Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1885-01-03
aom1'o oCTv1rn FEST walls.
Aatumnal Merrymakers = Costumes OF
italian Women-The Feast,

Rome Letter in Chicago Tribune
1t may be truly said that from time
immemorial' the Romans have.been ac-
customed to honor the month of cto-
Der the month of the new win, with
PROFESSIONS, Hastings, and dancings,
friendly gatherings, and family merry
markings. But all m st be in the open
air; the nineteenth century i oman,
lu t as his classic ancestors did before
MIN, goes outside the city walls to cele-
brate the season of the falling chestnuts
and the finished vintage, and it is re-
markable that the road leading from the
Porta Gel lopolo, the ancient Via
Flaminia, is still favorite one with
these autumnal merrymakers, Just as it
was 1000 years ago and more.
will not stop to recall procession
Of that remote date, with its foser-
crowned maidens and laughing youths,
its libations 10 the gods, its dancing and
feasting. Change but the costumes and
the modes of conveyance and | wager
that the Celebrate of to-day d. not
differ so very widely from the OLD pat
tern, for the physical resemblar &c of
these people, especially the We rking
classes, to the old types which we meet
with in every museum and SCULPTURE
gallery is so remarkable as to haV. been
noted by many thousands before the
present writer
The first party of Ottobranti that
drives by will serve to illustrate my
ease; here comes one in large open
landau, hired for the day, four young
men of the artisan class packed tigh ly
into the back seat of the roomy vehicle,
and as m ny women fronting ,hem in
state with their faces to the horses; be-
ind them again are two or thee ehll
dren seated in the thrown back hood of
the carriage All the women wear thick,
told chains, earrings, and brooches,
which often represent the economy of
many years, and are handed down as
helrloomS from mother to daughter
Fnelr heads are uncovered save by their
own magnificent black hair, which is
oiled at t re back of the head in many
cunning twists and plaits
This is a distinctive characteristic of
the I,oman woman. In almost all the
other parts of tia y the woman of the
eople and the lower bourgeoisie has
some peculiar head-dress. which is clung
to long after the rest o. the local CO.
ume has been chased away by railways
and cosmopolitanism. In Genoa it i
white Wi of clear muslin surround ng
the head and shoulders as with eloao
IN Milan it is short veil of black lace
other districts show us the bright Ital-
IN faces framed in brilliant colored
landkerchiefs tied under the chin, or,
again, bound around the head, conceal
ing all the hair, and knotted at the
back; of the Eomagna, the white folded
cloth resting sluarely on the top of the
head and failing down 10 the shoulders
behind. There are others too numer-
ouS to n n.ion now, b the woman of
ONE goes proudly with no other head
covering than her own usually splendid
hair. But to return to our Cttobranti.
The party consists probably of father
and mother, a couple of handsome
daughters, and perhaps cousin and
three OF four younger boys and girls.
Then the damo (sweetheart) of each of
the maria eable G rls will certain be
of the party.
They are Of most kelly to some vigna
outside the city, say a half do en-
miles from the Porta del Popolo, and
there they will consume mountains of
macaron, followed by fried artiehokes,
broiled fowls massive sausages, and
other substantial dainties flor your rea!
Roman popolano has no not on of hol-
day W thout q good square meal, the
whole washed down with more tires of
strong new wine than | shou d Ike
to say. There will be music certain
"a fiddler or two, a cCfnet, and a
harp for the Young folks to dance to
and most likely some of the Young men
from the city will have laandolins
amongst them, for the mandolin is tle
Roman instrument par excellence, Just
as the guitar is that of Madrid or Se-
v.lle
There will be dozens of other parties
like the one l have described, many
meetings, much talk, noise, laughter.
and lovemaking. Tlen the children.
who have been alternately eating and
racing about all day, begin to be cross
and sleepy; Mother orders the horses
to be put to- fat er calls for one more
litre-the stirrup-cup-the young folks
reappesr in couples from the shady cor
ners where they have Teen discussing
politics doubt ess, and soon all are NOV.
ing omewards and homewards under
the stars.
Cor. Detroit Free Press: Christmas is
one OF those points of the road at which