New-York daily tribune., 1843-10-28
Letters from Italy. No. XII.
Foreign Correspondence of the N Y. Tribune.

Foreign Correspondence OF the NJ Y. Tribune.
,ur LADIES OF NEw-yoRK LADIES OF ITALY
tco,,puedl ROME, April lS43.
Jsaid in nv last letter I would speak of the
manners of the Italian women, which was the
cause of their being so universally admired by
;,p;cners. This alone makes an immense differ
epce between an Italian and an American city.
Broadway. with all it's array of beauty, never
acInes one to feel lively and merry, The ladies
the men are worse of course) seem to have come
out for any other purpose than to enjoy themselves.
Their whole demeanor is like one sitting for his
portrait. Every thing is just as it should be, to
be LOOKED at. Every lady wears serious face,
and the whole throng is like stiff country party
The ladies in Italy on the contrary 60 out to be
merry, and it is one perpetual chatter and laugh on
the public promenades. The movements are all
different, and the very air seems gay. never
went down Broadway at the promenade hour
alone with the blues without coming back feeling
buer, while never returned from public pro-
menade in Italy without rubbing my hands, say
ing to myself well this must be a very comforta-
bic world after all, for people do enjoy themselves
init amazingly This difference is still more
perceptible on personal acquaintance. An Italian
lady never sits and utters common-places with
freezing formality She is more flexible, and IN
deed if the truth must be said better natured and
happier than too many of my countrywomcn.-
She is not on the keen look out lest she should
fail to rown every time proprlety demanded.
There is no country in the world where woman
wayis so worshipped, and allowed to have her own
as In America, and yet there is no country where
asis so ungratelul for the place and power she
couples. Have you never in Broadway, when
the omnibus was full, stepped out into the rain
toilet lady take your place, which she most unhes-
aa6ngly did, and with an indifference in her man.
ner as if she considered it the merest trife in the
sthank ye," if she gave one! Dickens makes
this same remark with regard to stage coaches
80 does Hamilton Now, do such favor for an
Italian lady, and you would be rewarded with
one Of the sweetest smiles that ever frightened
on human countenance. l do not 60 on the
pnnclple that man must always expect re-
ward for his good deeds; yet when | have had
my klndcst Offices as a stranger, received as if |
were almost suspected of making improper ad-
Vances, have felt there was little pleasure in
beng civil The ''grazic Signore," and smile
with which an Italian rewards the commonest
uVlllty, would make the plalnest woman appear
handsome in the eyes of a foreigner. They also
ecome more easily animated, til! they make it all
sunlight around them. They never tire you with
ae same monotonous aspect, but yield in
@ne and look to the passing thought whether
be sad, or mirthful; and then they are
Tree from all formality, and 50 sensltivcly
CAREFUL Of your feelings. shall never forget
one OF the first acquaintanccs l made in Italy.
| Vas lat the Marquis de Negro's one even
ng, conversing with some gentlemen, when
ae MARQUIS came up and wished to introduce me
% q beautiful lady-lndeed she was the most
&autinl ltallan woman have ever seen. de.
saned, saying | did not understand the Italian
2aguage well enough to converse with 50 beau,i-
la woman, /" for you know (said 4 one wants
say very ClcNei t!tiliSS III SOcn q case, and a
aonder would be crucifying" Pooh pooh,o
Ssd he, g come along and taking me by the
SHOULDERS led me along and forced me down into
chair BY her side, saying, " Now talk If she
aad been half as much disconnected as was, I
should have blundered beyond redemption; but
ae good-natured laugh with which she regarded
ne harquis's performance entirely restored my
"aadcnce, and stumbled along in the Italian
of fhalf an hour, without her ever giving the least
..s''aat'oa, by look or word, that did not speak
with perfect propriety.
" u'Se me also your Italian lady to smooth over
u'sas'er' One day several of the nobility had
ven invited on board one of our ships OF the
- sIe 10 dinner. After the ladies had left the Ia
~ ~ he VINE began to circulate pretty freely, and
s, ssS innumerable were drunk The Italians
s0osht 1t would be uncvi not to drain their glass
every toast, and, unaccus,omed to our strong
'4'ss' they soon became boozy, and did not be-.