The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-08-08
ITALIAN PROGRESS.


'N''N'
general fuss and feathers, have, in
years past, characterized Italy above
all other nations. The number of
these days has grown ''small and beau
tifully Less with the advent Of Italian
nationality, commerce, and intercourse
of the people with the outside world.
The observance Of these notable days
entailed great burden upon the peo-
pie, and interfered with the productive
industries by taking up their time and
attention. With the advent Of the
civil authority under the management
of Count Cavour, behind the figure
head of King Victor Emanuel, Saint 5
days went out, and national political
anniversaries come i'll, not equal in
number, but more enthusiastically eel
ehrated by the great body of the peo-
pie. The anniversaries of all the
great battles and prominent political
events that led to the consolidation of
the petty states of Italy, are now cele-
brated with great pomp, military dis
play, Irrational addresses, &c. On
these days the people take occasion to
petition the government for reforms
and concessions, which are granted
probably as fast as the people are pre-
pared to receive and appreciate them.
One of these celebration stock place on
Sunday last, the anniversary of an i'm
portant battle with the Austrians.
At 10 o'clock A. NJ. the army, about
1000 in number, marched through the
principal streets, fully armed and
equipped for the field, artillery, cav
airy and infantry. From most of the
houses national flags hung, from house
tops, windows and balconies. The
city was full of people from the sur
rounding couAtrj and villages, and the
walks and all places atiording view
on the line of march were crowded.
Each regiment was led 10y Il full brass
band The day was literally given up
to the celebration by all classes of
people-yet there was no disorler-no
drunkenness ss-no rowd dyism.
There are three great divisions of
society here, one embracing beggarS,
oilers and laborers, who have a preca-
rious living dependent on their daily
labor and the various devices by which
they obtain a small sum, which is equal
to ther very limited daily wants. The
business men, embracing merchants,
manufacturers, owners of rented houses
in fact, all whose income is from
property and business, form a middle
class, which embraces the wealth of the
nation, as well as its enterprise and in
telect. The titled nobility OF all
grades may be grouped into another
class. They never "taint their escut-
cheon' with business, and are compar-
atively poor in worldly goods, as well
as in intellectual att;unmentS. As a
rule their education is inferior to the
business class, and in many cases they
cannot even read or write, but have Il
counter-balancing amount of preten-
sion and pride. Anyone of their fra
temity who has good sense enough to
engage in business, is Il social outcast
from his class, and never recognized
by them under amy circumstances.
There are, however, numerous exam
pies OF the better part OF the nobility
entering into business and throwing
away the empty honors OF tide
men who recognize the spirit OF the
age and deSpise the narrow pride and
eNclusiveness of the class in which
their birth placed them. Prominent
among these | may name Baron Can
toni, the representative of one of the
most eminent families Of Italy, who
traces his lineage from the early En-
perors of Rome. He is actively en-
gagged in the manufacture of cotton and
linen goods employs 600 operatives,
runs 5000 spindles, $50 looms, and
superintends the work personally. His
mills are 20 miles from this city. But,
alas, his occupation has tainted him
unpardonably IN the eyes of Suobdom.
He spent some years in England and
America in studying the business, be
fore engaging in it.
The first named class is being
slowly absorbed by the increased ac-