Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-01-15
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paItss anu aS HAL naQ seen proper tc
arrange and re-arrange what bad once
formed palace into that more useful
Institution. hotel, and . modern ho-
tel at that The favorite room in Nh
Palace (0r hotel) that generally occu-
cupied was delightfully."- pleasant and re-
freshingly cool, even in midsummer.
owing to the walls being SO thick (3 feetj
and its mosaic floor, so artistically and
beautifully inlaid with square bits of
colored marble glass and stone, and the
deep windows, with double lattice and
heavy curtains, first of dark material
and then real lace. During the heat of
the morning, or about noon, when the
sun sent down his warmest beams. I
would remain in my comfortable room
and indulge that feeling SO natural in
Italy in the season referred to, q feeling
so justly described and experienced, a.
the Italians express it, "Dolce far nien-
te," (sweet doing nothing, or sweet idle
ness.) 1870.
The warm Summer mornings in Flor.
ence, like in the principal italian cities,
are passed by the wealthy classes and
the nobility in their fine dwellings and
palaces, all closed up and looking like
they were not at all inhabited in the
heat of the day, but as soon as the
early hours OF the evening arrive, and
the atmosphere begins to be more pleas
ant and cooler, jthe warmest weather
that felt while in Italy did not affect
me at all, SO that often made trips of
half score of miles in the warmest davs
without even taking my umbrella then
you would see ample indications of life,
and those who intended to enjoy it, in
their own way. The superb eauipages.
drawn by well-kept, spirited horses,
could be seen waiting at the palace gates,
and the entrances to the palatial man.
slons to receive their rich and titled
owners, who would be whirled along
over the most excellent drives through
the prominent streets, and into splendid
PARIS aud pleasure grounds, and then
coming and going in almost every di-
rectlon, passing and re-passing each
otner, the occupants of some of the vehi-
cles laughing and chatting, bowling and
smiling to their friends and enjoying
themselves in ways that were plain,
honest, and unrestrained, while SEINE Of
the carriages contained people who did
not glve'such expression to their enjoy
ment they were well-dressed and high
ly-bred, their blood was purer, their
flesh Of finer texture, and their bones Il
suppose) softer and smaller; it was not
expected of them, neither did it accord
with their feelings, to act in any undig.
nified manner, or to lay aside for mo-
ment their cool, quiet reserve. They
bore titles and ancient names that serv-
ed as bulwarks of defence againt any
familiar or preSumptive incursions Of
the equally as rich classes and as clever
people in every respect, who were minus
the Titles and escutcheons" bestowed
by royalty upon its satellites. I did not
suffer such matters, that merely resulted
from my casual observations, to annoy
or In any way to worry me; I only
found myself at times, when in refiec-
tive moods, thinking over the mixed
character of humanity. whose original
and component parts had once been the
same. The practical theory and actual
existence of two great divisions of soci-
ETY. into Patricians and Plebeians, with
such broaH gulf between, surely have
not received that proper, careful and
profound thought from the disciples of
Darwinism that the nature of SO abstruse
q subject imperativelyJ demands. I
have long since ceased to investigate q
matter with such profundity of laby-
MAKES. for after repeated re-
search, embracing an expenditure of
time, talent and tissue, discovered that
the farther I penetrated into its cav
ernous depths. the deeper and darker
became its Egyptian gloom So final
ly abandoned the pursuit to those who
possess more patience and genius than
myself
''My Palace at Florence" came into
my possession quietly and unobtrusive-
ly, and in this method lived in it and
much real pleasure after my
own taste and notion of comfort. I Of
ten think now what a nice home It was,
and scarce repress sigh of regret that
os'cr aOtich Ihad no con-
troll caused me to consider the necessity
and expeffiency of leaving it in the same
quiet and unobtrusive fashion that I
had at first entered and lived in its re-
fined and hospitable domains.