New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-10-07
q r E T RIB n E :.
FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE OF THE TRIBUNE.
Letters from Italy. No. Xxx.
Correspondence Of The New.YoIk Tribune
ARTISTS FETE.

To-day has been the great fete day OF Inc
artists of Rome. have endeavored IN VAN &c
sscover the origin or design Of this oldest OF al
.,n;versaries in the imperial city. 1t is confined
n no nation, bat embraces the artists oil every
ID who wish to partake of its festivities and
s,ler;es For several days previous books are
-. onen at the Greek Cafe for those strangers
-bo wish to enter their names as members on
10 occasion, and who receive IN return blue
,bhon to wear as badge during the festivities
The place of carousal is about ten miles from
he cty in the open Campagna. The location is
&c odd as the celebration that honors it. To be
sheltered from the sun, if it be bright Italian
4ay, and to be protected from the wet, if it be a
r;ny one, they have selected the ancient
Ouarries Of Rome for their festive hall. These
Onaries are the interior Of a slight eminence
followed out into chambers and arches by the
rr,dnal excavations Of former centuries. The
J;n;;nc. hall is an old forsakcn ruin near by. At
sisht o'clock they meet from every part OF the
ctv in front of St. Maria Maggore, to form
tbs;r procession. First comes a cart and OXEN,
carlanded for the occasion, on which is throned
he President dressed like nothing you ever be-
held, and after him the motley group of artists
and their friends, to the amount Of several hun
lred. Each had his costume, aud one would
think they had not studied the old paintings in
vain. Such out of the way and yet often pic
cept Italy-and then the animals they ride, some
are horses, some mules, and some the smallest,
most yillainous locking donkeys Rome can fur
nsh.
Ny friend and myself did not accompany the
procession out, but walked up to view the baths
Of Dioclesian, and from them to the San Loren
70 gate, expecting 10 catch return hack. Soon
one came up, and hailed the driver, asking HIM
what he would demand to take us out to the iete
Just then it began to sprinkle-the first few drops
Of a heavy shower The fellow looked as if he
thought he had caught us, and his management
you may take as perfect illustration of an Ital-
ian's mode of making bargain-,cith foreign
ers. He demanded Just double Of an extraordi-
binary price, so I offered him half. No-he
would Mt listen to it-and after some alteration
told him to drive on, could do without him.
He then fell third, but l persisted in my first
offer, and babe him go on. He drew up his rens
and started off. But Just before he turned an
mge in the road which concealed him from view,
he pulled up and hallooed to know if would go
Tor so much, naming a triae less. shook my
head, and he vanished from sight. "There,"
SAID my friend, "we are now in a pretty fix
fanlng like storm, and no way of getting to
the fete or to the city" But knew my man,
and replied do you suppose he has gone for
podl' In three minutes he will be back" and
true enough the next moment pair Of black
Nnes trotted into view, and our friend pulled up
shere We stood to drive another bargain. He
al still more from MS original price, and began
0praise his vehicle and show us all its comforts,
specially in rain storm. | was vexed at the
slOw'simpudcnce, and coolly asked him why he
Nlumed; | was not anxious at all to have his
carnage; he had better drive back to the city, or
ae would lose the opportunity of taking some
Vae else. He drew up his relns with all the
haear of an old Roman, and cracking his whip
u0se away with an air that SAID, as plainly as
a'uons could say it, T" Good day, sir-this is the
Isl you will see of me- After he had disappear
e. my friend again began, There, now, you
4Vs done 1t, He has gone sure enough, and we
uay get out OF the scrapo as we cam Not a
@oi IT." said |. "The difference in the price
aSoners TO take and offer TO give is trf1ing but
uVsll you see the rascal thinks to take advantage
VI our circumstances will stand here under
1uS o'd colonnade till night before | will give
am one balocca more than have offered him.
DsSoes, ne Will be back in minute. 1t is true
way last take Oft was very well done, but the
"alSns are used to acting. Such an offer as
,4aoe him he has not had to-day, and he is the
~ man TO lose it. The next time he will return
~ tell US to get IN was right. In a few
.-Au'cs the black team was in sight. The hau-
w OIL the Roman had vanished, and with a
"uca Of the hat and smile that would have
1ase the fortune of an English valet, he babe
~, HScellencics" mount, hoping we would re-
i, .'aoeF and give him g buonomano" "Not
II SAD l, though | afterward did, of my
Nm Aee will. But would not have it in the
eontect.
saeA is universally an Italians mode Of max.
oasgaln. After driving FIVE or SIX miles,
!. 'asaed INTO the fields through which, far be-
1' US were slowly winding along trains of car
@sss filled with the fun-lovlng Italians. At
go We came in sight of the spot consecrated
4'--and such a sight. Did YOU ever see a
s'asras training in the country Then you
~ NE tirst view Of the "artists' fetc." Scat
~ ss over the green field were carriages filed
~ 4af Spectators, patches of strolling peddlars,
). 70 with the team detached and swine and
Wv. !" SELL and all the strange and motley
sss sang OF Yankee training ground" All