Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1860-03-28
THE CARNIVAL AT ROME.

THE CARNIVAL AT ROME.
The following extract from private letter,
dated Rome, February 20, 1860, we take
from the New York Tribune:
ssSaturday was the first day of the carnival
Most of us Americans had never been in Rome
before, and were impatient to witness and take
part in festival about which we had heard
SO much. The Pope, unfortunately, had in
terdicted masking. This precluded much of
the grotesque display of costume and funny
extravagance which we had expected to see,
taking from the festival half of its picturesque
ness and much of its spice.
"For week or more, the Corso had been
gradually going through course of transfer
nation. Temporary balconies were erected
in front of every eligibly situated window, and
where balconies already existed, (and they are
in front of nearly all the windows commanding
the street,) they were decorated with gaudy
rugs, tapestries, and scarlet cloths, and from
every window OF the upper stories hung long
draperies of crimson and gold. BY the morn
ing of Saturday the ordinary somber aspect Of
the street was changed to one of sparkling
brightness.
ssAt the corner of all the streets in the
neighborhood of the Corso, huge baskets of
confetti were exposed for sale. Boquets of ev-
cry grade of beauty and costliness from the
full dress article, with its dainty camelias, and
pink and white rosebuds, at three or four scu-
bachelors buttons, at as many baiocchi, were
temptingly displayed in the face of the pass
ers by. and out of every shop window hung
great bundles of wire masks aud small tin
scoops, which indicated clearly the kind of
warfare which was about to take place.
ssAt O'Clock the gun from Castle ST. An
gelo announced the commencement of the Car
nival, and almost Immediately crowds of peo-
pie. on foot and in carriages, began to wend
their way toward the Corso, either to join the
procession in the street or to see it from the
balconies which they had previously hired.
sour position was peculiarly fortunate. 1t
was in one of the balconies of the apartments
occupied by our young and gentlemanly Con-
sui, Mr. GlentGorth, who, with his uniform
courtesy, had early in the season insisted that
we should occupy it on this occasion. The
house was directly opposite that of the French
General, De Guyon, the commander of the
forces in Italy, and near the open square at
the Via COndotti, where one of the French
regimental bands was posted, which played at
intervals during the afternoons Of each day of
the Carnival.
"With considerable tact, Mr.. GIentworth
had placed his windows at the disposal of sew
eral Northern and Southern families, who have
been somewhat conspicuous in society the
present season in Rome, and the entire front
of his apartments was thus lined with a par
terre of living flowers comprising number
OF the most elegant OF our countrywomen, who
formed together a fitting representation of
that beauty for which American ladies are so
remarkable. Their tasteful dominoes and
Well arranged toilettes made these balconies
the most noticeable of all upon the Corso,
was proved by an almost incessant shower Of
costly boquets and pretty bon-bons, which was
rained upon them for three hours daily during
the festival. zst sr -
ssI will not attempt TO describe particularly
the pelemele of the carnival at Rome. You
who have seen it will recall to mind the long
narrow street crowded for it's entire length
with confused mass of human beings in ev-
cry imaginable costume-horses, wagons and
carriages decorated in every conceivable col
or, and every man, woman and child who make
up the motley multitude, with hands filled with
and each raised against its neighbors,
and pelting them with all the earnestness of
desperate conflict; the street mud hidden be-
meath the debris of broken boquets and an at
mosphere of chalk powder, and flying rose
leaves hanging like canopy between the mot
ly masses below, and the merry laughing
crowds of beautiful girls and pretty children
which fill the balconies above their heads 1t
is the most amusing sight imaginable. The fun
is so contagious that the old as well as young
take part in it, and all are sorry when the gun
sounds for the Corso to be cleared for the
horse race, (which concludes the day IS festivity.