The Press.
London, England, 1856-04-19 00:00:00

376

0 the ivhole work is the description of the
00era and the Gasoine at Florence, which
evinces pictorial power Of a high ord,..r. though
there is a tone in Mr. Jarves's remarks upon
dress and equipage which betrays a want of
familiarity with the innate refinement of Euro-
pmn gentlemen. His undisguised preference
of America is diverting but not discreditable:—

The world goes to the Opera as to a reunion. There
they pay their visits, chat, laugh, partake of refreshments,
turn their backs up to the stage—in short, almost drown by
their conversation the music. The opera is nothing; the
assemblage of fashion everything. A box, then, at the
Pergola is really an economical atKiir, as it saves the ex-
pause of society under one's roof; it is a must amusing
one, from the variety of ranks, nations, and toilets there
represented. The En..;lish astonish there, as everywhere,
with their brilliant colours, forests of plumes, and biz irre
mcurcies; the Russians with their mines of precious
stifles ; the Germans with their fair hair and brilliant
• .mplexions; the Fl•xentines Ly their princely jewels,
1. se., and velvets, drawn from their imperishable here
ditary stores; the French eclipse all by their matchless
elegance, seemingly so simple and unstudied ; while the.
A nericaus please all from their rarity and general good
taste.
The theatre is so constructed that while one half of the
audience of the Loxes cm, if they choose, look toward the
sage, the other half are necessarily turned toward the im•
perial box, which is quite a hall of itself. Of course the
architect never contemplated in his design the spectacle as
the main object of the edifice. It is merely an auxiliary.
If an opera, it attracts attention only from novelty or the
harmony of particulad strains. But the ballet, which is
introduced between the acts of the opera, rivets the atten
tion of all. It is strange, but true, that a Florentine au•
dience prefers poor dancing to good music. While the
American, Miss Maywood, was with them, they had a
legitimate excuse for their passion, for a more elastic, un-
tiring, and, the Italians say, graceful danseuse never ap-
peared on any boards. They exalt her above Cerito,
Ellsler, and even Taglioni. But what carried them away
nightly into a tempest of applause was the perfection of
her time. The music and her limbs moved in such entire
accord as to seen but one impulse. " Braves and
encores" thundered over the house. Hands, feet, anti
bpi were all in violent commotion in all quarters. No elo-
quence could have excited the susceptible Florentines to
half such a pitch of - furore " as her legs. Bouquets as
large Ls wine barrels were precipitated upon the stage,
tb-ir numerous ribbons flattering gaily in the sir as they
fell, like the pennants from a masthead. She fairly
staggered under tneir weight. On one occasion, the prima
donna, having vainly essayed to carry off a monster
bouquet, greet fully drew it behind the scenes by its rib-
bons, courtesying as she backed across the stage, amid the
sheers of the spectators. At Msvwood's benefit it took
three carriages to carry away the floral avalanche tumbled
at her feet.
All hail to Maps cod of the twinkling ankles.
We were never supposed to know that American
young ladies had those appendages. We were
inclined to believe them an exception to the
general law of nature, like the Manx cats ; and
we can readily believe the Florentine "furore"
to have been excited to the highest pitch by
this elegant specimen of the latest novelty in
legs. From the Opera we proceed to the
Cast:hie •

Just look at that carriage full of balky English ! heavy
dames those, and dressed as most English women dress, so
as to conceal beauty and exaggerate defect. The daughters
are pretty enough, but see how unamiable they look—a
thunder-cloud gathering before the sun. Turn your eyes
a b.t and detect the cause. They ere miserable unless
they can outdo their neighbours, the llaahawaya. At this
moment they are undergoing the agonies of a defeat, fur
Lord Twaddle, with his toot cendescenclingly placed upon
the Ilashawaya* carriage-step, is ailing saucy things to the
mother, and flirting desperately with the youngest of the
girls. Nature has no charms tor such persons. Theit
kappiness is made up of bows, beaus, and badinage. Just
beyond them is that lair-haired Scotch clan, who so admir-
ably represents the pride and beauty of their country.
They come as regularly as the sun to the Cascine, and
hold ihewselves as coldly distant as the moon.
Whose is that sweet face next to a mamma that looks
worthy of such a ihughter? With what becoming elegance
they are dressed! They are Americans, and the girl is to
inherit a fortune of a =Won, it is said, but she looks as
retiring and unassuming as if she hal never seen cite life.
How unlike that dark beauty near her! She's Italian, not
yet sixteen, but married at fourteen. At twelve she pro-
*and herself libelee end tired of the world of fashion.
Like Merle Antoinette, she should retire to the country
and play at milkmaid to recruit her exhausted seusi•
Wades.
• • • • • • •

Among a 3 many lions of the first magnitu le. there was
an cessation of curiosity. My friend hal barely time to
dispose of one before I probed him upon another. His
inernory was a perfect epitome of the life s Wan the life
about as. I picked out a couple of the most distinguished
appearance. The gentleman was driving a faultless span
of black horses. He was one of the finest specimens of
refined manly beanty I had ever seen. perfect to a nicety
in his costume, with that unesaitgerced tone in both his
mental and physical aspect that marks the polished man of
the woritl. 'flit. Lady beside Aim was his equal in these
*specie ; pale, nnanimatett, and delicate even beyond the
American standard of (.-male loveliness. Their tiger "
was the model of his species. 1 looked in vain for a Loop
ole for criticism, and at last triumphantly exclaimed'