The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1875-12-09
winter ii Europe. {.
Some 06Servahons That WI not be
2 F0nad in tie GUIDE Books-a
H0V TO GetNpa q Fire in
an Italian H0teL -
Correspondence Of the Boston GlObe.l

|
| MILAN, October 16, 1875.-Give me q
warm climate in winter for being misera-
BILE. I cannot Withstand the opportunity
Of putting in q word Of advice to those
who intend coming abroad with the mis-
taken idea Of escaping winter. To be
sure such places may be found, but in
neither England, France, or Italy. One
may escape biting cold and frost, but not
a damp chill, that is nearly or quite as
trying as our own severe climate, though
there are not such marked changes OF
temperature. One can hardly reconcile
himself to the possibility of suffering
from cold in climate where some win
ters the roses bloom in the open air all
through the Christmas holidays, but be
assured you can suffer from cold in such
climate quite as severely as in one
where the thermometer varies from 30
above zero downward. In these couu-
tries they prepare and protectthemselves
against the heat, and little thought is
given to the cold weather. Indeed, the
people seem to ignore the fact that there
is any necessity for preparing for so
short a season of cold weather, More
especially in Italy (the fayorite resort for
Americans in winter, it is particularly
necessary to provide the warmest cloth
ing, not forgetting double fanMels-buy-
ing them always two or three sizes larger
than required to allow for bad washing
flannel bed wraps and India rubber hot
water bottles, to insure against damp
beds and clammy linen. All Italian
houses seem damp and chilly, which
fact is accounted for no doubt, by the
manner in which they are built The
thick, solid walls are finished inside
without scantling or lath, but plastered
on to solid masonry. The floors are Of
marble or cement, and no carpet, how
ever thick, can keep the chill from the
feet. The rooms are large and very high,
ranging from fifteen to twenty-five feet
between ceilings. The "excuse" of a
stove is generally small porcelain affair,
built across one corner of the room; very
pretty indeed, all upholstered with vel
vet, fringe and gimp, and very convent
ent to use instead of what-not or brack-
ct, for placing ornaments and "bric-a-
brac." Don't fatter yourself that it will
add to your comfort. An open fire al
ways looks CHEEKY, however, and, indeed,
it has its advantages, for it calls into ac-
ton any amount of exercise for your in
genuity, muscle and patience. The fires
are generally ready to light in all the
rooms. The three small sticks of wood
set up on end, for that is all an Italian
stove can be made to accommodate, are
tucked full of little bundles of the light
est of little sticks and branches, and
most fascinating blaze leaps up provided
it does not pooh-pooh at you, (which 1t
does; but alas, like all fascin-
ating things, it vanishes all too soon, for
you generally find when turning again to
it three bare steaming sticks, standing up
right, with no more intention of burning
than if they had just come from a bath.
here give hint that is not found in the
guide book" the only one left out, |
think. When you first enter hotel,
"freeze' at once to all the candles that
may be in the candlesticks. If you are
really ambitious to reduce those three
sticks to cinders, you may be able to do
it with the aid of the candles, and any
stray love letters that you may have
about you. Hold the candle so it may
gently and gradually melt over the three
sticks. 7Itis to be hoped you are not fas-
tidious aboutth odor of burning fat. )QI
have seveal times succeeded with such
aid in getting up a 'sizzle." but when
ever 1 have met with such success, Il
have generally found an item charged in
my account to pay for new velvet and
gimp, which I pay cheerfully, of course.
If any mention is made about the can
dies, assure the landlord with great in
dignation that you are not supposed to
have eaten them. ,ls E. A. H,