National Republican., 1883-03-12

always q specie of danger in saying sof'
nOthings to the mysterious lady, who may,
after all, be the wife or inamorata of his best
friend, and after the tomorrow he may carry
saber cut as gentle reminder all the rest
Of his life for bit of gallantry at reglione.
l am bound to say the jeunesse doree stands no
amount of chatting with consumate grace, and
If it be lady, which he quickly discovers,
who is mercilessly exercising her wit upon
him, always answers politely, not asa French
man, who would only reply with vulgar
double entendre. Nothingis amusing than
to see the club quickly surround some young
swell, who is in the tolls of o witty masker.
All his foibles, his sacred secrets, are COM
mented upon, and even imaginary episodes
told of in the most truthful way, which all
his friends pretend TO believe. Then the
masker must disappear in the crowd, and, If
possible, assume another role. Of course
there are nice little conspiracies, and to a
person prolific in mischief 1t is great OPP
portunity. 1t is to be observed that nothing
is taken in serious at one of these places, nor
| to be repeated. Ono young duke observed
was being roasted on such a spit and though
he bore his torture like n thoroughbred, still
one saw he was made of that sensitive clay
that dreaded even the laughter of fools and
the secrets of his heart, and it seemed as
though there was an ugly little creeping
thing like venom underlying it all but
what matter2 The orchestra clashed as
loud, the dancers were as boisterous,
the fountains threw its jets to the vaulted
ceiling, and the colored lights sent out their
glow to give false splendor to IL all. In the
ante rooms red wine was held to the lips OF
tired dangers and toasts were drank to love
and romance and eternal youth. Toward
the cold gray dawn the last groups crept out
of the somber doors and fitted along the
streets through shadows dark, and past the
waving yellow light of the gas lamps. Nights
when there was real illumination peasants
in all the glory of brilliant holiday costumes
danced in the open squares TO the music OF
| the mandolin and guitar, the tdrdnteud or
monJerrino. 1t requires stout pair of legs
and lusty lungs, as these dances are an
exhibition of personal endurance as
we'll as graceful skill, and con-
tinue ad infinitum. Still, the refresh
ments served are so simple and the wine so
innocent of alcohol, the fun is never bolster
Gus. In England or America it would be
turned into an inferno long before midnight.
However, the passionate Italian has his quick
temper primed and charged for blast at the
slightest provocation. Woe to the handsome
young stranger who smiles too often on the
promised onel Some fine morning q stiletto
will be found sticking in his heart, and no
one will condescend to even conjecture the
author of the tragedy, but shrug Of the
shoulder and the invariable answer CHI 10 Sd
ends all, and the miserecOrdia performs the last
sad offices. The women are not revengeful; II
they were half the women in Italy would be
murderers and st. Peter would have his hands
full.
The children's balls in the daytime at the
| theaters were an eminent feature, and rather
contradictory of the accepted idea of ex-
| clusiveness, for all grades of life were repre-
sented. The children of princes, dukes OF
tradesmen, of even the very poor rich and
shabby costumes the inevitable mask-the
little creatures held high carnival.
| The Hotels Quirinale and Costangi seem To
have some kind of a rivalry, but at the balls
given at each were to he found the same
people, emnently select and particularly
| well dressed. There could hardly be choice
The balls given in palaces commanded
the same division of sentiment, as there is
never ending conflicts between the vatican
and state, and one must instantly declare
either for white or blaclr-quite embarrass
ing for a stranger who does not wish to take
sides in this contest or be entirely identified
with either party. At the Quirinale, oil
royal palace, the entertainments are pro
nounced trile dull, and the diplomats hurry
away with the best grace possible. The court
is by no means brilliant, though the kinf
and queen are friendly and attentive to every
| one, with quite the manner of host and host
ess in a private house. Still, the great lack
seems to be clever and attractive women who
are gifted with tact-that best foundation fol
! social success. There are some pretty Ameri
can women who have married attaches Of the
| court, but they seem a little dizzy over the
to them extraordinary elevation, forgetting
that to hold their birthright as an American
citizen is to have the patent of the highes
nobility in the world.
The last of carnival went out in the usua
exhibition of absurdities and the burning o.
King Carnival at the Pincio. The most move
| nd int nf al mn N
burning of candles.
In this connection, certain tableau viyant
will haunt us forever. At the extreme end Of
the Corso facing the Piazza del Populo, two
old churches are standing in neighborly prox
unity, with only the street between them
Attached to one of these edifces is priests
house, where little group of foreigners haC
been invited to witness q scene more like
enchantment than anything real; so, climb
ing many flights of stone stairs and
grouping through winding and devious pass
! ages, they came at last to the priests apart
ment and were ushered in with that pecu
liarly hospitable way that belongs especially
to the well-bred Italian. There was dancing
and music, and every one was as merry as
though life was new and there were no sor
rows in all the world Soon the good priest
began to distribute waxen tapers, and as each
| person quickly lighted them there was mad
rush to extnguish. That is the real fun of the
thing, to light and to extinguish. 1t seems alb
surd, but the amount Of mischievous deviltry
this simple game developed was amazing. II
was impossible to keep quiet; the fun was
| contagious and the laughter unceasing; now
rushing to the balcony to look down
at the million candles which fitted like
frefies in the street below and hear the
shouts of merriment, or turning with flushed
faces to defy some persistent pursuer. While
the yellow light gave q glow over all that 9
Dutch painter should have immortalized, there
were beautiful faces too, and certain brave
and spoke Iowa tenderly looked into brilliant
eyes for an answering passion. All, me, il
was youth it was n blessed hope; it was an
infinite reality-for time. THEY SAY.