Now a Museum, Where Keats and Shelley Lived in Rome

1909

Opened As Museum

House Where Keats and Shelley Lived in Rome

Flowers and Vines Make Enchanting Bower of Little Gallery Where One Can Fancy Two Famous Poets Chatted Together

Rome. — Early in April, in the presence of King Victor Emmanuel III, of Italy, the Keats-Shelley memorial house in Rome was opened and consecrated as a museum in memory of the two English poets who were friends. Henceforth this house, situated on the right hand side of the old Spanish stairs, in the Piazza di Spagna, will be a new resort for English-speaking tourists and lovers of these poets when in the Eternal city. The house has been bought by English and American lovers of poesy. It cost $60,000. It is a modest house, which in Keats' and Shelley's day was a pension, or boarding house.

There is a quiet seriousness about the premises, as if the shadow still lingered where young Keats breathed his last sigh. In the little entrance hang some old engravings, which give one an idea of the Piazza di Spagna before the Spanish stairs were built and after their construction. The house has been renovated. The central room has been transformed into a reading room. Around the walls run the book shelves made of dark walnut, the floor is covered by thick Turkish rugs. Sir Moses Ezekiel's bust of Shelley holds a prominent place in this room, as well as that made of Shelley by Severn. It is rather hard to put oneself in touch with the two poetic spirits who lived in this house, amid the babble of the tourists, and the questions with which they ply the civil Italian gentleman who acts as curator. I am quite sure he must be almost distracted after his morning's work, for the house is only open every day to the public from ten o'clock until one p. m. One of the little rooms leads out on the dearest little terrazionoo, which in these lovely spring days is a display of beautiful flowers and creeping vines. Here one can easily fancy Keats and Shelley resting and chatting together. In another room the book shelves hold 200 editions of Keats' and Shelley's works. Most of these being recent editions, they have little value except as evidence of the continuing fame of the poets — but is not that worth while to show In this way?

By far the most interesting room is the little bedchamber in which Keats died, with its two windows, one of which looks out over the Piazza di Spagna and the other on the picturesque stairs leading up to the Church delta Trinita de Monte. From that window one can gaze down on the loveliest flower market to the world all the year round, and watch the ever passing throng going up and down the Spanish steps. Many of the artists' models group themselves about, or drop off for their open air siestas in the most natural of poses.

In this small bedroom Keats died in the arms of his faithful friend, Severn The ceiling and the little fireplace have been left just as when Keats lived in the room. In this little sanctuary is the death mask of Keats, and a small lock of his chestnut brown hair. In a sealed vase is a little bone which Trelawney kept from the heart — "cer cordium" — when the flames reduced all that was once Percy Bysshe Shelley's frame to a handful of clean ashes.

This little house where the two poets stayed in Rome puts us in touch with them on different lines from their graves, in the beautiful little English cemetery, under the shadow of the pyramid of Calus Cestius, and the walls of old Rome. There are several autograph letters of Keats and Shelley carefully treasured in the little museum, as well as their songs set to music. It is pleasant to feel that these poetic friends — such lovers of Italy — lived and enjoyed all Italy had to offer them in the fullness of her wondrous beauty, art and history, and when life's fitful fever ended for them, they rest in her loving bosom.

Mark Twain's Home Robbed

Redding, Connecticut, 1908
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Mark Twain's residence at Redding, Conn., was robbed one night last week, and the only joke about it was, that both burglars were caught after an exciting chase, and some shooting.

--The Dothan Eagle, Dothan, Alabama, September 21, 1908, page 2.


Dothan, Alabama, 1908
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If Drift Armstrong would only come to Dothan, and see our charming beauties, he would cease to rave about those blond-dyed damsels, with made-to-order complexions, of Montgomery.

--The Dothan Eagle, Dothan, Alabama, September 22, 1908, page 2.


WORDS OF WISDOM

He who flatters you is your enemy.— Cardan.

In all things it is better to hope than despair.—Goethe.

There is no index of character so sure as the voice.—Disraeli.

Idleness travels very slowly, and poverty soon overtakes her.—Hunter.

Adversity borrows its sharpest sting from our impatience.—Bishop Horne.

Laughing cheerfulness throws sunlight on all the paths of life.—Richter.

There is no calamity which right words will not begin to redress.—Emerson.

To forgive a fault in another is more sublime than to be faultless one's self. —George Sand.

He alone is an acute observer who can observe minutely without being observed.—Lavater.

Experience is a keen knife that hurts; while it extracts the cataract that binds.—De Linod.

If the ancients left us ideas, to our credit be it spoken, we moderns are building houses for them.—A. B. Alcott.

Money dishonestly acquired is never worth its cost, while a good conscience never costs as much as it is worth.— J. P. Seun.

The one who will be found in trial capable of great acts of love is ever the one who is always doing considerate small ones.—F. W. Robertson.

To be humble to superiors is duty; to equals, is courtesy; to inferiors, is nobleness; and to all, safety; it being a virtue that, for all its lowliness, commandeth those it stoops to.—Sir. T. Moore.

--Daily Vineyardist, Penn Yan, New York, September 23, 1903, page 2.


Mississippi River, 1903
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Mississippi Houseboats

There is an especial charm about life on a houseboat on the Mississippi. Unlike houseboats on most bodies of water, they can land whenever they will and enjoy any chance pleasure by the way. Cities are in easy reach, and even a theatre party can be indulged in at short notice. Between St. Paul and St. Louis seven magnificent rivers can be reached by boats passing through more than that number of States.

From Lacrosse to St. Louis houseboats meet the eye every few minutes. At every town along the river one sees boats lying on the shore. They are usually moored in little bays, with their launches alongside and shaded by the overhanging branches of trees. When a steamer passes the occupants appear at the doors and windows, and sometimes go to the upper deck to wave their greetings. The water is very high at present, and the boats fit in so perfectly that the lovely green foliage seems to have grown in anticipation of the coming of each particular boat. Many of the river islands are submerged and the trees seem to shoot up from the water.

Numerous houseboats are in course of construction along the rivers. Many are to be used by their owners to visit the St. Louis Exposition next year.— Minneapolis Journal.

--Daily Vineyardist, Penn Yan, New York, September 23, 1903, page 2.