conqueror, the accumulated art treasures of ages.
Here Leo could have keenest delight, where he moved among the noblest
examples of antique sculpture, which filled the galleries and chambers of
the Vatican and Capitol. Most of the night he lay awake, planning how he
could in so short a time exhibit to his American friends Rome and her
wealth of art. At breakfast he said, "A whole day is needed to inspect
the Forum Romanum, a day each, for the Capitoline Hill, the Appian Way,
and many other historic localities in this seven-hilled city."
Leo, acting as guide, took his party to the Pincian Hill near the
northern wall, a fashionable resort with fine boulevards and frequent
band music. From the summit, he pointed out the yellow Tiber, which winds
for seventeen miles to the sea. The larger part of modern Rome lies on
the left bank of the Tiber, and covers three historic hills. Towering
above the tops of the buildings are the domes and spires of nearly four
hundred churches of which the dome of St. Peter's is the most imposing.
In sight beyond are the Capitol, the ruins of the Colosseum, and ancient
tombs along the Appian Way. To the west on the Palatine Hill are the
ruins of the palace of the Cæsars, and outside the walls, on the broad
Campagna, are the remains of several aqueducts converging on the city,
some of which, restored, are in use to-day.
The day's ride included a visit to Agrippa's Pantheon, now denuded of its
bronze roofing and marble exterior. A circular opening in the huge dome
admits both light and rain. Leo standing with Lucille by the tomb of
Raphael in one of the recesses, for a moment was silent. Then he said,
"Lucille, it is impossible to fully appreciate the many and beautiful
works of this 'prince of painters.' He was born on Good Friday, 1483, and
lived exactly thirty-seven years. He was of slight build, sallow, and had
brown eyes. Over nine hundred prints of his works are known. Besides his
works in fresco at the Vatican, for a time he had charge of the
construction of St. Peter's, and he also painted masterpieces now at
Bologna, Dresden, Madrid, Hampton Court, and executed numerous
commissions for Leo X.; and Madonnas, holy families, portraits, etc.,
for others. Raphael stands unrivaled, chiefly in his power to portray
lofty sentiments which persons of all nationalities can feel, but few
can describe. He also excelled in invention, composition, simplicity
and grandeur. For moral force in allegory and history, and for fidelity
in portrait, Raphael was unsurpassed. His last and most celebrated oil
picture, the transfiguration, unfinished, stood at his head as his body
lay in state."
Colonel Harris was interested in the restored Triumphal Arch of Titus
erected to commemorate the defeat of the Jews A.D. 70, also in the
beautiful Arch to Severus. At the end of the Rostra, or Orators' Tribune
was the Umbilicus Urbis Romae, or ideal center of Rome and the Roman
Empire. True it was that all roads led to Rome. Leo and Lucille visited
by moonlight the ruins of the great Colosseum, and the lights and shadows
in the huge old stone and brick amphitheater, made it look all the more
imposing and picturesque.
On the morning of the second day Leo Colonna guided his friends down the
Via di Ripetta, stopping at the Mausoleum of Augustus, which in the
middle ages was used by the Colonnas as a fortress. Then continuing down
the left bank of the Tiber, the Ponte S. Angelo was reached. This ancient
bridge of five arches leads directly to the Castello S. Angelo, the
citadel of Rome, which originally was a tomb erected by Hadrian for
himself and successor. The tomb is 240 feet in diameter, and must have
been very beautiful, as it was once encrusted with marble. Statues stood
around the margin of the top, and above all a colossal statue of Hadrian
himself. Later the Goths, veritable iconoclasts, converted this tomb of
the emperors into a fortress, hurling the marble statues down on the
besiegers. For centuries this castle-tomb was used as a stronghold by
the party in power to maintain their sway over the people. In 1822 Pius
IX. refortified the castle. In it was seen the gloomy dungeon where
Beatrice Cenci and others were incarcerated.
The Harrises drove down the Borgo Nuovo to the church of St. Peter. Its
approach is through a magnificent piazza ornamented on the right and left
by two semicircular porticoes of 284 columns, which are surmounted by an
entablature, and 192 statues, each eleven feet in height. It is claimed
that the origin of the Cathedral of St. Peter is due to the impulse
given by Pope Julius II. who decided to erect a grand monument for
himself in his life-time, and the new edifice was needed to shield it.
St. Peter's was begun in 1506 and dedicated in 1626.
Bramante's wonderful plans were accepted, and both Michael Angelo and
Raphael aided in its construction. From a Greek cross rises a gigantic
dome, which is one of the boldest and most wonderful efforts of
architecture. Lucille recalled Byron's description,
"The vast and wondrous dome,
To which Diana's marvel was a cell."
Entering this mighty cathedral, Colonel Harris was bewildered with its
grand and harmonious interior. The height from the pavement to the cross
rivals the height of the Washington monument. The nave is 607 feet in
length, and the transept is 445 feet. St. Paul's at London covers only
two acres, St. Peter's five acres. The cost of the former was $3,750,000,
the cost of the latter from $60,000,000 to $80,000,000.
