New-York daily tribune., 1843-10-18
the LADIES OF ITALY AND TIE LADIES OF
NEw-Y oRK


APRIL, 1913.
"Yus black-eycd Beauties of Italy-Thc Blue
Heavens of Italy," Who has not heard these
excan,ations and that too in contrast with our
own beautiful women and clear atmosphere until
he has dreamed OLA sunny land wreathed with
rivers and filed with radiant, passionate creatures
At another time | shall contrast the climates.
At present reversing the rules of rhetoric, take
the most interesting objects first; and as to these
dark.eyed bcauties-dark-eycd enough though
they are, and very pretty withal-yet, like many
other things in this world, they appear much bet
fer when dreamed about, with 1000 miles Of
ocean between US, than when looked upon in
.propria PERSONA And it is not the partlallty
one naturally feels for his countrywomen that gov
ems me when | say that the beautiful women
with us stand to them in the proportion Of five to
one. Walk on pleasant day at the promena-
dino hour from the Astor House to Bleeckers street,
and you shall see more beautiful women than you
will find in any Italian city, though you walk 1t
the entire day. am sure that no one could be
more inclined to look every thing in this once
glorious land in more romantic light than my
self. 1t was the land of my early drcams-the
one bright vision in all my scholars life, and
when its blue hills rose on my view felt like the
pilgrim, as he catches the first glimpse of the
PROPHETS Tomb from aiar. Yet the truth maun
be said d.-perhaps one would see more beauty
were the young ladies permitted to appear more
in society The foolish custom of shutting them
up in converts, occupied with their studies, until
married off by their parents, still prevails. 1t is,
however, losing somewhat Of its ancient force,
especially in Tuscany. If my letters to you dur
ing the Carnival had not been lost, you would
have been able to Judge yourself somewhat of the
claims of Italian women to superior beauty. Yet
take little of my experience and disappointment
in this matter, as a specimen of what awaits the
American traveller who has the leisure and op-
portunitv to move among the higher classes OF
Italy Genoa has been regarded from time lmme-
,noral as the most celebrated of all Italian cities,
for the beauty of its women. In that city re-
sided five months, and mingled freely in every
class of society Being an invited guest to all
the large assemblies and soirees of the nobility,
had every opportunity of seeing its society IN Its
most brilliant coloring. | shall never forget my
disappointment at the first great soiree attended
in Italy. 1t was at the old Doge's Palace IN
Genoa. AS entered through the grand gate
way guarded by soldiers with their gttering
arms, and passed through the long line OF Porta-
tine or sedan chairs, arranged on each side OF
the walk, from which were emerging closely
veiled figures, and ascended the long and magni-
fcent marble steps, amid the presenting of arms,
into the entrance chamber, filled with ivcrlcd ser
wants, expected to be dazzled with such an ar
raw of beauty as never before blessed the eye of
man-unless it was King Solomon in the midst
of his Harcm. Indeed my accustomed selicon-
Gdence was fast oozing out, and | have no doubt
| should have committed some blunder had not
our good Antonio, like capital valet as he was,
done every thing In its proper time. first en-
tered large saloon, and, To- 1t was filled to
overhowing with nothing but officers in their uni
FORM wandered on till | came to the ladies
roon,' and it is no more sad than true, there was
not really pretty woman init. must acknowl-
edge, however, there were not many present. The
Governor, whether he noticed my disappointment,
oFwished to be civil, know not, said, y You must
come next Monday evening; this is convcr-
Sazione,' and there are but few ladies here
Monday evening we have Ball, and there will
Dc more present" Just then a beautiful creature
swept INTO the room, and the Baroness of l.
was announced. AS she saluted the Governor
and passed on, he whispered to me, ' 4 very
beautiful woman" Very beautiful" | replied,
at the same time drawing g long breath like one
renewed from long suspense But she was a
"uSS'dH baroness on visit to the Governor and
not an Nalian. need not say that the next
Monday did not 60 Indeed his soirces, which
were twice week during Carnival, found SO
excessively stupid, that unless was sure of some
extra attraction, | seldom attended Ny next
olsapPolnmcnt was IN one of the smaller and select
eatcies OF one OF the FIRST mobiles in the Kingdom
" "''a shall have more to say hereafter At
MS 7uietta' met the pleasantcst society have
seen abroad. was there almost evcry week, and
yet never saw but one lady that could be called
beautiful, and she had the blue eye and LIGHT hair
and rosy hue of the Saxon race One night at
an unusually brilliant assembly at the Palace Of
the Governor, as | was standing amid group OF
officers, caught view of a head and face that
drew from me an involuntary exclamation There
was beauty and glory about it | never had socn
but once In my life before; but no one could tell
me who she was or where she came from; vet
all i0oked as if they would give the world to know
AT length seeing her seated in familiar converse.
t'on beside q lady with whom | was acquainted
soon pierced the mystery that surrounded her
You can guess mx surprise and pleasure 70 lear