The Argosy — page 242: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

San Marcello. 227 Mammiano, which can be seen from San Marcello, is about two miles distant, ‘and we frequently strolled there in the cool of~the evening without hats or mantles, just as we rose from the tea-table. Then, after a little rest on an old wall, we wended our way back, while some of the gentlemen of the party touched the guitar, and gave us charming Florentine or Neapolitan melodies. In this beautiful climate so much enjoyment is to be had from the mere pleasure of existence. A donkey or mule, if a little climbing or scrambling is not objected to, will take the tourist to the Grotta di Macereti, so picturesquely described by Massimo D’Azeglio in his “ Nicolo de’ Lapi,” in which he makes Lisa, the daughter of Nicolo, die after her betrayal by Troilo. The rugged path by which this interesting grotto is reached is arched over the whole way by trees, so that the ride may be taken in the hottest weather. A pleasant morning may be spent in visiting the paper manufactory on the Lima, a beautiful walk of two miles from Mammiano. Another village, Cutigliano, charmingly perched up in the mountains, may easily be reached by a good walker ; those who prefer driving may secure a carriage for five francs from San Marcello. There are some very creditable pensions at Cutigliano, and some people I met told me they were fairly housed. But the lady with whom I stayed in the rambling villa has now a most comfortable pension two miles out of San Marcello, where the visitor may be boarded for seven or eight francs a day, ac- cording to his requirements. ‘There are bath and billiard rooms, and everything calculated to make the time pass agreeably. At the back of the house are woods, which always furnish grateful shade to those who prefer living out of doors. The lady herself, the proprietress, is most intelligent and obliging, anxious that everybody should be amused, and ever seeking to make pleasant pic-nic and other parties. i found this the case when I was with her at 4, Via del Corso, Florence, and when at the villa at San Marcello. One morning we all rose early, and drove to Boscolungo, or Abetone, as it is indifferently called by the inhabitants. It is situated in the Apennines, at a considerable height above San Marcello, and there is a great difference of temperature between the two places. We wound round and round through wood and mountain scenery, coming here and there upon a cool spring or fountain, near which, perhaps, a peasant reclined, picturesque looking, though dirty. Of drinking hastily from these fountains beware—they are often swarm- ing with leeches! On arriving, we found the air crisp, like an October day in England ; two or three hours at mid-day were sultry, but in the evening it became mens y cold to make us glad to descend on our way home. Gavinana, another village to visit, is a long walk, or donkey drive. It is worth seeing ; not simply from its quaintness, but on account of the interest attached to it from the struggle which took place here in COMICOOOKS. Con