Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1872-07-11
Lodging In Rome.

We aI0 uOt W b uOC0l we are TOO Ia.
miliar with European travel to pay first
class for third-class accommodations
We have taken apartments in the house
of q Roman family, who reserve what
is c)eanly for their tenants, and the on.
posite for themselves. In all these
Roman lodgings there is something ex-
teriorly grand. They are old decayed,
in a measure dilapidated; and yet there
is charm in their very antiquity. They
are not convenient lodging houses, are
often dark and damp and chcerless, but
they are-what shall I say 2-Roman
no other word expresses it. With their
covered terraces, their obscure corri-
dors, their tumbling stair-cases, their
unswept halls, they are repulsive to the
housekeeper, but attractive 20 the anti
quarry. You respect them. but it is
only for their old age. The very loun-
gers who hang about the door form pic
turesque groups-if you do not come
too near. Our lord is, believe, Ro-
man noble. His chief source of income
is the petty rent he derives from the
apartments in the front of the house
he and his family live in the rear. In
Rome industry is not aristocratic, but
dirtis. The father and his son frequent
a cafe, drink water-for the Romans
are not temperate-read newspaper,
and talk Italian politics. The young
ladies', of whom there are two, remain
in slatternly morning gowns till the af-
ternoon promenade, when you may see
them on the streets dressed like ladies',
and carrying themselves as those who
know by experience nothing of poverty.
The aim OF true Romans life is to do
nothing, or as near it as possible. If
you are inclined to find fault with your
apartments-and they will not bear to
be measured by American standards -
go into theirs. There are mere ken
nels; the dirt and confusion which
reign would strike dismay in to the
heart of a citizen of the Fourth Ward
of New York city. The public halls
partake of this Roman characteristic.
They are never swept. They constitute,
in fact, sort of private street, for there
is no porter, and the MAN door stands
open day and night rather Disagree
able street to enter, also, late in the
evening, for there is no light in the
hall. We carry matches and taper in
our pockets, or grope our way up to
our own apartment as best we can.
vividly remembering, and vainly striv-
ing to forget, the fearful stories we have
read in childhood of Italian assassina-
ton.
This aspect of decay characterizes the
entire city of Rome. It is the very op-
poaite of Paris. One typifies the mod
orn tho okhor Tho onn:or% Ga,:sx1,,
is the exclamation which springs invol
UNFAIRLY to the lips of the Yankee tour
ist hundred times day. It impresses
itself upon you at every turn Of every
street. The markets are held under
large umbrellas. The barbar's shop is
a little awning stretched across the side
walk. There is no energy, activity, IN
dustry. The very sports are oilers
sports, in which two or three stalwart
Romans engage, while half score of
idle on-lOOkers gather around to see.
In such a city one may enjoy much
yet it is a city Of pitiful sights. Rome
like an old man who has acquired
neither wisdom nor experience by age.
His hair is white, but scraggy and
avry his clothes are mot o ly thread
bare, they are tattered and not over
clean he totters and trembles as he
walks, and likes better to sit doing in
sunny hooks; his face is not haggard
with dissipation there are noble capa-
cities in his broad brow, and restful-
ness and repose in the expression of
all his features; but there is no latent
fire in his eye, no determination in the
lines of his efeminate mouth. no vigor
or resolution in any motion of his limbs;
he is gully of no great crimes, be-
cause he is guilty of nothing great; he
is only hopelessly lazy.-From The
1.kv r,f kbo Oo;,,A, ,,