Smyrna times., 1881-12-28

tncatflcal SeStlculali0n? No matter how
| well the thing had been studied and re-
hearsed at home, ata@e-f'ight and a bco-
hoo would be the Inevitable consequences.
| This topic Of sightseeing brings to mind
the rather curious fact that we Americans
now give the Romans q chance 20 do
| something in that line. They find our
new and handsome church in the Via
| NaZionalc quiet worth inspection, stray in
at our services, and. in the effort to dis
cover " hat we are about, show the same
inquisitiveness which we often display On
theiT premises. The sacristan is an Italian,
and does his best to keep his c0untrylncm
| within bounds; when they cluster at the
do0r III such numbers that it becomes diff
| cult for the lawful ireGuenters Of the place
10 eject an entrance, hc appears, and with
IhalCStic waving of the hand invites them
To retire. Those who 90 i'll are supposed
10 make their observations ut a respectful
distance, tut if they can elude the vigil
;Ice ct tho sacristan they tramp up lha
GiSies plant themselves to the fGrc. and
gaze at the officiating clergyman to their
hearts content. When the first lesson
begins 10 pail, they turn to c!atter away
again, but are arrested in miJ-COu?se by
the .: le Dcnm," and stay that out, Thee
| visitors are chiefly Of Tie pea&antIy and
working CLASSES, although occasionally Il
Roman Catholic prieat looks in or q well
dressed family man and his wife do =
! Little standing about and communicate
! their impressions to each other in scmi-
suppressed whispers. They approve dou0ty
les, of the traditional holy and evergreen
! with which VIC keep tl!e feast. Bat, Euw,
enough of Churches anI ceremonies. Lst
lis see Christmas in thG streets and, first
Otail, in The shop-wiad0ws What Jewels
and what cakes! Perhaps the cakes arc
even more interesting than the camel.
, from the fact that the latter are always IN
season, whereas Ii is only just now that
such mountains Of confectionery can DC
seen. 1t has been the rounds of the papcrs
that an English lady ordered a cake OF
! som" forty pounds in weight, and so cx-
| qulSitely OrnamenteG, that, from the des-
criptiOn, the only appropriate name for it
would be, THE Sugar Bakers Dream, .
and has caused the same to be sent 10
Ga"ibal3i, al ClpIera, us q SLIGHT expression
OF her admiration for his character What
a pity that cFcTYoHc's good qualities are
not appreciated 20 th,,t extent!
| Tie great street spectacle, however, Is
the ta;r Of the R3fnia, which designation
Is Ii popular corruption Of Epip1GRiu. TIE
liaZZa Navona Is lined with booths con-
tanning every imaginable toy inr l:ttle
people, and ndhaUdkerchictS, ribbons, cutlery.
! ana things too numerous to mention. for
the grown folk. Presents are III season At
! any time from Christmas 10 Twelfth Nimht
and thiS IA an opportunity for the laggarda
to make up arrears. There are shows.
also, attractive as usual 20 these who do
not 90 in. The gigantic girl Ct twelve y
the youth who, without legs or anna. is
able TO wall; and play the VIOLIN the
| family OF vampires all are thcrel j.
the lamps are lighted and the great square
! fills, an Graai qCa' Of the carnival begins.
Noise is the order Of the night, 1t IS Il
national custom u hloW horns at Enlpha-
ny, lmt ibis Is footing gone mad, and not
only trnmrets are put in rcuuiStion, bat
! whistles, quite as much in YOguc, add their
squcakS and shIick5 to the roar of sound
The fun lasts well-nigh till morning, aud
iiom tipe ~ tnhe Jewellers, homcwa,d
bound, treat the dwelcrs in quiet neigh,
horhQods 10 q din as though the wild
hunt9man were passing hy. \ somewhat
hcathtniSh rejoicing this, over the lnal,.
fc>tati"G Of Christ to the Gentilcs!
And SO the festive season closes. But il
need not be supposed that we must go iutG
the streets in search of Christmas; it viii
pay its compliments to us AT home
Already, Oh tho 9th Of December. our o;J
servant, as she puts jhc bread on the
break faSt-tablc, remarks that the hakcr's
boy wished US "bccne fes!e," We think
that Tomorrow morning we must have
some lire oil hand for him, Later III The
day, the same attention is arpcuuccd on
the part Of the man who hrlugs our dime,
from the ttGtioJu. Very well; when sc
returns fox the huge tin receptacle he
familiar to dwcllers in Rome, he, too
shall be rewarded for his kindly interrsr
in our enjoyment, Bat presently, after a
ring at the door, q letter comes in; thi,
time II IL the pGstman who wishes u,
" "J"onc .fcs:e," and he is rating! Thai
looks business-lil;e. In mcrncry Of The
white-wingcd messengers from o22 Gatsut
American home received tr0n his Jrusty
hapds, we send lin. A.,im % his way rejoicing
and draw closer 10 listen 10 the tiiings h(
has brought from frienda beyond the sea