The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-04-07
FL0RENTINE BALLS
How the beauties Of italy
amuse themselves.
Women Smoking Cigarrettes--Lats
Hours.
Cor. Of the New York Tribune.

FLORENCE, Italy, March 40 the
stranger in Italian society, fashionable
ball in this city Of beauty and art presents
many phases of social etiquette at once
newell and picturesque. The invitation
consists of an ordinary card. with AT
Home" written or printed lnsone corner,
with the hour, probably 9 or 10 O'Clock.
On the guests arrival, even as late as IL
o clock, he is handed No z. Tor his
carriage. Ladies and gentlemen are
alike ushered into q great hall or ante.
chamber, sometimes on the ground floor,
sometimes on the first, and are waited
on by the same attendants, and
the feecy delicate wraps OF the
aides are ranged beside the rougher |
garments of the sterner sex. There is
seldom a mirror before which belle can
pose and exasperate her escort by detain-
[ ing him IN the draughts of the corridor to |
| take the chances OF catching 9 severe |
| cold, Next, an ascen. is made By an In |
mepsely wide, carpeted stairway. border
ed on either side by wall of blooming |
azalea and japonica trees, such as are only
seen elsewhere at the great balls IN Paris,
to the drawing room door, where the host
and hostess are always IN waiting to wei
come their guests, who on being received,
pass along 10 explore the lines OF brilliantly
lighted salons before the crowd fills them.
or seat themselves in a feminine row
against the wall. to observe and crltioise
the guests as they arrive. Ices. syrups,
Icakes and tea and sandwiches are dtspens-
ed from a table or buffet IN the dining
room until supper is served by
throng OF galy liveried
llaekevs. aud refresh ments are
never expected to be furnished beyond
the dining room door. In some very large
houses have found as many as dozen
small tables provided. besides one extend
ling the entire length of the enormous DIM
ling room. so that at least hundred guests
were comfortably seated at q time. A
bottle of champagne Is placed az eacn
plate, as was the custom at the Inilerles
| at those grand entertainments gwen Dy
= Napoleon III. & smoking room is open
: the entire evening, and as much frequent
- ed bv ladies' IS by gentlemen. When |
first saw this it nearly took my breath
AWAY: / don't mean the smoke. which was
4 dense. however; but | was appalled, at a
! custom that has become too famiilar ID
! Eurone to create surprise except among
istrangers. One English lady of high social
frank even brought her cigarette out into
i tho drawing room. and pulled away
among the dancers. entirely at ease anC
exciting DO comment whatever.
o. q The bellies of Florence have great beauty
er and fascination, and certainly our Owl
eouUtrywomen and many Of the Englisf
are as much admired. Every body seem
to dress sell, but the display OF famli.
Jewels among the Italian aristocracy i
someth hing fabulous. They are away
he inherited by The eidest son. whose Vile Ia
a particui larry good time displaying tnen
rs long as she lives, and then alas! the
Is are to iiIDmimine the shoulders OF tn
= ever dreadad daughter ln-law. Alter IN
IN supper and during cotihon retresbm en-
.. are passed around and partaken OF Ifeeis
and at or later in the morning nc
M breakfast reireshes the guests whose car L
M ages have been ordered at H. or IN soul
cases not until noon. knoW an inssahc
Re- of a gentleman who left his Wlse aF
nas O. clock 20 dance. want home 10 psd' an
Icame hack to breakfast TiEh her al
o'clock on hot coffee, COPS, green peas an
ate other deiicIcjes of the season. Gil WI
Nv hardly reai,ze such state OF social e1ces
tile but il is an entirely true picture, and give
me bv the ladv who herself gave the ente
tainment referred to. The women WI
. i've themselves up to this life OF so Gale
er Measure night after night expect to slef
all dHv until time to dress and lunch ar
dine. and make few late calls just befo
: O'clock dinner, after which they usua
lv % to bed again to prepare tor anotn
midnight carousal 4 married belle
I'd usually five admirers who contract
ssJ dance with no one but herself, and b
" dancing stems are equally circumscFIoe
There are enough men. however, vno
feet are free to fly around with the you
maidens or other married ladies who WI
to give or receive only general attentl'