The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1824-11-11
From Fet,sseur's Turin Italy, IN 1928.

N ~
A disposition to laziness prevails in the in
habitants of Naples, and this is source of
vice and indigcncc. Work is done i'll bad
and slovenly manner; the principal objec.
of workmcn seems to be to cheat their mas
ters, and labour as little as they can tor their
wages. A Neapoitan OF the working class,
goes to dinner regularly at twelve O'Clock,
and scarce any prospect of gain will make
him delay this most important business af
ter dinner, he generally lies down for Il cou-
one to four o'clock during the greater part
Of the year. Thus these people shmher
away their life, and are consequently encr-
waited and effcminate. Even the exercise of
speech seems often TO be burdensomc TO
them: when not compelled by their passions,
or some other strong motive, they prefer
expressing themselves by gestures A stran-
ger inqoiting his way, or any other question,
can hardly bring them to articulatc Il mon
osyllable in answer. | have seen barber
sitting gravely in his shop, and dozing hilc
his workmen attended to business, and boy
was tanning him aid driving the flies from
his face This general inclination to indo-
lence, and to the dolce far niente, accounts
in great measure for the miseryof the low
or classes, which is greater here than
have seen III any other country, c.id Is
particularly striking on holydays, and at
their numerous festivals and professions,
where thousands of ll-diessed people are to
be seen, with scarce person among them
having on a sciambergG, or decent coat.
Another source Of poverty is the thought
lessness with which they contract marriages,
without having any means OF subsistence.
The little money the parties can bring toge-
ther, is often barely sufficient 10 defray the
expenses of the marriage ceremony and Of
the nuptial dinner, and to provide them
with straw pallet after which they arc lett
70 meet the morrow as we'll as they Car ana
it must be observed, that they have not the
resource Of parish relief. The women are
very prolific, and give birth to swalms Of
wretches, who run about the street hall
starved, l.alf naked, aud dirty and Of whom,
those THAI escape death, marry III their turn
as soon as they are of age,-and thus, a
1nendicant generation is continually pcEpetu-
ated. Mothers carry their little oncs III
their arms from house te house, endaaYaur-
ing to excite pity and TO support themselves
by begging. All women, young and cd,
handsome On ugly, maids or widows, tAiul.
Of nothing but marriage; it is the Oh
~ scope Of their actions, the goal which
they all have in view.
Apathy and carelessncss are prevailing
features oftl.e NeapolitaG character. Ihest
people only live in the present; they tli1t
AVA the idea OF futGiity as an unwclcomt
monitor, and what ever they do is maiket
witch thoughtcasncss and want Of foresight
Ii a funeral passes by, although it be that q
q friend, suiiilr 4 moi, long life TO us, tlcl
e.<claim, shruggins up their shoulders will
nndjsgniscd sclfohness. have seen then
pass by the wretchcd objects Of distress
which abound in the streets OF this capital
without paying the least attention % them
the sight OF misery and disease does not il
the least damp their spirits, and they hurr,
unfeclingiy OH from the starving bVSsar 4
so and squander their money at a party i
the country, or at the gambling table. !
they are in want Of cash, they contract dcbt
which they have not the means of ever ac
quitting, without rejecting that this colrs
will lead them ultimately 10 prison or {
an hospital. fhcy cat as If they were tax
ing their last meal. IL is a common occur
renee on ChriStmas-cvc among poor pcopls
10 pledge on sell thcit clothes, their Scaht
furniture, aid even their beds, to be able t
regale themselves on the following day. A.
their desires are concentrated III the enjoy
ment oi the moment The same dispositi0
renders them fond Of gambling; that eXci
else, by rousing their dormcnt energies, po!
sesses great charms for them and the DC
oeiving hope Of making their fortune III OF
night, attracts crowds to the fatal tlbl
where they generally complete their mi
1t is common practice among many pcop
in this country, 10 promise any thing p cal
tivate the friendship of person prescn
without giving themselves the trouble ofc cot
siderng whether they will be abte y pc
torn what they have engaged thcn2.iyc,
do; consequently, little trust is ID be put
their words When A'c,uvius thundci,S ,,lou
or an earthquake threatens them With dc
truction---when fiery streams, vomitcd fro
the roaring mouth Of the volcano, rgl Q
carrying devastation over the plains below
when the air is darkened by clouds Of smoi
and showers of ashes, the Ncapolitars fall
their knees, fast, do penance, and follow Il
professions baretootcd but as soon III 4
roar has ceased, the flame has tisappe4fc
and the atmosphere has recovered is wot
ed serenity they return to their usual mo
Of life. they sink again to their former lew
and the tinklng sounds Of the tumbere
call them again TO the lascivous dance of
farantetla.