The Harrises visited St. John Lateran, the mother-church of the Eternal
City, where Popes were crowned, and where on Ascension Day, from one of
its balconies, the Pope's benediction to the people is pronounced.
They also visited the restored St. Paul's Church outside the walls. Its
interior is of vast dimensions. It was built of valuable materials, and
the whole is very imposing. Especially was Lucille impressed with the
long series of portrait medallions of all the Popes from St. Peter to Leo
X. worked in mosaic above the polished columns.
Many monuments in St. Peter's were erected to the memory of several of
the famous Popes. The Vatican, the largest palace in Europe, is where the
Popes came to reside after their return from Avignon, France, in 1377,
for here they felt much security in the vicinity of the Castle S. Angelo,
with which it communicated by a covered gallery. For a time the Popes
vied with each other in enlarging and embellishing the Vatican, which
covers an immense space, and is a collection of separate buildings; the
length is 1150 feet, and the breath 767 feet. The Vatican is said to
contain 20 courts, and 11,000 halls, chapels, salons, and private
apartments, most of which are occupied by collections and show-rooms,
while only a small part is set apart for the papal court.
The Harrises visited the most celebrated portions of the Vatican; the
Scala Regia, covered with frescoes of events in Papal history, the
Sistine Chapel, adorned with fine frescoes by Michael Angelo, including
the Last Judgment. Here the Cardinals meet to elect the Pope, and here
many of the most gorgeous ceremonies of the Roman Catholic Church are
performed.
Equally enthusiastic were Leo and Lucille over Raphael's superb frescoes
in the Loggie, and in the chambers adjoining. The few pictures in the
gallery are scarcely surpassed. The museum contains some of the noblest
treasures of art, including the Laocoon, and Apollo Belvidere. The
library is very valuable. The superb palace of the Quirinal has beautiful
gardens.
Besides the several elegant public palaces in Rome, there are in and near
the city over sixty private palaces or villas; the finest of which is the
Barberini Palace. Several of the villas are located above terraces amid
orange and citron groves, and they are ornamented with statues and
fountains. Leo with pride took his friends to see the Colonna Palace,
which contained many old portraits of his family.
After dinner a drive was taken outside the Porta del Popolo to the
magnificent Villa Borghese and the Pincian Hill. It was planned to visit
on the morrow the gallery Borghese, next to the Vatican, the most
important in Rome. It was dark as Leo returned with his party to the
hotel. The landlord handed him a gentleman's card which read,
Mr. Ferdinand Francisco Colonna.
Piazza Colonna, Rome.
The landlord said that this gentleman was waiting for Leo in the
reception-room. Leo at once recognized the card as that of his cousin,
who was an attorney in Rome, and he hurried to meet his relative. They
grasped hands warmly, and soon were in earnest conversation.
Ferdinand, taking a large official envelope from his pocket, opened it
and began reading what he called a very important paper. It was a copy
of the will of their rich uncle, who had just died, while inspecting
his possession in Sicily. Leo Colonna bore the name of this uncle, his
father's oldest brother, who was fond of art, and who was never married.
He had always been attached to Leo, his nephew, and in his will Leo was
made his sole heir. Great was Leo's surprise to learn that he was now not
only the owner of a fine palace southeast of Rome, but of large
possessions in Rome, Sicily, and South America.
Leo leaned back in his chair, his eyes closed, his face changed color
and the muscles of his hands and face twitched as if he were in pain.
Suddenly he recovered possession of himself and said, "Ferdinand, you
almost paralyze me by the news you bring. Am I dreaming, or not?"
"No, no, Leo. This is a copy of the will of our uncle. The original will
is in my safe. By this same will I am to have 100,000 lira for assisting
you. I am now at your service."
"Ferdinand, you bring sad and glorious news. What is your advice?"
"That we file the original will at once in the proper court, and that you
proceed with me immediately to Marino to take possession there of your
palace and property."
"Agreed, Ferdinand. We will leave Rome for Marino at noon tomorrow.
Meet me here, as I may have friends to join us."
Leo hastened at once to tell the good news to the Harrises, who were
nearly as much elated as himself, and it was agreed that all would join
Leo in his proposed trip. It was late that night when Leo and Lucille
separated in the parlor below. Each had dreamed of castles in Spain, but
now it looked as if Leo and possibly Lucille, might actually possess
castles in Italy.
That night Leo told Lucille much about the princely Colonna family of
Italy, which originated in the 11th century. Pope Martin V., several
others who took part in the contest between the Guelphs and the
Ghibellines, and many others of the Colonna family had attained to
historical and literary distinction.
Lucille was interested in the story of the great naval battle of Lepanto
in which Marc Antonio Colonna aided Don Juan of Austria to gain a
world-renowned victory for Christianity against the Turks, the first
effective triumph of the cross over the crescent. Leo recited the story
of the life of the illustrious Vittoria Colonna, pictures of a bust of
whom Lucille had seen that day in Rome.
Vittoria, and the son of the Marquis of Pescara, when children four years
old, were affianced, and in their seventeenth year they were married. The
young bride bravely sent her husband to the wars with a pavilion, an
embroidered standard, and palm leaves, expressing the hope that he
would return with honors, for she was proud of the Colonna name.
