National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-01-22

FLORENCE, THE BEAUTIFUL CITY.
Rain, Rsia, Rsin-Seenes in the Tewn-ExtensIve
Improvements Inaugurated = What Is Tn
defHeath the City!-In American
Prima DOnna-The Theatres.

Special Correspondence Of The NdonGl Republican.
FLORENCE, ITALY, Jan. 6.-This fair Italian city
has behaved like spoiled beauty, frowning and
weeping for the last month; herskies overcast and
daily rains How disappointed her children were
during the Christmas and New Years festivities,
for fiesta to a Florentine is joy beyond MEASURE.
They save and hoard their centimesto xpend like
lords when the glad time arrives; t. forget their
cares, their losses, their deprivstions; to dance
and be merry to jest with t1ieir neighbor, 10 put
on their gayest attire, 70 adorn their humble
home with bright co1dfs, 10 hurry to the church
and pray for the nercession of the Blessed Virgin
in all things Spiritual and temporal, especially in
the matter of lottery tickets, for Italians are
Characterization gamblers; believing, like all
unfortunate people in luck, that undefnable
eredulity that keeps poor man ahoat when other
wise he would sink
The bells ring merrily dramas, operas, bellets,
Punch and Judy shows, the streets lined with
gaudy-colored booths, carriages dashing along
the corso, common facreS, and dOnkcy-carts all in
one queer medley; the laughing, gesticulating
populace adding to the confusion. AstTanger natur
ally feels truly scene that impresses the memory
ever after.
LIFE HERE Is THE SANE
, as il was eight years Ggo-no changes except that
living is dearer. The old haunts present the same
aspect, the same clever artisans are diligently
working artistic objects, that find their market
in every corner Of the globe Go and talk TO them.
Speaking Of past experience, All, yes, Signora
We are Just the same, always at work" Contented
Yes if only we have roof over our heads, bread,
oil, and wine. few clothes to keep from rheUnla-
. tisIn, and there's the hospital when are sick
or too old to work. Go TO America On, no; we
would only work and drudge TO make some rich
man richer, and leave our dear land for thar: no,
truly. Our children? That is another thing: per
ho,S n he Nh oil
than We do. Why they read and write-thanks to
his gracious Majesty King Victor Emmanuel For
/ this truly great King is never dead: the people
calling him the King with the same faithful
homage that Hlralet does the yeneruled shade of
his father 1t is said Cmberto does not love Flor
/ ence over-much. Like begets like.
/ The lung-continued rains have swollen the Arno
/ until even Marx Twain would pronounce TIE river
wide, deep strong, and terrible L rushes past my
window now, bearing in its Tesistless force every
/ thing before it. The massive stone bridges, soma
of which have stood fo- centuries alone withstand
the mad torrent. The pensiye Italian, looking at
the scething waters below. feels no uneasiness at
this accumulation of mighty waters, knowing well
that clever engineering skill directed wall and
buttress with conscientious labor If only in Amer
lea we made haste slowly in all constructions AMI
enterprises, how future generations would rise up
and call Us blessed! 1t Is gospel that should be
preached from the pulpit When Florence was
CITY OF FORTRESEs.
II that great genius. Michael Angelo who per-
sonally invented and directed all improvements;
everything he suggested and ordered is still ac-
knowledged a profound and wise: he knew every
foo; of gnound. not only within the gates, but
throughout the envirOus: his accuracy has been
strangely put 10 the test within the last few
months.
Some years since the city government COM
mencsd u most extensive Improvement upon the
hill known As San Ninato. sacred TO the memory
OF great Calico: there much levelng. terrac-
ing. and tracing of broad macadened roads and
building of wide plateaus: in order 10 accomplish
this. blasting deemed necessary, rocks were
dislodged and nature made over OF late there
has been strange sinking OF the ground. and upon
placing shafts the workmen came across immense
cavities in the earth, and al uncomfortable sort
OF feeling prevails that some fine day all this
beauty OF mans creation may be swallowed I'D in
q great cTerasse. Diligent search was made IN the
archives ofthe city 10 find the original engineering
reports, and there They came across the serious
WARNING OF MICHAEL Angelo
to disturb this identical hill as the rock IT the
base the foot that upheld d large extent of
ground. which otherwise might at some time be
precipitated into the Arno. thus forcing the river
into the city and destroying il There is no resort
now but to Try and brace the hill b. artificial
means. and good r0und sum Is demanded from
the leaH purse Of the government.
