The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1875-12-30
Society in Venice.

Charles Dudley Warner writes from
Venice to the Hartford COurant; with
the lower classes there seems to be no
where in Italy any social union, 50 lar as
can learn. The men talk together IN
public places and in wine shops some
times You will see men and women chal-
fng and chatting together out doors or
in the shops occasionally they make an
excursion together to another island
but there seems to he nothing like the
society or frequent gatherings for social
purposcs, nothing OF the hospitality we
see at home Hospitality does not seem
to he the Italians forte. am told that
Italian gentlemen frequent English and
American entertainments in Rome, but
never think of giving one in return. y
gentleman told me that he had twice
been TO party" which his landlord
giyes once year to his friends, all well
to do people, and he never got even the
smell Of refreshments, not even Il gas oI
water was handed round. Here in Venice
there has grown up sort OF middle
class, but it has almost no social llie.
The business Of the city is largely IN the
hands of the Jews. They are the most
cnterprising and prosperous cltl@ci,S'
They are the bankers, the large antiquity
dealers, the manufacturers. They are
people of consideration they are mem
bers of the city government. There is
not that prejudice against jews that
exists in some other cities; III Vienna,
for instance, where believe the Baron
Rotchschild (Iatcly deceased) and his
family never were admitted into " socie-
ty." The most wealthy man in Venice
is 4 jew. baron; his wife, the daughter
of the Rolhschild above named, had
80. .0OO,0 ,000 francs in her own right There
is No question Of their social position
here on account Of race. There are ~
coo Jews in Venice. So far us ! know
the only society here is that OF the no
bility. 1t alone has any form and tone,
or would be recognized as society. 1t Is
not exclusive like the Roman patrlclan
cliouc. for | believe foreigners are adj
mittcd to it. Its vitality is displayed by
a punctii0us exchange of formal visits
and of cards, and by weekly receptions
nt certain houses, and u few grand balls
in the season. The Venctians, you know,
turn night into day. ! think all Glasses
are night birds more or less. The thea
tcrs and concerts never begin till nine
o'clock in the evening, and are not out
till twelve; and, Of course, supper tat
the restaurant won't be over before one
or two o'clock. If you are invited to Il
regular weekly reception and 20 at eleven
you will find no one there except the
hostess. Guests will begin to arrive at
half-past eleven, most, however, do not
come until twelve, and tea will be served
between one and two. If it Is ballyOu
must not 90 before twelve. TtN german
will begin at two, and end, perhaps,
when the bronze figures on the clock
tower in the piazza are striking seven,
and the pigeons of st. Mark are begin
ming to look for early corn. The adyant-
age of this is twoiold. In the first place,
YOU can 20 to bed (and if you are not "A
very robust woman you will do so) early
in the evening, get up at midnight and
dress and 90 to the ball and be IN re-
rreshed corAitiOn to enjoy 1t. In the
second place, you can sleep all the next
day, and as you have nothing whatever
TO do, in the garnish daylight, this is a
Gain. The day is disposed Of by mid
night YOU may feel like going down to
Fiorian's for cup ofSofiee and chat
with friends Florian's il always open,
night and day. For 800 years it has not
been closed; two sets OF walters keep Its
doors always ajar, its lamps trimmed and
burning, and coffee hot.