New-York daily tribune., 1856-03-18
ROME, Ash.Wednesday, Feb. 6, 1856.

ROME, Ash-Wednesday, Feb. 6, 1856.
Rome has scampered through the Carnival, and
now its seven hills are on their knees in repent
ance before high Heaven, receiving the sign OF the
cross and the solemn sdmonition, dust thou art
aud to dust thou shalt return" There is a consc-
auence ia the lives of these southern people. If
they have time for the spiritual, there must be
time for the carnal Lent and the Carnival are
compliments Of each other. 1t would be absurd
for Roman to observe a succession of fasts II he
had bad no previous excessive feastings. He would
think it silly to refrain from dancing if he had not
ALREADY danced himself tired. 1t would be hypOc
risy 10 loathc worldly things ifhe had not just been
giatted with them. Fish days come after flesh
pnes. The Carnival is peculiar preparation for
the solemntes of Lent and the Holy Week 1t Is
vigorous and general storing away OF "meet for
repentaDce'-a safety of innocent fun and folly.
The Carnival proper commences just after the
Epiphany and ends at Ash-Wednesday. This is
the Roman season for theaters, balls masquerades
and all sorts Of private family diversions But the
last eleven days before Lent embrace the Carnival
special and perpetuate the souvenirs of the ancient
Bacchanalian revels. Amusement is the monOma-
Ma of the people. Every one, who has nothing else
to do, frolics. Rome is filled with strangers, and
especially thronged with English and Americans,
whose great ambition is 10 command favorable
balcony on the C0rso; for it is in this one long,
narrow street that the principal farce is played.
The Carnival proper has been short this year. for
Easter comes "high" in the calendar, but the sac
red eleven days are never encroscbed upon They
commenced this year on Saturday, the Goth OF Jau-
uary. At o'clock in the afternoon, or as the
Romans say, at 90 o'clock, (for they count from
the evening Angelus, the rare ringing bell of the
Capitol opens aud iuaugurates the festivities. The
Carnival consists in promensdes on foot and in
risges along the CorsO, in exchanges of bouquets
and confectionery of sugar or Of plaster, and then
IN horse-races. All amusement ceases at the Ave
Hara-the sunset hour for prayer, except on Mardi
Grds when another hour lie accorded The same
pleasures are renewed each day, except on Fri
days and Sundays Rome is more religious than
Paris, and keeps its Sundays better. This year
fhe fete ofthe Publication Of the Virgin occurring
On the I'd of February sancti6ed Saturday also.
SO the faithful ostthree consecutive days of folly;
bat Monday it WAS renewed, and Tuesday il ended
For days previous to the Carnival various prepa-
rahons announce its approach. Costume and con-
fectionery shops make their displays, aud private
people are preparing their dresses for the mae
4uerade.
Flowers become for day or two rare in the
markets; they are held in reserve for Floras
great ayiShing on the Carnival. Aud think new
ter smoment while you are shiverpg at twenty
9tgrces below zero, of the delightful weather
mere, which is cold, too, for Rome Violets and
o~pa"on' arc 10 blossom ON our balcony Ripe
oranges bow the trees Of a neiehborioC garden and
roses are in full bloom beside them Flower
stands arc radiant al Winter in the Corso. Jes-
samiDes, smaranths, camelias and volets como in
prcfusion there from gardens-guess where -
run. the nights of the Tarpeian Rock. These
iseks OF fate offer strange condolences and lovely
Sompehsations. AnemOnes sprung from AdOnis's
sr' Coou' seo Raphaeps two pictures at the Vatican
s snow sNnts sdmiring the bloom that covers the
A"hv VI thc risen Nirgin Then why should wa
wonder that flowers spriny no,v from, The s.sos o,
tne martyrs GU the Tsrpeian Rock II only ), ems
strange that we dashed them with irreye rent b,nJs
siG esrrlsge to balcony and back again during
Rome, all the environs and country aron5 sen5 -
tnsirb box, MOSES, poses and weeds for the occa-
sion Beautiful models Of Caryatdes freoner, 80,
streets continually during the festivities rha,
are men and women in short breeche. aud sbor,
petneosts, with huge baskets of bouquets on tber
Asads' Tor sale. stranger With novice eyes won.