The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-10-15

tinctly heard within! There are dice like
those used at present, and a purse contain
ing money.
pass over an infinite variety of coins and
statues, mosaics and cammeos, because they
were made for duration, and still exist, as a
matter of course. These homely utensils,
whose character is perishable, are far more
interesting to contemplate. They possess
charm more fascinating than the most ele-
CANT specimens of art. One beautiful cam
meo, however, claims notice. Cammeos are
| little known in America, the art not having
reached there, and specimens being ex-
tremely rare. The art is peculiar and
delicate kind of sculpture. Figures in bass
relief, are engraven upon precious stones of
admirably accommodated to the different
veins and hnes of the stone, that the native
variety of tints, adds a beautiful shade and
effect to the figures. 1t is exceedingly diff
cult to convey any idea of this delicate art,
without seeing a specimen. The art is of
! high antiquity, and is much in, vogue and
fashion at present in Rome. Indeed l have
seen rude specimens of it, on wood, among
the wild mountains of Switzerland. The
cammeo alluded to above, is said to be the
! largest and most elegant known. 1t repre-
sents on one side the head Of Medusa, and
several fanciful figures on the other. tits
on large precious stone, or s inches In
! diameter, whereas cammeos are usually
wrought on seals, rings and small trinkets,
designed for the most elegant and fashion
able presents and souveniers.
Another very interesting room is that
which contains the manuscripts found at
Hurculaneum. They are very numerous,
and written on Egyptian Papyrus, the COM
mon material for writing prior to the inven-
| ton of paper. 1t is composed of vegeta-
BILE substance, found, | believe, near the
| Nile. These manuscripts were found rolled
up, and so long cemented by time, that but
( few have been capable Of spreading, and
much of the text has been lost. Fragments
of Poems and works on Rhetoric and Phi
/ losophy, have been brought to light, but the
major part are still rolled up, probably for
ever. We saw several that had been ex-
tended, some in Greek, and others in the
Roman character, and all legible. They
are rare literary curiosities.
| Coming down stairs we explored several
| long galleries, lined on each side with beau
/ tiful ancient Statuary, collected from all
parts of Italy. They are magnificent speci-
mems, fresh as when they came forth from the
plaster-hand of the sculpture but it would
require volumes to convey any adequate
description of them.
THE CARNIVAL
Yesterday we witnessed specimen of
the amusements of the Carnival. This is
most novel scene for transatlantic eyes.
We have nothing like it in the U. States,
and it merits particular notice. In all
| Catholic countries, the time between Christ
mas and Lent. is particularly devoted to
amusements. In Naples, the Carnival prop
erly so called, commences about the middle
of January, and continues till the Goth of
/ February. During this period public mas
querades are allowed, and people are also
| permitted to appear with masks in the
streets. The people avail themselves of the
| license, principally on Sundays and Thurs
! days. On these occasions all the population
! sally forth for these sports, and such as
choose, wear masks and completely disguise
their persons, so as to enable them to take
| liberties with their friends and strangers,
and to pass Jokes upon each other, without
being known. The Toledo is fine wide
street, a mile long, which passes through
the middle of the city. This is. the centre
of all the amusements. Yesterday was
pleasant day, and the Toledo was crowded
from one end to the other, with citizens and
peasantry from all quarters. From o'clock
till dark, line of carriages were passing
up and down on each side, and all the in
termediate space was thronged with pedes-
trians, with masks in abundance, both in
carriages and in the street. 4 more gro
tesque and animated scene cannot he mag
ined. The common sport consists in cast
ing sugar plumbs at one another. Every
carriage is provided with a basket of these
missiles, and every street walker has a
pocket full of them, and they are scattered
about with infinite profusion. The windows
. and balconies of the houses, are crowded to
the eighth story, and from all parts these
sweet shot are shewered down with incon-
ceivable prodigaity. The carriages, in
! passing each other, exchange mutual broad
sides, and if two carriages chance to meet,
on opposite sides, as often happens in the
crowd, such battle is kept up, as almost
to threaten annihilation. Every one is sure
to pelt his friends, and strangers are treat
ed with very little ceremony, while masks
are fair game for every body. Indeed, fe-
males, who are so unfortunate rs to have
pretty faces, are sure to receive passing
salutes from all sides. People of the high
est rank mingle in the sports For two or
three of the last days of the Carnival it is
customary for the King and Royal Family to
appear masked, and to freely exchange the
, plum warfare with the common people. 1t
appears then, that all ranks of people enter
into, and enjoy this amusement. What
, makes it the more agreeable is, that every
) one appears to be in the most perfect good
i humor.
New MODE OF MAKING JULY. Press
; the juice from the fruit; add the proper pro.
portion Of sugar, and stir the juice and
sugar until the sugar is completely melted
! o,,J - "a all L.. 4 :.