30 much for Buckingham, Let rs speak of
things more 30 your liking Surely tina. vii, be the
unprecedented success Of q young American
singer. Emma Nevada. her d. Heq're- The
people have gone Wild about hcE; they call her
before the curtain fifty times night The people
men. women. and chiIdTen-SIaId Il? and shou;
their braves until they arg hoarse Long after the
last strains Of the orchestra have died oct the
people remain lOath 70 leave the little enchantrcSs
i lark ug IN the heavens Oh 2 clear June day does
not sing more sweetly than She The execution Is
the same a. PATHS but freSheT and pu-er 1t i
the voice OF al angel said an old man nea- me
the other evening. i have been hearing all the
great singers foT the last FLY years and yet she
excelS them al. Size has the simplicity the limo
ceIlee and the appearance CT child OF fourteen
years Of age. Brave fearless, and the soul OF al
artist. How brave she i. those who are &C
qainted with an exaciing and critical Italian
audience VIII know when / tel you She came
here without an ;E8g-eSSG-io. unhe-aidet; and IN
known commencing ia an humble way in the
smallest theatre, fequcEled by The gods Of the pit
merciless and iil-bred. Sic TUNED them Tney
became @h;eCt Slaves. Then
LARGER THEATRE
was Necessary and then al the Perg0la the largest
and with he most difficult acoustics she sang
night Long before dg-k procession Is formed
awaiting ;hc oT-eniIg ofthe theatre doors III md
not witnessed this Tyse.fI should imagine j; all
managerial PEIff. She secrns 20 have the excelsior
Of AneEics-io S4rTaS= everything that has gone
before Strange stories are tod here of the diva
Patti how after riis the world she Is tyranuized
ovc= by her lover. and foolish woman she counts
the world well los Unfortunately Jealous Of Mic
colili, 1adi: = iCve with hin. she Son't trust
him Of her sight r. she fgncies every woman
a. great fol IS herself There are times when
he sings exceedingly well, and the audience ap-
plaads; then she IS happy But on his bad nights
IL gets 7oundiy hiss-d: then Patti Is miserable
NTetched- and inconzisble. Verify the gods are
Just. and Of our pleasant vices make instruments
20 Scou-ge Us II ali this supreme folly she las
The Te-e good sense 70 Se increasingly watchfal in
the care Of her voice: ihe preservation Of her
health i q scientific s-1dy The days before creEa
night she never ufteTS Ro;e. hardly speaking
abgre 4 whisper. remaining calm and quiet II
would Dc vel fer singers % remember this
Nov tfs1 EEosT gifted woman.
SEoRGE EEIcT
has Izssed forever from this world. ker e1t-1o.-
di2a-y genius Is being discussed ,Icny years
ago she Ess 6 dEeiier q this city, and II tic
stree; which she Inhabited iocatei her Ea0zt hi
to-icaI and philosophical ncvei-RonoIs Tie
English Ceadin= tours. always makes pilgrim
age 70 the sT-ces Bs76i and easily recognizes .he
cd hcQses- fhc very logEia vise-e Eo-noIa 1zt IL
tened 70 TIE Ea;tEies> Tic: a-5 tc II the NAM
SCRIPTS and disriss of the NeieciS family you vii
find the material she 6-eE from 70 fc-n Z
coasc:enEio-z< picture n the ePoch which
she describes ByEun. tn E,5zs7 lave known
OF ben intced vi;h she sfeiiessn Iits-E-
E1re. You have oEly TO compare the rrzT=-
lated soa1ets 81 Lorenzo del Geiici with