Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-04-03

Rome Letter to Cinci ma Gazette
An improvisatrice has lately been |
discovered in Rome, ia the person
Of a young girl fifteen years Of age,
who has been giving public seances.
The other evening | witnessed a
trial Of her skill at q private recep-
ton, given in the old palace Of the
Goyerno Vecchio. Three themes
were given here, one " Michael
Angelo, who kissed the hand Of
Victoria Colonna on her deathbed;"
another "The Destruction Of Pohl-
peii," and another Beatrice Cen
ci," the latter probably suggested
by the palace where the entertain
ment took place, in the old tower
of which Beatrice was imprisoned.
In all these attempts she showed a
great facility for making verses,
and it was remarkable to hear her,
on the spur of the moment, talk in
rhyme, though her verses needed
thought and study to perfect them.
She is now under a master, himself
an improvisatore, and the one who
first discovered the power in her,
and her talents give promise Of
happy result when ripened by time
and study.
Giannina Mile, originally Of
Naples, though for some years of
Rome, where, until her recent mar
riage, she had charge of the normal
school for girls, is a most distin-
guished example Of this wonderful
gift. Lately, however, from the
practical, business-like nature Of
her. occupations, she has become
very much out of practice, for this
power, which is dependent on the
development Of the imagination, is
weakened by too close contact with
the hard realities of life. One who
heard her in former years says that
her improvisations were perfect
productions, and would bear publ
cation without the least alteration.
But, as may be imagined, this was
a terrible strain on her, and left
her as weak afterward as though
she had been through a fit Of sick
ness.
The improvisatore is peculiar to
Italy, where the very air breathes
poetry, and where the many histor-
lcal associations excite the fancy to
an early and advanced development.
Like all extemporaneous speaking,
it demands a prompt memory, and
the power to concentrate upon the
subject in hand all the knowledge
possessed. The sunny region Of
Southern Italy is especially noted
for this talent, though distinguished
examples of it are found in all
parts of the country, and there are
many instances where it is pos.
sessed by entirely illiterate persons.
The late Mrs. Z. B. Could gives
a most entertaining account OF an
improyisatrice, an cn'i ely illitera.C
woman, over seventy years Of age
way up in the App mines. Here
Mrs. Gould was spending the sum,
mer of 1874, and had, according t
her usual cus ON, collected th,
children of the neighboring peas
ants into q little school, the litera
ture of which had TO be supplied il
a great measure by cutting on
headings Of newspapers and pastiDl
them on stiff cardboard. But Mrs
. GoHld's own words best tell tn,
story: "She was visiting us, ant
had come in to see the school. TIL
children were listening most atten
: lively to the story Of the Babe o
Bethlehem. BeatriceIiStene also
) but suddenly her voice rang out
clear and strong, like the sound O
! some powerful wind instrument
Slowly and distinctly she began t
repeat the came story in verse. He
eyes were fixed, with a gaze so di;
tant and so earnest that she scenes
looking back through the ages upol
the Star in the East, the mangel
and the newborn child. One coul
e have imagined that the fable of tn
J. SybilS had for the first time becom
. aliving truth, and that from tn
: lips of one to whom the gift of sec
e ond sight was permitted droppe,
e words Of inspired wisdom, 1t wa
o q scene never to be forgotten"