The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-11-23

inn knew but little of the characters Of those people
she despised and feared. IL eaeclually proved tbs
justice Of the old rule, 80 believe only half Of what
we hear" for, though her OF the storm was
fuly verified, she certainly in her udg
ment OF the characters OF her countrymen Wemay,
however, say, In her Justification, that had observed
marked difference in the country well as the popu-
atlon, from the time we emerged from the Vallee d.
Aost and her account perhaps not intended to APP
ply 10 the village Of Pivarone in which then
slight examination OF the only inn in the place,
which presented an aspect Of desolaiion and disco-
fort together with the kind and cordial manner Of the
Old gentleman who had Hccosled us while in the car
rage and still remained u.s. induced us to accept
his hospltable offer Of receiving for the night
My house Is but poor one he said !" but you
VIII have at least shelter from the storm and kind
and hearty welcome"
Without further hesitation we followed him to his
house. though the first glance there little else
than his frank welcome 10 recommend II. fat, rosy
woman, whom be introduced his wife, though her
juvenile appearance would have announced her 10 be
his daughter took me by the hand at the door, and led
me TO seat,In the middle of the room where we en-
tered, and the appearance of which WINS very ex
traordlnary that slight sketch Of il may not be unn
teresting TO you.
There was just light enough in the apartment TO
render darkness visible" and il was with some
dihculty that grouped way to allotted seats
over the rough unpaved floor, unpaved even with
bricks stones for IL neither less than
the naked earth, beaten into hard and uneven
face Upon this floor were gamboling whole nests Of
kittens and cats, dogs and puppies and little children
who appeared TO be the best friends in the world
Two Ut three stout young walking about
the room, and delicate and rather pretty looking wo
man, who was called sister-in-law Of the family
seated sort of sofa, with fan and snuff box,
evidently playing the fine lady The wLo had
conducted US over the torrent was in attendance be-
hind her chair, and, as we learned was her servant.
Two young Catholic priests, in their black gowns,
were likewise present, and, from their and IA
miliarity, judged formed part of the family
A good-natured, slIp-shod woman servant, who APP
peared to be the only domestic of the house, flourish
ed about laughing and talking at the highest pitch OF
her voice. and apparently giving many orders TO her
mistress as she received from her
All these things saw by the light oftwo three
allow candles which brought in, for il was
quite too dark before to form any opinion Of these
good people
A long consultation between the mistress and the
maid ended in proposition to conduct us up stairs,
where had the promise of private rooms for dry
toilette of which all stood in need after expo
sure 10 the storm, and we We're preceded with much
ceremony, up sort of ladder, which served for a
stairway. This appeared the more strange, there
ample stairway Of stone leading nearly in the
same direction, and landing on the same passage
where our ladder terminated but, for some reason
best known to themselves they had preferred the lad
der. When we at length arrived the second floor,
we were not a little surprised at being conducted
passed through five large apartments, high pitched
and airy, with vauted ceilings, and enormous win
dows and doors The furniture of one Of these
bore marks of former grandeur for the walls were Ia
pestried with crimson damask, and the bed curtains
were of the same rich MATERIAL while the cornice
above still waived the white pumes that seen in
the chambers of princes. The walls Of all these
apartments were hung with old fashioned paintings
and coats of and heradic devices were pointed
out with no little pride by the master Of the house
lxvh al ms he
and who led the way through the rooms though
every step accompanied with an apology for hay
ing nothing better to offer.
We had hardly time to make the desired change in
our garments and to assemble our little group rounc
blazing fire in one Of the chambers, when all thu
fanny, after another, the priests among the rest
Aocked into the room, where they all sat until supper
was announced. We then descended to the supper
ROOM which we found /, be the had first en-
| tered The ample board spread with excelleh
fare, fish, fesh and fowl vegetables and fut, cakes
and compotes, and all manner of 81 ceterds, were nc
| companed with variety of excellent Wines which
all the company appeared TO ind TO their taste, parcu
arly the two young priests, Who swallowed glass ate
glass of the sparkling Malvose, until of them
peared TO be considerably inspired and began in
of improvisatore strain TO relate stories, much to TIL
| amusement of the company
We could not enter into the merit of his tales, no
at all understanding the barbarous pdfOis and blu
| imperecty the soft and flowing Italian, in which h
alternately spoke but they seemed highly diveItine
to the family particularly the mold servant who stoot
behind him, giving him occasional slap the shout
del, playful and encouraging pull by the ear, Al
| she found the story amusing and agreeable.
| Our excellent host was too polite long to permi
| any diversion to the members of his family, II
winch his guests could not participate. He genil,
Withdrew their attention from the impovisatorles sto
res Of the young priest and related some Of his owl
adventures during the early part Of his life, which
soon absorbed the attention of his hearers. The
flower of his youth, he told us, spent in the army
and several years in the service ofNapoeon During
this period Of his eventul history he had been aker
prisoner by the Austians and eighteen long an.
weary years of captivity had been his hard lot