New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-01-12

inev nutritious they are not only roasted, but
ground into -four when dry and baked as cakes AZ
Corsica they are a more important crop than even
wheat in fact ehestnuts are called Corsican
breadv
The true nlan for An American family, intending
70 spend some months in Italy is 10 have as niue 10
do with hotels rs possible. In all the cities,
furnished apartments sufficient for four or bve per-
SONS NAV be had for from $50 TO $50 per month. ac-
corcllng 10 style and location. BY engaging native
servant and having the meals sent IN from d fes-
taurant one has all the privacy ana independence
Of home. without the trouble of housekeeping. An
excellent dinner for four persons costs ABOUT 81 DO
ard the breakfast about half that amount for
twohorse carriage the usual price is 40 cents for
the first hour and 80 cents per hour afterwards
One can thus live in comfort for a very moderate
sum; bat it is necessary to know something OF
the language. In towns like Pisa. Slena, Parma
and Bologna where there are no permanent foreign
colonies as in Rome Florence the cost OF hvingis
considerably less. ] know of an Italian grocer who
by economy and close attention to business MADE
enough in NewYork, in the course of dozen years
to buy an old palace in Pisa, where with an income
of 50 900 a wear. he may look forward to having
baron for son-in-law
The middle-class in Italy. live very much as in
q spacious chamber lor paror, we would call III,
for the reception Of guests and for family festivals
They are hospitable and show a genuine pleasure III
giving the best they car afford If they have little
Intercourse with foreigners, it is simply because
few of them understand any language but Their own
Except now and then, French, and few travellers
speak Italian Huently. l have never noticed the
least sign of an unfriendy prejudice among them.
MANY Of the young men, ! have observed, are very
ambitious, upon small intellectual capita-but
this is a phenomenon which we need not 90 to Italy
to study.
saw most Of the highest. or arlstocratic society.
and in the most satisfactory way, Ill Sicily. 1t was
in August; there were travellers; and the Amer
lean Consul at Catania was an Italian gentle
man, who mad but recently owed his liberty and
roperty-perhaps even his life-to the protection OF
our flag. He took Inc, at once, into the houses OF
rather palaces of the most distinguished families OF
the city, There was a reception, social entertain
ment of some kind, almost every evening; and
being the only stranger present, L had the
best opportunity OF studying the manners
and habits Of the circle l could not find
that they differed from those of good society else
where in the world. except perhaps. III still greater
simplicity and freedom from constraint. Prince
Biscari for example, with his white bar, placid old
face and quiet kindly ways, reminded Inc strongly
Of one of my Quaker neighbors in Pennsylvania
hundred titled men and women were scattered
through half dozen halls Of his spacious palace,
chatting telling stories, and then improvising
quadrille arriving departing without the least
ceremony was asked, in the course of the even
ing TO join in dance and tLereupOn turned to the
nearest lady. TO whom had not been introduced.
She was a most agreeable and entertaining part
ner; but did not know until after leaving thcEal-
ace that she was one of the last descendants Of the
royal house of ANTON. have rarely spent more de-
lightfnl evenings in foreign county than those at
Catania; and from what have Of the Italian
nobility in other cities should guess that their own
intercourse is equally free and agreeable
Lam quite sure that all Americans who have lived
for some time III Italy Will unite with in heartily
liking the Italian people. Oppressed as they have
been for centuries and degraded, in some respects,
through the operation Of Influences beyond their
CONTROL they nevertheless possess strong rccupcr-
a,ive power. They have never lost their moral ba-
sis and only need the education best ADAPTED TO
their temperament to become vigorous and i'm
portant nationality. 4 large portion of the common
people have almost lost the habit Of thought The
late Mrs Gould whose devotion to the poor children
of Rome will long be gratefully remembered, once
told me that her pupils learned instantly to draw,
and initiate and decIani, but it wa. extremely DIFF
fcult to force the simplest idea into their brains
But when contrast Leilsic, "A city Of 100000 in
habitants where there is not n single newsboy, with
italy where the newsboys yell their way through
tie streets Of every small town. and hackmen and
mechanics buy their papers for a cent, am sure
that the people viii finally become educated in
way II not in another.