ROME A SMALL CITY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17245, 11 January 1924, Page 7

ROME A SMALL CITY.

“ PRIM LADY OF OLD REGIME." On arriving in Rome, perhaps you ask the name of the railway station at which you alight, and the reply will be “ the ” terminus, “ the " station, for there is only one. Fancy Paris, London, or Vienna with only on© station, says Major Newman Craig, D. 5.0., who gives “An Impression of Post-war Italy" in the "National Review." Later you will see that, as compared with other capitals, Rome is only a glorified village. A very famous, very wonderful city, if you will, and including within the 6paee of its seven hills priceless treasures of antiquity, but none the less ridiculously tiny. Further, in respect of means of transport and communication, Rom© is, to us© an Americanism, "a. back number." Electric railways are things of the future. Leisurely fiacres with enormous Eastern umbrellas shading the driver, await your pleasure, but taxi-cabs are rare and proportionately expensive. Underground or overhead railways simply do not exist. *‘ Metros " were unknown to Machiavelli, Cavour had Ms horse carriage—who are you to ask for more. One might compare Rome to a prim old lady of the ancient regime, who considers that, as her mother and grandmother did very well without a bathroom in that wonderful apartment, it would be a surrender to Modernism —not to say vandalism—to irietal one Of Rome’s dignity, charm, and lofty antecedents there is no need to spea£: but, judged from an English standard oi public health, she leaves something to he desired! lea, at first sight Rome will strike you as small, and m many ways ©at of touch with modern progress, always excepting her superb series of modern hotels. But within that limited compass you. will find never-failing interest, not for <t week or a month, but (and if you would really know Romo) for a year or more, imperial Rome, pagan and Christian: ftp ,7 Mecca of the Catholic W n r :t ; th ? of the Quirinai, and a.l that the name involves, have each a claim on your attention, a revelation which lie who runs may read. Then, when weary of architecture and art, you can turn your attention to the ever-interesting subject of modem Italian politics, and to the strange man who dominate* thtun,