Vittoria full of genius and grace, idealized her young showy cavalier,
who was gallant and chivalrous. Her brave knight Pescara, among other
victories, won the battle of Pavia, and finally died of his wounds in
Milan before she could reach his side. Vittoria Colonna buried her love
in Pescara's grave at Naples. Her widowhood was a period of sorrow, song,
friendship, and saintly life. She was tall, stately, and dignified; of
gracious manners, and united much charm with her culture and virtue. She
is considered the fairest and noblest lady of the Italian Renaissance.
Vittoria Colonna was on intimate terms with the great men and women of
her day, and in close sympathy with the Italian reformers. Michael Angelo
was warmly her friend. His strong verses full of feeling to Vittoria were
replied to in gentle, graceful strains. She died as the sun sank in the
Mediterranean on the afternoon of February 25, 1547, Michael Angelo
regretting as he saw her, lying on her death-bed, that he had not kissed
her forehead and face as he had kissed her hand.
As Lucille retired that night she felt the force of Vittoria's noble
life, and longed to emulate one so related to her friend Leo. She felt
her own heart drawing nearer to Leo's, and in the silent hours of the
night, she sometimes wondered if she should ever bear the honored name of
Colonna.
Next day at 12 o'clock promptly, Leo's cousin came, and the Harrises and
Leo took the Rome and Naples line for Marino, located sixteen miles
southeast of Rome, where Vittoria Colonna had lived, and where Leo
expected to find and take possession of his own palace and property.
The Roman tombs of the Via Appia on the right were soon left behind.
A dozen miles out and Frascate a summer resort was conspicuous with
its many lovely villas. Later the party left the train and enjoyed a
beautiful drive of three miles to Marino, a small town famous for its
wine, and located on the Alban Mountains. In the middle ages, the Orsini
defended themselves here in a stronghold against their enemies the
Colonna, but the latter under Martin V. captured Marino, which with the
surrounding country has remained a fief of the Colonna family to the
present day.
Ferdinand had already attended to much of the detail at Marino, so that
Leo, as owner of the vast Colonna estate, was loyally received by the
villagers, the tenants, and the old servants. Leo made his friends, the
Harrises, most welcome at his unexpected and palatial home. The Harrises
were delighted at what they saw. Leo and Lucille took several drives
together over the large estate. Once they drove along the shady roads,
commanding extensive views, through the beautiful park of Colonna, and
down a well wooded valley to the clear waters of the Alban Lake. Often
Leo wished that Alfonso had accompanied him.
For some time before leaving Rome, Lucille had complained of a dull
headache and chills at night. In France Mrs. Harris was fearful that the
summer trip to Italy was not wise, but Leo and her family thought the
yacht voyage to Naples would be charming. On the morning of the third
day at Marino, Lucille was unable to leave her bed. Leo hastily called a
physician who found her pulse very low. She experienced great thirst and
nausea, and the heat of her body was much increased. When the doctor
learned that Colonel Harris's daughter had slept in Rome with the window
open, he at once declared to the family that Lucille had Roman fever,
that dreaded malaria which is engendered in summer months near the
marshes of Italy. Leo summoned to Marino the ablest physicians of Rome,
who were in constant attendance, and heroic treatment was adopted.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Harris were half crazed with the fear of losing
their beautiful daughter, and Leo himself was nearly frantic. Lucille
grew rapidly worse. Her strength and courage failed her, she became
unconscious, and as the tall white lily in the midday sun loses its
beauty and life, so Lucille passed from earth, her agonizing mother
holding the dead daughter's slender white hands.
Leo fell insensible and was removed from the death-chamber by his
servants. Womanly courage returned to the mother after a few moments of
intense grief, and aided by others the necessary preparations were made
for the removal of Lucille to America.
Captain Harry Hall with his yacht en route to Athens had called at
Brindisi to get a reply from a most important letter of his mailed to
Lucille at Palermo. As he stepped ashore a telegram was handed him
announcing the sudden death of the woman he loved. He was so shocked that
his friends were alarmed. After a short conference Harry wired Colonel
Harris the use of his yacht to carry back to America the remains of
beautiful Lucille.
While Colonel Harris was writing an acceptance of Captain Hall's
services, a second telegram came announcing the death, by drowning, of
his only son Alfonso in the Zuider Zee at Amsterdam. How true that
misfortunes never come singly!
Beneath the pillow on which Lucille died, were found two unanswered
letters, proposals of marriage, one from Leo and one from Captain Hall.
The broken hearted mother took charge of these letters, and before the
metallic coffin was sealed, the unanswered letters were placed in
Lucille's white hand, over the heart that could not now decide.
Later the casket was put on board the yacht "Hallena" at Rome, and
Captain Hall with his flag at half-mast steamed towards America with the
woman, who could never on earth accept the tribute of his heart. Leo, now
Marquis Colonna, true chevalier that he was, insisted that he be
permitted to accompany Colonel Harris to Amsterdam in search of his son
Alfonso.