New-York tribune., 1868-05-12

- a. n final authority. lie IS always lIanh'
ta,olen courageous even to audacity; he holds ho
- with the past, is an observer with RESTLESS
., nermits no object of interest to escape his
-sr,tip,, and INDUCES in a profuson OF bold ana
.ttc brilliant comments but he is too ingenious to
5pspire perfect confidence and with too strong an IN
,Ination to paradox to appeal successfully to the
Judgment Though his speciality is art he makes hm-
self at home in the domains of philosophy politics t
srary criticism and social institutions and manners
He loves TO have his say on all questions WnelheI
Of moment or otherwise and il is no more than Jus
iice 10 admit that his way of discoursng is usually
very agreeable. often indeed fascinating Inc
Italian visit on which this book is founded was h'ue
sn 1854 The great changes that have occurred III Ilc
government of the country since that ume IeHucr
Some of his observations ont of date; but the main
lodv Of the yolume is devoted 10 descriptions GNU
,s,n and original suggestion with regard to points
,l.t always urcscryea a fresh and enticng interest
NJ Times first view of The Colosseum calls forth
atraip of speuatons as to the ancient life OF the
Romans. ASis shown by the gadiatoria fights IN
which ten thousand conbatants at once accomplished
S,tdly service they were cruel and bIoouJhlIsy
-Tafc No people have more provoked man. None
have been so destructive. Out OF oriental countries
such moustrOus GySpots and devasatOrs are nowhere
- be found. The vast city enjoyed barOMOus
Measure in >pcctaccs of murder and suffering For
more than three months i'm the year the Inhabitants
yeeort,d daily To The arena to delight in
PAIN and death. They had conquered hund-
red nations. and turned their victims TO
necouut i'm this terrible amusement There was no
labor no constant employment; the people were sup
vorted ly public distributions they lived in lndo-
lencc: pl0menaded a city OF marble, and for sport
fockrd to the contemplation of wounds and death'
This was their excitement. Whole days were deVot-
sd 10 its indulgence. St Augustine vvldly descnocs
the strange attraction, which he had experienced
himself Everything contIasted with 1t was HAT ana
fnsipid The brain of the people was drugged by II
A. with some internal intoXicaton, and after GER
tain time, humanity lost its equilibrium Men sought
excessive sensation and everything below that was
wearisome.
The Romans have always lacked sentiment Of justice
and humanity. aud not alone in Antiquity but also n
aompehendcd country after the manner OF the anclen
sS5 ~ yT T HEM TO pToft Moreover in the middle
ages their country was nothing bnt an arena I'D NlsH
lhe strong through craft and violence sought TO esa,
she rest certain cardinal on passing from itay mo
Trmce remarked that If Christianity was 10 pG hnoHn
italians were not Onehaf as Christian rs the FIcith.
This olfsction always arises in my own mlpjfh
reading Stendhal ther great aulhIeI' % anu VIZ -,
greatly admire You land their energy Their good Dse,
r born more vigorous in Italy than elsewhere you 20
80 iuIteI ~ IL fT q roc Gould me
This sOlaug artists and natursts 90 In OdcT
ts contemplate fine powerful redoubtable animal and
Shod eXIes ssye attitude The complete man, however,
Ss man in society. and who develops himself therein
onrse and t5 progress In this view gcntieness social
instincts the chiyolTous sentiment OF honor phegnauc @
good sense, and rld puritanea setcOnscloshess are
precious gifts, and perhaps the most precious OF All.
fhese the qualities which, beyond the Alps, nave
1Ormed and order Of Developments II is the
hack Of these qualities which on this side Of the Alps has
Velopment certain instinct of willing sub0rGnaOn ls
m advantage m natlon anu az inc sane % IC p v ~
diyidua which has here closed the avenue to nationality
The modern life of Rome, however, compared with
the animal glow and feTOcity of an earlier age. is
tame and common place. NJ Taine's sketches if not
little malicious, have piquant flavor of which the
reader never tires. We give one of his descriptions
Of the domestic establishment and diumal routine of
Atraveler in the Eternal City,
rent a small lodging Of an agreeable weltodo family,
and completely Roman, who reserve what Is cleahy Tor
Their tenants and the opposite for themselves One Of
"a She sons is lawyer and another eDployt The family
live by letting the front rooms OF her mouse
1ever swept and there being no concierge the entrance
This the door each apartment is massive and capable
Of resisting any attack. There is no light Sdgers are
obliged, the evening 10 carry matches with them in
= monument one of our friends placed lamp on his
iaDdingpiace at ms expense; in the evening the
lamp stOlen second and tnfd met win the saue
Ne breaRfasted at the cafe Greco this is long low
smoky apartment not brilliant or attractive but CON
yenient appears 10 be Ike the rest throughout Italy
This one which is the best in Rome, would pass for
Thing here is good and cheap; the coffee which is
excellent, costs three sons cup Ihis done go 70
n would be impossible 10 have any impressions OF my
own, aud especially 10 adhere 10 them conversation and
discussion act inward reYerte and imagery Ike
bfOOmstick ON cluster of butterflies In wandering
about the streets enter the churches, and my guide
book informs their architects and century this gives
them historical position, and invountary fall into
train OF reflection on the social condition out OF which
they sprung. Returning home, find on my table books
Of the epoch and especially memoirs aud poems; read
these an hou OF two, and then finish my notes Rome
regard Ony grand old curiosity shop: what can one
10 here but study art history, and archa0lOeyl II
did NOT thus occupy myself am SATISFIED tbat the con
5usion and dirt OF its b4eya the cobwebs The must,
Of 50 many precious objects, formerly bright and
perfect, Dut now iadcG muualSd. ana 9espOle. %Ond
cab and pay some visits Being wen provided with
letters OF Introduction encounter persons OF az con
iiiOns aud all shades OF opinion, and have met with
great deal of kindness and cyity Ny landlord talks
10 me about lhe present 1e. e. ABOUT religion, ABOUT
Italy Of today which Is the complement Of the Italy Of
Che past and the last Of series OF medals al comment
ing and explaining each other; with these pursue NY
nsual After having tried many experiments,
thing, which is TO attend to my busiDess. S ~
Alarge portion of the volume is taken mp with
minute criticisms on the celebrated works Of the
great Italian artists these are often spun out as is
apt to be the case with discussions Of the kind, to
tedious subtlety; though they furnish instructive
hints to those who are able to make the necessary
comparisons by personal study of the works in
question. We often meet with happy generalization
like the fOl0wng
Raphael led singulary noble happy life and this rare
order Of happiness Is perceptbe ia all his works The
ordinary trials Of artists their wasted hopes and Tie
pangs Of wounded pride were unknown 10 him He was
nof victim TO poverty, humiliation, neglect. At
the age OF twenty five he found himself without effort
6rst among the artists OF his tmc his uncle Bralnante
spared him all intrigue and ali solicitation On seeing
his first escO the Pope caused others 20 DO ehaced and
ordered that the entire decoration OF hls apartments
POSED tobm MichaeI Angelo whom so fr nom enTyi,ig
Raphael hOnOred with a. much OF admiration az resrec
His letters indicate the Odesty aud serenity OF his na
sure lie was exceedingly amiable and exceedingly
Beloved. efreaf eqf n and