The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1826-02-02
COLLECTANcA.
ITALIAN WOMEN.

ITALIAN WOMEN.
From Anselmn, Tale of Italy, by A. viessieux.
Since he first crossed the Alps, De Bree
had become a passionate admirer of italian
women. He was struck with their beauty,
but he was more forcibly struck by that
grace of the mind, that happy mixture of
softness and passion, of quickness and sim
plcity, of play yfulness and melancholy, which
form the peculiar charm OF the daughters
of Italy. Resembling children i'll some re-
spects, especially in what relates to mental
endowments, they, in all that is connected
with the heart, astonish man by their
courage, disinterestedncss and self-devotion.
Bauntiful nature has done every thing for
them education but little. Their passions
are allowed to grow in wild luxuriance, but
their passions arc generally OF the softer
kind, and no women in the world are more
naturally charitable and benevolent than
the italian women. Little inclined to vani-
tv, they are pleased with their conquests for
their own sakes they seldom make dis
play of their power, except towards per-
son whom they really wish TO captivatc,
and when once they have him bound in their
silken fetters, they little care that others
should witness their triumph. With them
it is the heart, and not the mind, that must
be satisfied Hence the mystery, the si-
lcnce, the apparent dulness, which general
w attend Italian courtship. A stranger
would hardly suppose in seeing two persons
of different sexes, sitting apart in company.
seldom uttering a word to one another,
hardly looking toward each other, at least
apparently-hardly would stranger sup
pose that those two are the warmest, most
passionate Of lovers. Although seemingly
Indifferent, they contrive to be so placed
as to be constantly in each others view du-
ring the whole evening, and glance, a
slight motion, supply with them the place OF
the most expressive words OF affection, or
entreaty of displeasure, or threatening. The
same is often to be observed 1T church, in
the theatres, and at the public walks. This
manruvre is common to noble and plebian.
to citizen and peasant. All this may aP-
near dull to a foreigner, but the Italians
seem determined to love for themselves, and
not for the qualification Of vanity.
James Ogilve, who acquired great and
lust celebrity in the United States few
years since for his rhetorical performances,
was slave to the inmoderate use of opium.
! The following passage extracted from man
uscrpt letter to friend, is descriptive OF
one of the fierce but Intellectual struggles Of
| 4 powerful lllnu, dHditlSt Vic tyranny vi
noxous habit to which he became the slave,
and perhaps the sacrifice.
n II had been long in this way, before
changed my place of residence. Physicians
told me death would be the certain conse-
ouence of the disuse of the drug: felt that
it's use must soon destroy me; and tardy
suicide in any view, is no less criminal than
immediate self-destructon. My mind re
volted from the idea. On the first night
after nv arrival. my frame was exhausted
: with fatigue and slept. The greater part
of the second was passed in writing, and then
I retired to rest--but it was not rest--it was
horrible dream; every individual fibre ap-
pearel to have Its peculiar pang; ev-
ery sense brought agony. suffered the
tortures of the damned. Twice rose and
put the vial of laudanum to my lips-twice l
nut it awav uutasted. was in most excru-
ciating pain, and rose the third time-hut
| plucked 4 away, opened the window with
desperate resolution and threw it out on the
ground. When saw its fragments glitter
in the moonlight, felt sentiment ct tr'-
umph--I am regenerased-but it is as res
direction from the grave. Before, was Ian
ruid and nerveless as new born infant-now
have regained health, strength and spirits
and look back on my intatuation with hor-
ror.