New-York tribune., 1876-09-02

degree the same thing happened in the days OF
Horace And il cannot be denied that there is much
more real reason for quitting Rome in the Autumn
than there is for leaving the smoky but healthy
little village the banks of the Thames. But it is
a new thing that the wives and children of every
little civil service employe or second-cass trades
man must all 90 Ito the waters they translate it
from the aax ldu1 OF their neighbors. The waters
are various in Italy most OF them analogous
to those Of Cheltenham in England. The most
fequented perhaps those of Montecatini, at the
foot of the Apennne between Florence and Lncea'
wretohed, abominable sojourn 1t Is hardly
possible to imagine 1t is terribly hot-far hotter
than Rome which indeed, so far as mere suffering
from heat is concerned is perhaps the most agreea-
bic of all the Italian cities to pass the Summer in)
The accommodation is bad and insufficient beyond
what any one who has not experienced it could be-
leve There is no sort of amusement or occupation
of any kind The dreadful straits to which the un-
happy "fashionabes gated in the miserable
place are driven to get through their day may be III
ferred from the fact that large numbers OF them may
be seen strong languidly down 70 the little road
side station of the railway at each passage OF tram
for the sake of the mOmentary excitement OF wit
Messing arrivals and watchng-it must be sup
posed with feelings of intense enYy-the de-
parture of those who have accomplished thcir
time of pargation This is the main amusement
of the place. There is not even the resource
of looking forward to your dinner-otherwisc than
with feelings the reverse of exhilaratng; for the
fare is with the most perfect uniformity, atrocious
Yet this is the place TO which people who live COM
fortably in Rome think it necessary to como in the
Summer and Autumn. The baths Of Lucca arc bet
ter-better in every way-not so hot, being moro
among the mountains, and in the midst OF the chest
nut woods, much prettIer in point OF scenery, ana
very much superior in accommodation OF all kinds.
But the English long ago took possession OF TINS
place and the Americans have of late years shared
IL with them. And Italians rarely go thther-lb
wond be difficult TO say why IL is not that Monte
catlni ~ any cheaper. Wretched as the ace0nloda-
ton is il COSTS think, somewhat more II anything
than the prices asked at the Bagn III Lncca. lnr-
keys, we are told, will not feed on the GROUND ne
quented by geese. And can only suppose that u
is for some similar cause that tile ltaians 10 ho'
come to the baths Of Lucca.
But some of those who find 1T absolutely necessary
to leave Rome, do 80 under worse c1rcumstanceseve
than the frennenters of MOltecatlnl. M0ntecatlnl
il a long way from Rome. One may wish to be IN
the fashion, and vet not be able to accomplish,
especially with all the domestic tpod'me,td, so long
n Journey. Under these circumstances IL becomes
necessary to hide oneself in some OF the Wfetched
and uncivilized little towns among the hiiis that
skirt the Canpagna. Anything more terrible than
a Summer spent under such circumstances could not
easily be conceived. Yet hundreds do so hlde them
selves and do so pass their Summer ia order that at
their return TO Rome they may be able TO tel other
bIockheads az silly as themselves that they nave
been out of town." But the best OF the Joke is
that those-l speak here mainly OF Engnsh ana
Americans-who have remained in Rome during the
Summer-and there are always q tew OF these-
never fail to declare loudly when their friends re-
turn at the beginning OF the WINTER that we otheIs,
who have deserted the Eternal City during the
Summer months, know nothing of the real charms
OF q life at Rome! L. A. lHoLborE'