New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-02-19
THE CARMVAL At FLORENCE.


wiT within the annual Wflil- OlllItnctu Ll1 StdI
week earlier and will end several weeks sooner than
usual Thus all forms Of amusement crowded INTO a
email circle iese another merry, like partners 10
the inebriate waltz of a crcumscnbed ballroom.
Ntyel Was this smart little capital buster than now
the I4des-peOple in selling; the modistes IN htIhg am
making, and the fashionable M tOetlng, dancing anu
amusing themselves generally. e.. IN seeking anuse
ment which like cOquette, allures ana eKcites' Oui
seldom grafifes Coun-mourning having nipped
Measure in the bud last year, double efforts to develop
the gaudy blossom are made here tins season. The
opening cOurt-ba occurred on New ears evening"
the second the 9th inst the third last night; ana
they will continue every "Wednesday evening till Feb
ruary IS or Mardi grds which Winds up the carnival
alas too soon for the multitude whose long patience
waited for it, who will scarce have time to reap the
harvest of their hopes; though no moment, no ocea-
sion viii be lost.
Not only are the court balls crowded. but oil other
balls and all places of amuscment-tbese beng null
tiplied by the desires growing out OF impatence 10
enjoy full season in less than its ordinary time. Nine
theaters are now open here, each drawing by some
special attraction, and most OF them drawing az the
same time lightly ON the pocket that they are hed
nightly. The Pergoa, royal theater Is, indeed the
only expensive one, aud this Is willingly ceded 10 the
arstOcracy the 80 as fashion - the Chief atrac
ton there IL present opera troupe being Deneath no
tee The managers count on drawing the beau m0Rde
topetber more BY that mesmeric sympathy through
which like seeks like" than by the love OF art ne
musical ear most Ia mO9e is for fashionable gossip,
and scenic taste depends not on the stage, but me
dress-circle. In fact, the only rivalry between the
boxes and tie boards is when the d0Hse0se happens TO
please; az lust now at the PergOa, where the gnt ana
fthe FuocO il proueting with all the fire winch her
name signifies, and lntiaming enthusiasm itsen' NO
matter how the exquisite music Of the great composers
Il tortured the stOcal world turns away IN sang Jr0d
10 the box attractions, reserying ts condescendlng
patronage for the ballet.
A better company is singing at the PagiaHo-the
theater Of the approaching bOHrge01se, who go
10 the opera con dmOTc, and enjoy both the singing
and dancing with gusto unknown to the base noDii-
~. The enthusiasm for mere diversion increases IN
ratio as the scale of rank descends. and On finds at
the peoples theaters hcartncss of enjoyment whch
does the spectator good; and when he gets down 10
the SteHtarello gOOdnatured mcriment becomes sym
pathetic Tlis play has been for centuries the prv-
Lged democratic amusement where SteHt1fct0 tue
clown from which it takes its name, III Red Repub-
can garb, may freely buresque the Government, the
priesthood and the arstOcracy. Indeed, THIS Is the
only place here where freedom Of speech goes unpun
k d; and being the sole outlet of suppressed feeling
much is contrived to be said in little, and many
true word spoken in Jest" One is really sometimes
astonished that the sharp truths here echoed in laugh
90 not 80 pierce home to be unbearable. Proba-
bly, from the accepted burlesque of the whole thing,
is venerable fOoery, significant rs 1t 49, Is viewed
ore az safety valve than generator of discomfort
The love of Italians for amusement far exceeds
their sense Of the evils they suffer- that these become
quite endurabe when, by being burlesqued they may
be turned into occasions Of peasurabe eXctatl0n tor
the passing moment. How different in the United
States where ridcule of abuses stops not short at
Amusement, but supplies the very weapon by winch
Wrong is SLANT
Goldini and Alferi are duly COMMUNICATED at o.
renee by theatres called after them and the best COM
panies now singing here found at these houses,
hled mostly by the third class Of the pOpulaOn-re-
spectacle shop-keepers and mechanics, who ind It
verify cheaper pass their evenings at the theater
than TO pay for the fire and lights home TO say nothing
of the rich return OF pleasure which their hall paul
Yields them in the delicious music OF IL ITovdtore ana
other avorite operas Of the day. AT the Cocomero-
gay little tbeafer-there is very respectable COM
pany Of comedians now representing Godlnis stand
by plays, which always bring full houses Al the
other three theaters various diversions attract the plea
sure-seeking throngs and all sorts of pastmes fill all
places Of amusement; while highie balls, middle and
low. life balls keep the Carmne in motion. Two mag
nifcen fancy bas are appointed for the Goth and ls
for which the great preparations making diversity plea
sure's tiresome broadway.
These special fees Of the arstocracy are something
worth witnessing in Europe, where kings aud queens
are not represented by tnse crowns and paste gems
but appear in veIisble gold and briliants-the heir
looms Of the old nobility.
Little Florence-so quiet in sober mourning last year
that oil gay visitors pushed 10 Rome, leaving stad
and sudious strangers to their retirement and inteec
tual pursuitss this season not only alive with gayety,
but with gay visitors, among whom some Americans
are the gayest. Several were presented at the frst
Court Ball, and many more at the two others gen
lemen being permitted after the opening ball 10 APP
pear without uniforms. This " free-and easy Court
regards eeremOny-Offers favorable opportunity
for republicans to enjoy royal festivities Nowhere
the eStree 10 facile and our counymsn have advan-
tages strangers of other European countries WAC
cannot be presented here unless they have been first
Pretented at their Court. Beside, there being no
United States Minister here TO presest distinguished
Americans who come, al may go Unfortunately
10 the Court entertainments by applying tot their bank
TO procure for them the only necessary letter of in
troduction-8n invitation. Nor visitors from the
United States-who love the largest hbeuy-gener-
ally slow TO avail themselves of the royal privileges
here granted them. Some OF the handsomest women
at the ducal balls this season are acknowledged to
be Americans; who, If they cannot vie with these
noble ladies' in diamonds nearlr and Iuhles
may ryal them in diamond eyes, pcarly skins,
and ruby compexious. Their lords, too, are not to
be surpassed in the long rum b. the titled lords whose
coprt-dresses, embaZoned with orders, embelllsh
the royal saloons for # Brother Jonathans plain black
eut suffers IN contrast here, his elaborate Turn out
with four in hand" next day at the CsSclne, pays
back IN triumph the affront Of the stars and garter
oy oushnipg the modest eQupage OF the unperturOed
nobieman; though some who nnd " money power al
home, aud come abroad with the expectation of finding
equally powerful this side the water, expose them
seVts 70 notifying disappointment. Even when
having ieaieo 70 produce sensation 81 Parls, they
evno' snsnSeves by attnbning il to the size OF that
mcuoPoar u wnlch al their splendor drowned
anu avooIunsy tuin 10 Florence, or some other small
capital; SURE Of attracting by disnlav 10 n narrower
sphere, they only doomed to second disappoiut.
ment unless they consent to accept wonder f5r awe
observation for admiration and ridicule for envy
Ater all, our country nen enjoy themseves les AT
these balls, with the novelty of he pageant ON their
sde, than tie habituated guests 90; for the reason
that each American is an tRdscidnal ard brings bs
individuality with him, expecting il 10 be recognized
while the European views himself only rs a Part Of
weLorganZed society, where every member acts 80 in
harmony With The whole Ps 70 b. pnsignaliSed; where