Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-05-11
MISCELL AN Y.
A Roman Scene.

The three thousand artists who reside at Rome,
require, of course, large number of living models
for the purpose OF art. Grace Greenwood, IN a
receat letter, amusngly describes group of these
models completing for employment She says;
Il am u good deal interested and amused by the
professional models, who most do congregate' on
the great flight of steps leading up to the Trinita
d Mont; from the Piazza di SpagRa. There are
often to be seen picturesque and varied groups,
and single figures of striking character. Hand
some peasant women with charming brown babies
wild, long-haired boys from the mountains-ra-
ven bearded young men and snowy headed Old
men-and coquettSh young girls, with flashing
eyes and dashiug costumes. There is one grand
looking old man, with bounteous white beard,
who is said to do great business in the sanctity
and patriarchal line He is a multitudinous Mo
ses, an inexhaustible St. Joseph, and the pictorial
stock Peter, of many seasons. There is also
powerful, handsome, dark and terrible looking tel-
low, who does the brigand and bravo.
''TheSe various candidates for artistic favour
seem to have the most social aud agreeable rela-
tions with each other. Indeed, have remarked
the patriarch chatting and laughing with the
brigand in familiar manner scarcely III keeping
with his own venerable character. But let an ar
list or two ascend the steps and, presto the dark
eyed young girls CedSS |iioil iUiO S0s' P' ""'
snrinp into position--look archly or mournfully
over the right shoulder, or, with clasped hands,
modestlv contemplate the pavement-the pretty
peasant woman snatches up the baby she had left
10 creep about at its own sweet will, aud bends O.
yer it tender and Madonna like, while, at word
from her. skin-clad little shepherd boy drops his
came of pitch peuny, and takes ~ his role Of St.
John. Perhaps dark, dignifed, but somewhat
romantic old woman, with her head wrapped up
in a brown cloth, makes modest venture of her
self as ST. Anna, while the fine old man have
described makes the most of the comparatively
unimportant character of ST. Joseph, or orseparatng
himself entirely from the group, looks authorlta-
tive as Moses, or inspired as Isaiah, or resolute as
Peter. The handsome bravo or brigand gives
fiercer twist to his moustache slouches his point
ed black hat, appears to be concealing dagger
under his brown cloak, or, on the point OF drawing
an imaginary pistol from his belt-sets his teeth,
scowls and cultivates the dabocal generally In
attitude and expression. 1t is altogether very
amusing and skilful piece of canvassing.
"Thourh nine years have rolled by, and brought
revolutions and q few other little changes in
Rome. since Dickens spenta winter here, yet
these steps are to-day precisely what he pictures
them. Indeed, believe that our friends-the
patriarch and the brigand-aro the Identical per-
sonages whose portris stand out 50 liyingly in his
grotesque but exquisite description"
HoRsE-uNR SsAKEs-Conceruing these sinu-
Gus and attenuatcd entities, DIR. B. Gideon Smith
addressed the following communication to the Bal
timore Patriot:
81 would suggest to the citizens of Baltimore
very simple plan for stralning ah their hydrant
water. which, at this season OF the year, is mat
ter of some Importance to delicate palates. Take
about quarter of a yard square OF good fine nan
mel, and tie it firmly over the mouth OF the ny
drant spout, leaving small sack or bag, OF the
size of goose egg, in the centre OF the fannel--
The writer has fixed his hydrant In this way ,ano
it proves perfectly effectua. At this time the Ut
tie horseha snake on eel is very abundant IN all
the streams and pools OF water, ana frequently
makes its appearance In the hyaIant ~alSs, @ aac
the above plan will certainly catch H. ms NJ
tie reptile is believed to De periec'iy nariileSS
is generally supposed to be produced IRON @ ioisel
hair that has fallen into the water; Inns Is y,
course a ridiculous common error. IL is ike ali
other orpanized beings, animal or vegetable, reg
ular oro9nized animal, propagated by its own KIND
Its scientific name is g0rdiuS acquat'c"S' AZ inc
nresent time. and for few weeks to come, it ap
pears nearly white, or like thread OF gloss CT
White morse nalr, only nttio io"S, ~
active, swimming about rapidly IL mas PfooaoS
just cast off its old skin In week or two II VIII
be dark brown or nearly black, somewhat IKE
piece of dark coored horse-hair, from two or tree
to five or six inches long. have had several oi
these reptiles brought to rue lately, and many Ia
quiries made respecting them. The above plan
will effectually prevent their being swalloWed.|
All pools and streams of water in the Middle ana
Southern States are equally inhabited by ihem'
LoGIc.-A man who was up to thing OF TWO
offered to bet that he could prove that"this side
of the river was the 'other side"
His challenge was soon accepted, and a oct OF
ten dollars made when, pointing to the opposite
shore of the river, he asked,
SIS not that one side Of the riverF
''Yes,' was the answer.
'"Agreed." said the man, So and is not this the
other side ?"
"Yes."
esThen," said the man, 81 have won, for by your
own confession have proved that this side OF the
river is the other side"
The dumb founded antagonist, overcome oy TINS
profound logic, immediately forked over the mon
ey and sloped.
n5- Why are country girls cheeks like well
rrinted cotton Because they are warranted to
IL Lao,, thpir cOlOrs -