The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1873-09-25
NO. rs.
FROM THE ORIENT.

The following Postscript was mailed in a
letter written from Rome, Italy, by gentlez
man of this place to friend here. It's con :
tents will explain itself without any unnecos-
.ary comment On ouEspart: Tea.
P. s. It has occurred to me before mall
ing you the letter have written, 10 add
Postscript, or note, on the subject Of Lam
guage, as IsHpposo you have been wonder.
ing how l get a long in this respect, as have
been roaming through some half dozen
different countries since leaving America
I will state just here that have not ex-
perienced much trouble. have picked up
quito stock Of French and Gnd that this
tongue suits better for Europe generally than
any other one language that is spoken.
used it in Germany and Austria and some in
France, and you will really be surprised
when tell you that the elegant and iuens
manner in which spoke it was not at all
appreci to-. This I suppose was attribute.
bic to the simple fact that they (the Freneh)
do not speak good french. Ispeak it here
(Rome) among the middle and lower classes
aud my knowledge of Latin comes in we'll
with the +" Upper.Tens." have abandoned
English, as always spoke it quite lndiffer-.
emily, and spelt aud wrote it still worse. It
is at considerable discount here, not
worth ten cents to the dollar, Italian only
has par-value and this is 25 per cent.
ahead Of the currency.
have discovered the secret of speaking
french gerry successfully and will disclose il
to you gratis, free and for nothing :" Ii
consists in the pronunciation and the
gestures that accompany the scritten Ian
guage; for instance the word B2y is pro-
nounced Girl, and if you find the word Girs
IN Book you must pronounce it Boy, this
rule always holds good and must be Observed
as it is the leading feature and beauty Of that
soft, gentle, elegant language. The nexs
most important part of this tongue that il
not in the books aud cannot DO written IL
the gesticulation. For example: If de
sire glass Of water, I would nat gay ins
quiet, plain, gentlozmanner 81 will thank
YOU for glass Of water," using what /
might conceive to be gaod french, but I
would address the person or waiter violently
and rapidly for about ten minutes, DUR ing
that time turn half-dozen summer.aqlss,
twist my eyes nearly out their sockets, throw
my arms and legs about in q shocklngly
promiscuous manner, and then while
paused to gather up my exhausted abilities
the ssglass of water would be brought. BHt
without this performance | would never sec
the water, and the person l addressed would
think was deaf mute or surely not natur.
ally fitted and adapted 10 live eitheF ia: LA.
Belle France,' or "SNpny Italia" Hou
may possibly smile and shink am consult.
ing my Imagination, but / assure yag to my
too true. I have efteu seen groupas of ladies'
and gentlemen that apparently were debas:
ing matter of life and death, perfectly
frantic with excitement and performing all
sorts Of monkey sntias.-the men with their
figures aud the ladies with their facos
and hands, and when you ascertained the
subject Of their conversation, it would prove,
to be exceedingly trivial such as the lates"
style of hat or bonnet, or, headsear, posi-.
bly, the last play at tho opera, or Mrs. SO and
SOS beautiful poodle, &c. &e. write yoa
no fancy word picture, but one chat verS
many will smile and recognize as original
and life-like. q walk to my window and
look out and this note about the frsnea
language is confirmed aud amusiugly SUBJ
staDtiated as too nicely dressed and gentle
manly looking men evidently Rari'ians,) on
the opposite eide of the street are nearly
throwing themselves gut of their shirts, dis.
cussing the quality Of somebody's wine, or
the movements Of aame fine horse-0ertalniS
nothing more serious. might extend this
mem. !" ad libitam," but think it would be
bad taste to write r. S; that would exceed
the length Of the letter. and besides If
reach home safely we will talk and laugh
over she matter together. y. "A. II.