78 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1894. 



gate the officers looked into our carriage to see if we had any contraband 

 goods. There is a heavy fine for smuggling salt and tobacco. Driving 

 over one of the bridges which crosses the Arno, we made no delay in 

 ascending the tower, where we had a most charming view of the sur- 

 rounding country and the mountains in the distance. A great many 

 people have thrown themselves from the top of the tower, so less than 

 three are not allowed to go up at once. It is simply frightful to look 

 down and I should not wonder if some have become dizzy and fallen 

 without intending to commit suicide. The tower contains a chime of 

 bells, is 178 feet high, and leans 15 feet from the perpendicular. Many 

 suppose it was built in this manner, others are of the opinion that it 

 has gradually sunk, which is the most probable. I read of an old 

 lady and gentleman, who had gone a long distance out of their way 

 to see this wonderful piece of architecture, when it was pointed out to 

 them the old gentleman said : "So this is the famous tower of Pisa ! 

 Well, it's the most out of plumb thing I ever sot eyes on. I 

 wouldn't get the contractor to build me a hen-coop ! " We were 

 charmed with the baptistery, which is also built of marble, and one of 

 the most celebrated in the world. Its shape is circular. At the top 

 of the dome is a statue of St. John. The interior is very beautiful, 

 and has a wonderful echo. The guide sang one or two strains and it 

 seemed as though there were a whole choir of voices flooding the 

 building with most delicious music. Pisa is noted as being the 

 birthplace of Galileo. In the cathedral is the swinging lamp that 

 gave him the idea of a pendulum. We visited the cemetery, which is 

 very ancient. It contains fifty vessel-loads of earth brought from 

 Jerusalem. 



One of the greatest blessings to the mariner is the lighthouse. 

 Since 1830 the nations have rivalled each other in lighting up the 

 dangerous coast. Ship-masters have books of information describing 

 the peculiarity of each light. Some are stationary. Some places 

 have two and three lights, as the twin lights of Navesiuk and the 

 three lights of Nausett. Some are revolving, like Fire Ishind light. 

 Some flash, like Barnegat light, which can be seen twenty miles. The 

 distance which a light can be seen depends upon the atmosphere. In 

 the Mediterranean, where it is very clear, it can be seen at a greater 

 distance than on our coast. After being bafiled and beaten and blown 

 about on a long voyage across the stormy Atlantic in March, how 

 welcome have been the harbor lights ! We cannot estimate the num- 

 ber of lives that are annually saved by these warning beacons which 

 everywhere light up the perilous coast. 



