The New York herald., 1869-03-17

Publio Demonstration Of DiscOntont- gieus
Ceremonies in Lent-Diplomntic Festivities
The Puriacatton Festival.
aeee ROME, Feb. 2s, 1860.
The Carnival Is over. The Roman Carnival has
for some years past, one may say, been ag0nizing.
It Is not the crowd that Is wanting but 1t consists
not years ago OF fles Of carriages OF triumphal
cars &C.. flled with well dressed masks. ali inter-
changing bonbons and flowers varying in beauty
according to what each one could afford. Now the
crowd is complete rabble the greatest part boys,
the bonbons are made OF flour and chalk and the
bouquets mostly Of the sllabbest description. saw
few young men Of the high society Of Rome and
some Americans throw petty flowers and bonb0n.
nieres, and a'prince "dechu" Of Naples pass 70 .
balcony by means Of cord lovely bird IN gtded
cage but in general the Carnival was failure and so
declare the numerous foreigners wh0 especially the
Americans spent large sums for the hiring Of their
balconies on the Corso The horse races are original
and little exciting You know they run without
riders and the clearing Of the Corso BY platoon OF
dragons at full speed their magnificent horses Is
very fine. Add to this delicious weather, like the
warmest April days. made up OF sun, OF azure, Of
ment would be very glad that things were otherwise
and that the middle and upper classes here did not
abstain from showing themselves on the Corso; for
they know that 1t Is ''slgn OF the times" and o
token OF their dlScOntent. ~
We are now in Lent and on the wednesday sue
ceeding this nirth the churches were crowded with
the faithful to hear mass ana receive on their fore
heads the sign OF the cross made with ashes, to the
words, remember, man, thou art but dust, ana
An ambassador left Rome few evenings since,
and at the same hour another ambassador threw
chose T'a to wear III %an dress coat and white e
II a woman, . low neck Dress the finer the better,
and the more jewels the more proper. The first "
Mr.. P0sada Herrera, the spanish Ambassador sent
here by the provisional government there, who re-
turns as he came, not having been received oy the
a. a ao s pen b
see him. The second was NJ. de Banneviile, the
French Ambassador. The display or hne jewels and
ceviments, greater than have ever seen before in
any other ceremony OF the same Kind and have seen
the ,iay as to Jewels. but think tne pam ths time
must be given to Spanish lady, the MarchiOness de
la Puente. Her husband, known then as Mr.
Minister In Washington. Her emeralds and dia-
monds were quite marvellous, both IN guam.
tt size Of me stones z and exquisite exquisite, taste o.
on the heads OF the Roman ladies, beside neck
laces, DC. was struck by the beauty OF
well known diplomat of that name. The crowds did
not cease arriving till near eleven O'Clock, andhad be-
gun by the cardinals and other preates. WHO always
and Mme dc Bannevillo received every one with Cne
greatest afrabity, standing, as etiquette obliges
them, for nve mortal hours bowling and speaking.
Prolusion Of flowers, profuslon OF ices, CAKES aud
bonbons and, better than all, profusion OF lovely
American women, who far 0utshone In beauty and
elegance all those OF other nations. One did not
miss their graceful heads the tiaras to mark them
as princesses, duchesses, marchonesses or coun-
tesses; they have what many OF those with the gilt
terlng crowns would give them and much more to
possess-the charm OF youth and loveliness
blended. splendid orchestra played symphonies
In the ballroom, and outside two bands-these are
sent by the Popealternated all the evening" to the
enjoyment or the dense crowd c0ngregated In the
Piazza del Sant Apostolic In front OF the French
bassy. N.
The day OF the Publication the I'd ult, there was
usual o grand ceremony vt SC. Peters. The Pope
blessed solemnly the candles, and distributed them
to the cardinals, the clergy present. the ambassa-
perior officers Of the army; then carried himself
high on tile SedtG Oestat0ria, and followed pre-
ceded by all those who had received these candles,
he went round tho grand and gorgeous basllica,
blessing the kneering crowds and returning to the
altar TO finish the mass In the usual manner.