The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1827-03-06
From Trceels IL baig BY Kephaiides.
THE IAZZARONI


It is a well known fact that no CITY in
Europe presents more active scene
than Naples, or at least than that boil
ing sea, the Toledo, as its only broad
street is called. We found every ding
douhly animated, in consequence Of the
recent change IN The Government, which
had put the Lazzaron., rs has always
been the case in such crlsr,, eN,raordi-
narly in motion. Although these peo-
pie by no means form separate class,
who live by vaprancy, but belong 10 the
great crowd of brokers, pettifoggers,
fishers, sailors, drivers. and others, who
pursue a greater variety Of trades thau
they have fingers on both hands, andwe
may consequently bei.cyo .at every
great town las ITS Lakzarohi yer tuc
extraordinary cheapness of subsistence,
together with the great excitability Of
iho southern Italian character, imparts
to the Noapolitan Lazzaroni an alloee-
thersingular spirit, and a peculiar stamp.
Above all, in no part Of the world is
the manner of living 50 public as here.
All trades alike, the honorable and the
ignoble, are carried on in The streets
the pastry cooks wheel about heirWhole
stock in two-whcelod carts, the sherbet-
stands and collee-booths arc entirely o.
pen and public. They roast, hoil, cat,
drink, and transact almost all divine
and human affairs, in the face of Heaven.
The Lazzaroni has need neither of
house nor firing his whole dress con-
slsts usually of apair of linen brerch-
es and a shirt his breast Is opcn--hs
head uncovcred.-iie passes the whole
day unconcerned, ill chance puts into
his hands a couple of krcuzcrs, with
which he goes down to tho strand of
Saintess Lucia, purchases perhaps some
wrotchcd fish with this little capital, AM
| cries them through the whole of Naples,
assuring every body that they are the
best which have been caught for some
weeks. At last, he disposcs Of his
goods at a small profit, and therewnh
he spends the remainder of the day con-
tentedly, and has still the means of tt
king his fair ono to perchanco, Pulci-
nell Theatre, or to the PagIiassl.~
On the one hand they are The faith.
fullest, best-hearted, and most conten-
ted people in the world many iainl-
lies employ them in the most laborious
domestic occupations, and many even
coniide 10 them things of vllue, as sill
yer spoons and such like for the cleaning,
without evorhaviag 70 complain ofth,m.
and there are Lazzaron who often have
served for twenty years in such houses
to the satisfaction Of all. They also
let themselves out TO hire as porters,
and arc contented with a moderate re-
ward while in other Italian towns,
ono IS never able TO satisfy the mon
slrous impudence Of these fellows. Give
them only small cioak-bag TO carry,
they often pant as dreadluIly rs if they
were in a consumption, and were rea-
dy to give up ihe ghost on the spot un-
der this ridiculous burden. Each burst
If anguish, Holy God what STU
pcndous weight What a horrible
straining = raisos the fee several per
cent Al such knayeries are unknown
TO the rude Lazzaroni, and a person is
no where better served than even in
Naples by them, although it may be
proper to keep them little in sight
Faithful, however, as on the whole
they are found to be towards known ill.,
dividuals, and towards every one that
treats them well, yet, on the other hand,
they are ready every moment to mur-
der all respectable people for the sake
of the holy faith, as they express them-
selves to commit arson when it is de-
sired, and to rob and plumber whenever
F, thcy can. But the best opportunity
for all this offers itself when Vesuvins
or the throne sustains a shock on such
and similar commissions, this mass of the
people has ever been dreadful in NJ
pies, and is so 10 the present day, as
the citizens sadly experienced on occa-
sion Of the last change OF government.
After the army of Murat had been
completely dissolved in the monstrous
flight from the Porto Naples, (bnt the
imperial army, in spite OF every effort,
was not in condition to oyertake it,
and 50 far, therefore, was still Defeated
the government Of Joachim, even III
the city itself, naturally began to totter
and fall and as it was really odious to
most, while the Italians seek alienation
in every change, and find at least sup
port, which was also necessarily odious
10 the loyal, the Lazzaroni, in this inter-
val of time, when Murat was already
fallen, but the Ausirians had not yet
taken possession, under pretenco Of he'll
ping to seat the Bourbons onlhe throne,
seized this excellent opportunity OF put
ting Naples in flames, and Of piandenng
collectively as much as their arms could
hold. For this purpose they assembled
under their heads--for to each of the
four quarters Of the town is appointed