The World We Live In. Geographical Lessons (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 186? Excerpt: ...its way through green knolls with clumps and groves of forest-trees, and among small thickly-wooded hills, and thus gradually ascending the range of heights. Arrived at the summit, he descends rapidly, and sees between the opening mountains the rich and lovely country lying at his feet, and, far beyond, the beautiful waters of the Mediterranean. Each country comprehended in the Sardinian states has a different language or dialect. Sardinia has been already mentioned. The people of Savoy speak the Romance dialect; the Piedmontese have a very harsh-sounding dialect peculiar to themselves; those of Nice speak a mixture of old Provencal French and Italian; those of Genoa speak one of the most difficult dialects of the Italian language, end even possess some books printed in it. But in all the states, well-educated persons speak French or Italian, or both. Italian is the language used in the courts of law and by the government. The Roman Catholic religion prevails over all these states. Piedmont is, however, the home of a people called Waldenses or Vaudois (i.e. dwellers in valleys), who have always, as far as we have any records of their history, heen separate from the see of Rome. They were remarkable for honesty, industry, loyalty to their sovereigns, and peaceable devout lives, yet they were again and again most cruelly hunted and persecuted, until the greater number of them perished. The descendants of those who escaped still inhabit three valleys in the province of Pignerol. England interfered several times in their behalf, and their ministers were partly maintained by pensions paid to them by our sovereigns from the time of Queen Mary II. They now enjoy perfect toleration and peace, and have been allowed to build a large church at Turin. THIRTIETH LESSON....