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and the whole world was descending on Italy;
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or so it seemed, and Italians hoped.
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And to destroy the festivities
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by putting them off,
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by warning the world
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that cholera was rampant in Italy at this time,
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would have had enormous economic repercussions
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for tourism, a major industry.
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It also would have had major repercussions
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in terms of Italian pride in canceling
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the whole of the celebrations,
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a second feature.