Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1854-10-13
STAR.
SOCIETY AT FLORENCE.

y correspondent of the Newark Advertiser
at Florence, thus speaks Of sundry rnotabiii.
ties, and the state of society in that city
: " In music, Italy is stifl far in advance of
US; though Rossini-the sung.bir Of Para
disc, nestled in these olive viney ards-grcwn
old and captious, perhaps, now shuts all the
wealth Of his melodious soul within itself. re-
fnsing to minister to the corrupt tastes of the
day In other than his own words Vendi's
assumption OF the musical throne has driven
the king of this realm into moody solitude
And kingly solitude, indeed, is old Rossi.
mis- his very silence has sroy atty In it that
is felt; he retirss in grandeur, attended by
wealth, and the repose of his age is as iuxu-
rious as was the fife of his youth, and the
reign of his prime. His beautiful villa stands
on a commanding point of the cotitae, and 10
the resort of his still loyal subjects Too near
acquaintance, however, with the persons and.
private histories of most great men of Europe
not only dissipate the illusion of distance, but
reveals characteristics and habits 80 revolving
that one often regrets such disseminating in
| timacy. In this case, one turns from the ele.
CANT retirement of the old voluptuary, Rossini
to the tomb, Of the spiritual BelIini, with less
| OF regret that Paradise reclaimed so earlyits
musical child
tFlorence seems now to be a gathering
place for the notorious, as it has been the
birth place of the celebrated. Here resides
in almost regal pomp, Prince Demidoff, has
band (separated of course) of the famOus
Princess Matilda. now in power as queen o:
| beauty-though in verify pussee-at the court
of her cousin, Napoleon Ill Demidoff is Il
Russian Of plebian birth, his princeship hav
| ing been the gift of this ducal crown, probably
on account of immense wealth, his only prince
| ly claim His ctateam-one Of the great at
fractions here, more desirable for being less
accessi Bile than othersLis richer in it's interior
| than any OF the ducal residences Not only
| has be tables and other articles of furniture
but mantel-preces and paveneuts of mala-
| chite and tarns tazut,; indeed his visitors of.
! ten wear In a small breach on the bosoms pre-.
clous stones, such as they walk over or lean
| upon in his gorgeous saloons. The grounds
attached to his villa are nearly as extensive
| as the royal gardens, and are enclosed the
whole length by an iron fence, higher and
| richer than surrounds any American park
But insorn vulgarity is apparent in the posi-
ton Of this sunptuous residence, on low
marshy land, excluded from any of the fine
views which lesser villas enjoy. IS
The Princes income is said to be over $780,
U00 per annum yet, WI IN recently remanded
to Russia, he left Florence deeply in debt :;
from which fact the expenses of his daily liv-
ing may be estimated. Should he ever return
it will probably be with dim inisbed wealth.
as his Emperor no doubt had need of him.
The present 's bonne amie' of this prince is
the wife Of nobleman here, who lives him
self on the best terms with her, though her re-
laton with the Russian Is publicly acknow wi :
edged-she presiding at all his balls, which
by the by. are attended by the best society.
including English ladies of delicate tastes an d
habits On the Princes departure he pur-
! chased place for this renowned lady, where
she resides with her husband during his alb.
sence. --..-...o
Another notoriety here is Byron's Guiccioli,
| now married to rich old Florentine MARQUIS.
| whose peacock tread through the h alls of fash
| ion, with the beauty (of sixty on his arm de
| notes how proud he is of being husband of the
poets mistress which honor it would seem
| is deemed epviable by the crowd of courtiers
| that surround the narchioness, who, if not fair
| as the Countess Guiccioli, still holds her own
art1stcaliy-h blonde ringlets being no
whittier for her years and who carries in her
| march aueenly consciousness of superiority
| among high women, Indeed, in coming to
Florence she knew her sphere and revoIves
gloriousiy IN 1t Many other lesser stars of
! fashlon--fallen stars in their native spheres
, ind here also the most favorable position
among them are several ladies in their own
right, i. g without their husbands Truly
Florence is motheriy hospital for suffering
regulations, and it is wonderful how soon des-
perate cases come out whole again A Flor
entine himself remarked the other day Of
great lady who had lost caste even In another
Italian city, g Wh., don't she come here
Florence would receive her with open arms
ant put her in position again -