he
became manager of a newspaper, L'Italia Militare, at Florence; and in
1871, yielding to his friends' persuasions, he settled down to
authorship at Turin. His second book was the 'Ricordi,' memorials
dedicated to the youth of Italy, of national events which had come
within his experience. Half a dozen later stories published together
were also very popular, especially 'Gli Amici di Collegio' (College
Friends), 'Fortezza,' and 'La Casa Paterna' (The Paternal Home). He has
written some graceful verse as well.

[Illustration: EDMONDO DE AMICIS]

But De Amicis soon craved the stimulus of novel environments, of
differing personalities; and he set out upon the travels which he has so
delightfully recounted. This ardent Italian longed for the repose of "a
gray sky," a critic tells us. He went first to Holland, and experienced
a joyous satisfaction in the careful art of that trim little land.
Later, a visit to North Africa in the suite of the Italian ambassador
prompted a brilliant volume, "Morocco," "which glitters and flashes like
a Damascus blade." Among his other well-known books, descriptive of
other trips, are 'Holland and Its People,' 'Spain,' 'London,' 'Paris,'
and 'Constantinople,' which, translated into many languages, have been
widely read.

That unfortunate though not uncommon traveler who finds _ennui_
everywhere must envy De Amicis his inexhaustible enthusiasm, his power
of epicurean enjoyment in the color and glory of every land. His is a
curiously optimistic nature. Always perceiving the beautiful and
picturesque in art and nature, he treats other aspects hopefully, and
ignores them when he may. He catches what is characteristic in every
nation as inevitably as he catches the physiognomy of a land with its
skies and its waters, its flowers and its atmosphere. His is a realism
transfigured by poetic imagination, which divines essential things and
places them in high relief.

Very early in life De Amicis announced his love and admiration of
Manzoni, of whom he called himself a disciple. But his is a very
different mind. This Italian, born at Oneglia of Genoese parents, has
inherited the emotional nature of his country. He sees everything with
feeling, penetrating below the surface with sympathetic insight. Italy
gives him his sensuous zest in life. But from France, through his love
of her vigor and grace, his cordial admiration of her literature, he has
gained a refining and strengthening influence. She ha