The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1886-07-30
COSTUME OF LoMBARDY PEASANT.

COSTUME OF LOMBARDY PEASANT.
On our way down to Como we met group
Of country girls, young and joyous creatures,
several Of whom were very pretty, and one
decidedly beautiful-far more so than any
aristocratic Milanese young lady we have yet
seen. All, however, would have been more
attractive in the picturesque costume of the
Lombardy peasant of the better class-a cos
tune now seldom worn except by domestic
servants, especially nurses. 1t is occasionally
seen on the stage. "Lucia, " the heroine OF
~ Promessi Sposi," always wears it in the
opera of that name. The peculiar part OF 1t
ia the headdress, which at a distance looks
like halo, and SO, on a laughing, coquettlsh
girl. a little out of character 1t is formed OF
long, narrow, spoon-shaped spille, or pins, of
silver closely woven into and radiating from
the back hair A friend Of ours who has
cook conservative enough to cleave to the Old,
old fashion, and sport the silver heir-iooms
in her silver hair, says that it takes profess
sional artist to do the weaving-in, and that it
is only done once q week, the poor woman
being obliged to sleep in her crown OF thorns
OF course, she can only repose on her back, and
as she is, after the immemorial manner of
cooks, "fat and scant Of BREATH" natures
sonorous nocturnal remonstrance may be
imagined, It must shake that little villa like
an embryo earthquake. It is antique, it is
national, this bristling head gear, but an in
strument of torture and only pretty on a
pretty girl. like Manzoni's heroine, the gentle
Lucia, whose picture inclose. cannot con-
i3dentiy vouch for the facial Likeness Of the
lady, IL ever there was "such q person" hay
ing been dead some $50 years-but this Il un-
doubtedly the way she dressed.
The romantic and classic associations Of
Lake Como are not the least Of its charms
There was Claude Melnotte, you know, and
there was Pliny. We have failed to identify
the palace" of Paulins's "gay deceiver," the
young market gardener; but there is villa
called "Pliniana," after the old naturalist, he
having described In his writings q certain
mysterious spring, now In its court, whose
waters have tidal ebb and flow, rs though
In secret correspondence with the Atlantic
ocean. Pliny the younger was born in
Como. and wrote Enthusiastically Of the
scenery Of this wonderful region; and the
lake-IAcus LArius-parklss with immortal
hrtehtnss In the vsrDe Of Virgil The old
Romans, who, like ths monks Of later days,
hed IN infallibls instinct Tor beautiful and
fruitful spots, reveled In luxurious retirement
ON these picturesque dhorss, much - the
Nilansse nobility and gentry do now; but
.Aappier were thsy, IN that no pufane and
anortine Of Steamboat o. locomotive disturbed
1heir summer asstas; no Cooks tourists in
vaded their Aowesy sohtudss.
The other morning W wsre rewsd across
~ lake to look q Two villas, still especially
Interesting 70 IN artloving vidtors-that Of
Taxlioui, he qussa danssuss Of The world
fortv ysass ego, and who, IN fact, has had no
Ri enccasue, snA ~ more stately home Of
Pasta, who probably Ne u grandest dre-
matte Soprano that italy ~ YET produced
n lass I ART nw thsee two villas, and also
caught siimpsss q tssts famous occupanta
a. our boat paussd bseors Pastas house,
which \ Q miniasurs COPY q TIE Scala theatre,
~ scsns q her grsassst trinmphs, We Aw
- grand ginger herself, tadag aro1 a n"