The Sun.
London, England, 1860-12-15 00:00:00

ITALY AND IPLENESS.

Perhaps there is no country in the world where
the pleasure of living by one's wits is more
thoroughly appreciated than in Italy. With some
men the ideal of existence is the science of policy
and the art of power. With some it is high art
and a degree of scientific attainment for which
Italy is too little credited. With some it is reli-
gious contemplation and devotional exercises.
With some it is dwelling amid antiquities and inter-
preting to strangers between the old world and the
modern. With some it is brigandage, whieh is
nowhere so quiet and respectable a business as in
that peninsula and the famous island from which it
is scarcely separated. With a large class it is men-
dicancy. This national taste, whatever its form, is
one that must be kept within bounds by the Power
that undertakes the regeneration of The
task is great indeed, but necessary ; for idleness,
in one form or another, is t'ie subject of as great a
competition there as industry is in this country.
The army there may be swo len to any extent, on
the single condition of doing little in reace, and
being at liberty to go home or change sides in war.
At Naples it is a matter of: astonishment to see
the immense population that daily takes to the
sea with no other object than to ensnare a very
few small fish, hardly worth bringing to shore.
No wonder that in such a country, where exist-
ence itself is enjoyable, and all that is wanted
is the barest means of prolonging existence
from day to day, the great Papal army of monks
should he in great favour. To be relieved from
all care, to be assured of ore's daily bread, to
go through a daily routine of praises and prayers,
to take an occasional walk through the streets with
nothing to hurry one's steps or tie one's attention,
is so entirely to the taste of many Italians that,
were the Court of Rome left to itself, it would easily
divide the people of Italy into two moieties, whereof
one it might call the Kingdom of Heaven, the other
the men of Gibeon, condemned to hew wood and
draw water for the saints. Nay, we might go fur-
ther. Nine tent'as of Italy would be quite content
to enjoy a spiritual or transcendental state of
existence while the rest of the world ministered to
their sublunary wants. The great prizes of life,
indeed, have power to dispel the charm of dolee far
niente ; but Italy is not the country of middle-class
activity and vulgar ambition. The Italian feels
with Cesar that he would rather be first in a vil-
lage than second at Rome; and, if he must be
second, he cares little how low he comes in the
scale so as his honour be saved.

If Italy is to be saved, and if it is to take a place
in the first rank of European States—for nothing
less will content it—it must put an end to the pro-
fession of idleness. The work, we are now informed,
hes been alrcaiy commenced, with the needful cau-
tion. From Perugia we hear that the Religious
Orders have been suppressed, with the exception of
those " which have deserved well of the country,"
and Government has been charged with the religious
Treasury. The convents of Umbria have been closed,
with the exception of several establishments which,
es in France and other revolutionized countries, are
to be retained for hospitals and sch ools. The members
of the suppressed orders have been pensioned off,
no doubt with allowance moderate enough to leave
them disposed for remunerative employment. A
considerable portion of the monastic revenues has
been appropriated to some charitable institutions,
and the surplus has been reserved for religious
works and public instruction. As England has
gone through a similar crisis, it will be able to do
justice to tne public spirit and Royal resolution
which has saved these revenues from the grasp of
private cupidity. Every historian and every
Reformer has deplored in his day, and remonstrated
in vain, that the revenues of our own religions
houses might not be applied to education and
charity. In a few instances the demand was
listened to. Even before the great suppression
the noble College of Christ church arose out of the
small religious houses which Cardinal Wolsey was
Reformer enough to condemn, and not without
reason. Christ's Hospital and Bridewell—once a
reformatory—and a few other similar institutions,
are all that London has saved from that wreck,
which might have endowed charity and education
for ever. Italy has our example to avoid, and we
trust she will do so, if only with the heroic disin-
terestedness of the " Dictator" to stimulate or to
shame her; but, however this may be, the first and
most important step has been taken. The bulk of
this Papal army has been disbandcd, and to the
numerous other classes now wandering about Italy,
as sheep without a shepherd, and ready we should
think to close with any good master and any respect-
able service, we may add the greater number of those
who for ages have been devouring the strength of fair
Italy, and contributing so little to its happiness or
morality.
In this country, where we are all taught from our
childhood that "if any one will not work, neither