A Tramp Abroad, Volume 7 by Mark Twain

[Beauty of Women -- and of Old Masters]

In Milan we spent most of our time in the vast and beautiful Arcade or Gallery, or whatever it is called. Blocks of tall new buildings of the most sumptuous sort, rich with decoration and graced with statues, the streets between these blocks roofed over with glass at a great height, the pavements all of smooth and variegated marble, arranged in tasteful patterns -- little tables all over these marble streets, people sitting at them, eating, drinking, or smoking -- crowds of other people strolling by -- such is the Arcade. I should like to live in it all the time. The windows of the sumptuous restaurants stand open, and one breakfasts there and enjoys the passing show.