The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-03-17
TO BE CONTINUED.
For the National Era.
GREENWOOD LEAVES FROM OVER THE SEA.
A.

For the National Era.
GREENWOOD LEAVES FROM OVER THE SEA
No. 30
ROME, February 8, 1853.
My DEAR R. L. B: In all my absence
from home, | have never missed you more re
gretfully, thought of you more wishfully, thar
on the first day of the Carnival. All with
what life and heart, with what utter abandon
TO the mad humor of the occasion, would you
| have thrown yourself into the rushing, ire
sistible tide of mirth, and jest, and joyous
ness
The day was beautiful warm, and sunny
but with an invigorating spring freshness il
the atmosphere-such day as we sometime
have at home, in early April, tempting one on
into the budding woods, after the first flowers
As the windows of our lodgings are too higl
| for Carnival convenience, we have taken, witt
party of friends a balcony, somewhat far
| Their up the Corso, near the Via della Croce-
an admirable situation To this we proceeded
| at half past two but not till about three did
the grand play really commence. Then indeed
was the Corso most beautiful and animating
sight On either side the windows and balco-
MES were decorated with brilliant hangings
and filed with gay figures and smiling faces
The dark, gray old palaces seemed to put forth
the most gorgeous colors and the most alluring
beauty-like the sudden magnificent blossom
ing of rude and gigantic tropical plants. The
street was throngcd with jewellers and specta-
tors, in carriages and on foot many in costumes
grotesque or picturesque and thickly and
necessarily from windows and balconies storm
bouquets and bonbons and ratified the harm
less hail of confetti This last is composed of
sort of seed, covered with plaster or -four ;
and though it whitens one completely, and
stngs little occasionally it does no serious
injury to person or dress. Those in the car
riages CALAMITY returned the fire of the balco-
MES and windows giving bouquet for bouquet,
bonbon for bonbOn confetti for confetti with
whatsoever missile ye pelt it shall be pelted to
you again.
1t is strange how contagious is this general
| joyousness and jollity. No sooner had stepped
on to'the balcony, than d. felt myself possessed
with the true Carnival spirit my heart danced
and the blood tingled along my veins, with q
novel, wild, and childish excitement-and in O
moment was mingling in that strange for
eign sport rs ardently, theoretically, and reck
lossly rs any daring Roman woman, to the
CorsO and Carnival born. ! not only tossed
1
as bags of bonbons and bouquets, but shot and
received large sugared balls hard, and some
times not a little formidable and showered
torrents of confetti There were twelve in our
balcony, and when we singled out n carriage
and fred in concert, the effect was tremendous
1t was most amusing to watch certain passers-
by who drove up and down in a serious and
sedate manner taking no smallest part in the
snort and puftIpu IN "A surpriapf ipdiUuQnf
or ll.used look whenever they were saluted
with heavy bouquet or dash of confetti
Heaven only knows what else they expected at
Carnival.
1t was at first difficult to distinguish our ac-
qnaintances in fancy dresses, dominoes, and
wire masks; but after we had once recognised
them, they received no quarter.
After couple of hours unceasing exercise,
my arm became almost useless with much
throwing, and then contented myself with
covert attacks upon the pedestrians passing OF
lingering underneath the balcony. | had all
the advantage of an Misunderstanding the enc
my by surprise, and leaving him little or no
defence--an unequal, ignoble, aboriginal style
of warfare, | grant but full Of excitement and
a rich, wicked zest A deadly foe to respecta-
bilty of appearance, as inharmonious and in
congruous with the scene and the season, |
lay in wait for shiny black bea-
vers and superfne cloths. | am happy TO be
able to say that these attacks, discour teous
and cowardly RS they may seem, were received
with the most charming good-nature and en-
gaging placidity, and returned, whenever il
was possible with hearty good will. But con.
fetti thrown upward to the height where we
stood did comparatively little execution
At half past four the first gun was fired,
and the police began to clear the Corso OF car
rages, for the race. At five, doomed of another
gun, and a company Of cavalry galloped mt
gallant rate from the Ripresa di Barber to
the Piazza del PopOlo, from whence the horses
were to start and IA few moments after tho |
racers wcro loosened, and amid wild, indie |
scrbable uproar of shouts and yells and sharp
shrill whistles, and waving of hats and clap |
ping Of hands, dashed up the brilliant street
but with spiked balls dangling ut
their sides goading them the more the faster
they ran, decorated with gay ribands and GOV.
and flashing, and ringing past, and the crown
ing excitement Of tho day was over in mo-
ment.
There were nine of these horses, each bear
ing his number painted in white upon his
sbUulutTfs uc WibbSI Wuo AuOWu NY tne /
number of guns fred after all had reached the
goal, where they were caught by sheets of can
gass stretched across the street The prizes
awarded 10 the owners Of the winning horses
are given, in part, by the Jews, in compensa-
lion for not running themselves, as in the good
I'D times. by the way, we hear that the Pope
has decreed that even this fine shall be no
onger imposed-an act which speaks well for
is innate sense Of justice
went home excessively tired, but decidedly
If the opinion that one Of the few commend
able institutions of this unhappy country 10
his Same custom sanctioned absurdty, this
ancient and annual irruption of folly, this 81.
yantc frolic, the Carnival.
Monday WAS u horribly rainy day, but to
,ur boundlcss astonshment, tho frolic went on
This was an unexpected experience. 1t some
row had never entered into my head, that
here could be such an anomaly NJ wet Car
rival We remained at home, and watched,
With infinite amusement the mad attempt at
Enjoyment without. II was q scene which
would have delighted Mark Tspley, as COM
'lete triumph OF his principle OF being jolly
lnder crsditable circumstances IL the
weather. had been fine, the display on this day
would have been very brilliant, as, in defiance
4 cloud and wet, there was early gallant
turnout, aud many striking. quaint and Gu