The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-05-02

their coats aud neckeiallls, aud sit domn Ia
dinner with their shirt sleeves tucked up 10
their elbows. This takes place also at the
festaufaieUrs or ealing houses. Ladies'
perform their toilet viii the doors of their
dressing room ajar, IN sight Of servants aud
,,sitors. All tins, foaeser, admits OF some
excuse, az the beat III the weather is in a
great measure one OF the principal causes
OF such indicate customs.
The greatest familiarity prevails be
tween masters and servants. The former
often Joke and laugh with the latter, and
talk confidently Of their affairs and inirignes
before them SOME even play at cards y it'll
them +; it is. natural, thef fore TO expect no
reverence nor subordnation from dones
ties who are the confidants of their mas
te,'s foibles or vices This renders Nea
poitan servants the worst in the world -
They are dirty, lazy, aud careless inso
le6t and unfaithlul. They are in general
VIGOROUSLY dishonest, So as To steal the
pallrlest things that fall in their way. Most
Of them, especially when out of livery,
would think it beneath them to carry a
bundle, or any thing IN their hands through
the streets, and will actually refuse To do
80, and employ porter for the purpose.--
Gambling, sleeping & defaning their mas
tiers, are the pastlmes in which they spend
the greater part of the day, while lettering
in dlenesS in the ante rooms. By their
means, all the secrets Of their masters and
mislresses are made known TO the world.
Still The difficulty of finding better servants,
and the danger of exchanging for the
" rise, make their employ ers put up with
them. lfthreatened To be turned out, they
answer with the greatest impudence that
their masters will not be the better for the
change; ii is a general saying amongst
thin, that they can give the law to Their
masters. Foreigners generally provide
themselves with servants from the North of
Italy who have better reputation for ho
nesiy most of the house pUrters are also
from that part ofthe county.
A disposition 10 lazmess prevails in the
inhabitants of Naples, andths is source
Of ,ice and Indulgence In otia nata Par
thenepe. Work is done in bad and sio
venly manner the principal object Of
workmen seems IL be 10 cheat their mas
ters, aud labour as little us they can for
their wages.
Another source Of poverty is the thought
lessness with which they contract mar
tia2.s, without any means Of substance.
The little money the parties can bring 10.
gcthe. is often barely sufficient to dcfray
toe expenses of the marriage ceremony s.
Of the nuptdl dinner, and to provide them
With straw pallet, after which they are
eft 10 meet the morrow as well as they
can aud it must be- observed that they
have not The resource of parish relief.
The women are very prolific, and give
birth To swarms Of little wretches, who
run about the sttreets half statycd, half
naked and dirty andof whom those es
cape death marry IN tn, If turn as soon as
they are of age,-and thus, mendicant
generation is continually pcrpetuated
Mothers carry their little ones in their
arms from house 10 house, endeayourng
TO excite pity aud To support themselves
by begging. A man earning a tart day,
about eight pence English, will think of
marrying without any scruple. All wo
men, young and old. handsome or ugly,
maids or widows, think Of nothing but
marriage it is the only scope of their dc
lions, the goal which they all have ia view.
The las Is the only profession at Naples
which man of abilities may hope TO ad
vance, and To reach the highest statons.
The Neapotan lawyers have in certain
manner the property OF the kingdom in
their hands, As their Is hardly perhaps
landhpldcr but has two Or three causes
pending before the courts. This is one OF
the greatest evils of this country lowyer
and suit are indispensable appendages OF
property. Some of the principal families
have suits which have been carried on for
a century, and for which certain sum is
yearly appropriated, although the bust
ness never advances, aud at last the expen
ses swallow up the capital.