Amid Fiery Terrors.

Otago Witness, Issue 2360, 18 May 1899, Page 61

Amid Fiery Terrors.

A gentleman who visited Naples not long back, with a view to making some observations of the eruption of Vesuvius, offered some interesting remarks on the popular aspects of the subject.

" I was particularly struck," he said, "by tho apathy and indifference of many of the peasantry who reside in the neighbourhood of the mountain. No one would suppose from their demeanour that they lived in hourly peril of the destruction of their lives and property. " Of" course this recklessness is largely a matter of habit. They are accustomed to the rumblings of the fire-breathing volcano. But the danger portended by the recent outbreak is none the less real. In 1872 the eruption destroyed property to the value of over £150,000, and of the vast crowds who ascended the mountain slopes ' to see the fireworks.' more than 300 met their death.

" But the light-hearted Italian has learned little by the disaster. The present eruption is treated as an amusing spectacle, although tho lava has burned some of the neighbouring forests and worked other, damage. " As an example of the precarious conditions under which those dwelling in the neighbourhood of the volcano are now living, I may mention that a leading scientist in Naples told me that the present indications are those which have always in the past preceded a tremendous outbreak."

— Roses carved in stone are often used over the graves of unmarried women in Tur-. key. II happened every night when father fell asleep His little kid" awoke to cough, and sneeze, and weep. Then father swore out loud and wished his

kid was dead, And tore his new pyjamas jumping out of bed; He damned — the cold linoleum stuck to his

feet like glue As in his arms the child was howling all he

knew ; But mother found a charm to make their rest

secure, The kid now thrives and sleeps on Woods s

Peppermint Cure.