New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-08-10
THE PETRAROH FESTIVAL.
uoyops To THE POETS MEMORY.


IFEoM An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENCE or THE rRIBUSfl
ARoUA, Padua, July 1S.-Such is the present
rage for commemorative festivals that, not content
with the rhute paid to Petraroh in 1884, on the ami
versary OF his BIRTH the Italians must needs celebrate
the five hundredth anniversary OF his death as II the
fact that he Is dead thing he glad about II only
he had died in a cooler season bat in md-Juyl WIN
the thermometer $50 in the shade to rush about in
railway trains. parade in procession along the dusty
highways climb the Euganean hills. listen 10 speeches
under a MONDAY sun climb from Petrarch's grave to
Petrarch's home follow the official programme IN lis
minutest detas-Oue nus be Petrarehah 10 the oacA
bone to do all this enthusiastic or even an ENJOY
ahle spirit NV, not Petrarchan at heart was
not so tns morning, at noon, but as correspondent
have done my part; and at all resembles TO-
cav shall quite grateful that duty traced for me such
pleasant lines should say that the idea OF the festival
originated with three Counts who represent the literary
nrstocracy Padua and the festival. though It's pro-
gramme has been rudely modified by the democrats
still bears tho impress OF its origin To the favored rev
who have fun tickets Of invitation everything -
delightful: you are received, housed. fed. taken
about without any trouble or expense; ana
being one OF the elect, supremey grateful
20 the commission, but sorry 10 have to record
that the press q body has been totally overlOoKed
aud for the outside public proper accommodation mas
been provided Hence the liberal papers are loud IN
their abuse and poor Petrarch who as politician was
II he only knew It his would turn IN his granto
crave Between two combatants the third comes
well Off however. and the fight between ars'ooiA'' w
democrats procured us the presence OF tno oS WV
real poets Of whom Italy can boast Inc aIis'ooI"'o
md the Plduans had decided that the festival shouu
10 oIlv in Palma and that Count Aeardo Aeardi, one
time the republican poet OF struggling Italy, now
Senator and ulra-Moderatst, should be the orator OF
the OCCASION mo" said the Democrats, " Peuarch
belongs 10 Arqua-there be lived, there he died. there
he is buried there he shall be hOnOred he was demo
GRAFT and shall have a democratic and Tuscan orator "
md they summoned GOsne Carducc, certainly the one
living Italian who is a born, natural and inspired
poet SO the festival was divided into TWO parts
today Arqua and Carduccl, tomorrow Padua ana
Aleardi. The invitation tickets requested our pres
epce at Padua yesterday; but as there was nothing
sp,cial save Examinations and flower shows, and as
special banquet spread for Carducei In Rovlgo we
decided skipping preminares; aud as fortunately
during the night heavy showers of rain fell, and sub
dued the heat and watered the roads. enjoyed our
ride in the early morning exceedingly ana joined the
Commission at MOnselice, where, sinking the Orthodo6
breakfast we passed a pleasant hour with Carducci.
who was very entertaining and enjoyable hau
been attracted to him chiefly for the beautiful epgraph
I'm Mazzoi written at the time Of the revolutOnists
death and for his frank avOwa OF republican prncl
pies The talk chiefly turned Laura. Did she or did
she give love for love TO her lover} Was that love
platopic as became the mother OF eleven children
OF colossal talent but vain, Jealous of Dante and
IAN things TO all individual "-hatterer alike OF
hePope, the Emperor. and Cola III Rieuz-Laura need
not have made great Efforts, one might imagine; but
with Carduccs Petrarch the struggle would perforce
have been fierce indeed
The drive from MOnsellce TO Arqua very pleasant.
The great official world which started from Padua and
halted at ttaglia visit Wimpfens famous villa, had
yet arrived, and had time TO wander at will along
the oveshadowed terraces, where the National flag and
the banners OF the various cOmmunes floating in the
merciful breeze gsddened the eye and 10 admire the
result OF the almost superhuman Efforts OF the Arquain
headed by Prof. Lequazzi, TO render the spectacle
worthy OF their guests On the summit Of the hills the
tents erected for the banquet; pole or pile
had to be planted the granite rock; hence the holes
made by dint Of human strength Every pail OF water
carried up cost cents, yet there was abundance OF
iced for all Tae terrace before the church had
been literally transformed. entirely that it seemed TO
me the granite tomb. mended and renovated, and
surrounded iron railing, had been removed from
the reelected site where last it. There but two
years all ruin, dilapdatiOn scarcely $50 per
sons could have stood together the piazza; now it
has been enlarged that 1000 persons be comfor
bly, seated and gardens have arisen as by magic
aud severe critic must be with the elegance
the harmony the suavity Of Petrarchs immediate sur
rouudluss encirced with the smiling, tender
greeucry Of the amphitheater Of olive girt hills II
was a pity, great pity, that the managers
OF the festival, inspired by who knows
what fears had assembled many troops
OF cavalry and troops OF the ne would have suced
to repel the stranier much hated by Petrarch At
the entry the village the Project Bruni twho had ad
vised exclusion of oil democrats from the festival
the Syndc of Padus and the Syndc OF ArQua received
the guests Under triumphal arches. amid flowers and
banners we reached the canonica, where the parish
priest Cerchiar with his sister, gave all hearty and
genial welcome. When the procession arrived from
Padua ices were most oppOrtuuely served to all, and
We found ourselves among friends aad foes now all
friends for the time being Aleard, one time the hope
and pride Of Liberal Italy; Mamiam, the Minister OF
PoNonO before 40 the aercest enemy OF the Roman Re
public philosopher and Senator; MOnparzo, Secretary
OF the Minister Agriculture most promising writer
on economical and industrial matters; ErmInia Fua
Fusinato. poet and inspeetress of National female
schools chosen by Minister of Public Instruction to
represent the Government at the festival high honor
for a woman In Italy; her delightful husband, the IA
nous Venetian soDgster; the venerable Mafe poet and
inimabe translator Of Byron and Schiller, correspond
ents OF the Nete Freie Presse and German Athen@un
mot one representative OF the English press, by the
way); an Egyptian lady, Countess Carbib, extremely
beautiful who reminded the poet Regaldi OF their meet
ing in the desert at the opening OF tho Istbmus OF
Suez ct al. We then conducted TO the elegant
baunershaded pavilion erected the left Of the tomb.
where the tribune for the orators raised. Senator
Cittadela opened the ceremony and Caeyar poet and
university professor. rather scandazed tho official
world by opening discourse with OF the Carl
hadi hymn.
An lrrepressble French lady attempted TO recite
poem, but her emotion was such that though she in
formed US that she had visited the tomb privately for
fear OF fantng we could understand nothing further OF
her discourse. Then rErminia Fua Fusinato read two
graceful sonncts and then Carducci, whose friend
had adjusted his dress coat but had not succeeded in
hiding a strap more useful than ornamental, which.
Garibal II IA shon et about his waist, sprang
20 the platform and a smile OF expectancy lit
tacas ,Esn oBe How would the author OF the HYMN