The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1824-11-18
LADIES OF GENOA.

The Gnoese women are among the hand
soonest of Italy; Indeed, this city can boast
of a decided superiority with regard to ic-
male beauty. In no other place have seen
such Il number of interesting countenances
collected together rs in the streets, churches,
and other places OF public resort at Genoa.
They have, in general, elegant figures, deli
cate complexion, dark hair and eyes, and
pretty features; and their carriage is re-
markably graceful.
Marriage is at Genoa a 'matter of calcula-
ton, perhaps more so than any where else !;
il is generally settled between the relations,
who often draw up the cantract before the
parties have seen one another, and it is on
Iiv when every thing else is arranged, and a
few DAYS previous to the marriage ceremo-
nv, that the future husband is introduced to
his intended partner for life. Should he
find fault with her figure or manners, he
may break off the match, on condition of de-
fraving the expenses incurred. Bnt this Is
seldom the case ; the principal object, that
Of interest, being once settled, the bride fol-
lows the portion as a matter of course, and
is often scarcely minded. There are in this
city marriage brokers, who have pocket
books filled with the names of marriageablc
! girls of different classes, with notes descrlp
tive Of their fortunes; these people so about
cndcavourng to arrange connection; if they
succeed, they get Il commission of two OF
| three per cent upon the portion. The con
tents Of their mcmorandums arc often very
curious.
The custom Of having tatHo (such is thc
modern word substituted for ciciSbco, y is still
prevailing among the Genocsc ladies'. The
patience Of those individuals is truly aston
ishing. They are the humble servants o.
their fair sovereign; they accompany then
to church, to walk, to their evening parties
to the theatre; they keep them company a
home, in short they follow them as thei
shadows and submit to their whims to
which they have in return, free access tt
the house, and seat at table. Strange a
it may appear to foreigners, this custom is
in many cases, nothing more than matte
of ceremony; the remains OF chvalrou
spirit of gallantry, or the result OF mutua
convenience. The la, y finds herhatNo to be
very useful, a since que non, while her nus
band, absorbed in his commercial spccula
tions, has little time or patience to attend t.
her petty concerns. The fatito i'll his turl
finds her agreeable, his courtship is often no
thing more than the means of killing time
he is yeneralv the friend of the husband
sometimes his partner III business. 1t hap
) pens, therefore, that if a lady has real in
trigue, She must keep concealed from he
, hofto as we'll as from her husband d; and tn
object of her partialty, il favorito, as he
| sometimes called, is kept i'll the back grount
: In the lower classes, and among the pea
f santry, however, there is no Patio or. .japo'
Z ito; the husbands are jealous of their prt
+ rcgativcs. and their wives are attached t
: them and submissive.
} The Gcnocsc women have, in general,
: considerable share OF coquctry; they al
Z fond of being admired.-picasSca-c'S Nal
: and the ItGlials.