Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-23
SOCIAL LIFE IN FLORENCE.
How the Beautiful Italian City Passes
the Winter SeasoD.

From the Saturday Regie,0.
Those whose only business is pleasure
may find some compensation for the dis
comfort OF their rooms in the open air.
The coolest days are generally sunny,
and walks which, like the Lung ArnO,
are protected from the wind, are pleas
antly warm during the midday hours.
They are thronged by Florentines, who
come forth 10 bask IN the sunshine, but
like the lizards which occasionally steal
out Of their holes for a similar purpose,
they look depressed and lifeless. All
the sprightliness of summer has vanished,
the swift light grace of eye ard gesture
has given place to forced and pre-occu-
pied energy; if glance or motion quicken,
1t is only in response to d conscious act
of the will; the eXuberance of lie which
at other times distinguishes both the
Italian and the lizard is quite gone.
After sunset, when the outside air
grows sharp, almost every one seeks
a shelter. What becomes Of the women
OF the lower middle class it is difficult TO
say; probably in such weather they go to
bed as early and get up as late as they
can, unless it is a Sunday or festival, and
they can persuade one oil the male men,
bers of their family to let them sit be-
side Elm in The small Gale he trequents.
Almost all such houses are furnished
with stoves or warmed by hot air, and
freQuented by ladies under proper protec-
ton. Draughts, dominOes and the games
OF cards which are permitted by the au-
thOrities are played at the different Ia
bles, and whoever pays FOR single cup OF
coffee asserts Il right to remain as long as
ne feels inclined.
The wine shops are dangerous rivals of
the small Gales, and are greatly preferred
Oy the Old-tashioned FioTenunes, though
they rarely aspire to the dignity Of news
/ paper, and no ladies are TO BE found tbere
except the relations OF the host. In most
OF these the old Italian system OF heating
! is still continued. A large metal vessel
null OF glowing charcoal is brought in
shortly after sunset aGd placed upon
tripod. The guests gather round 1t; every
now and then fan woven Of grass or
PUSHES is used TO remove the white ashes
and increase the glow, the doors are kept
shut as closely as business VIII permit
and the heat soon makes itself felt in the
small, low room. Then III most places
the guests betake themselves to cards;
| but in some a little circle is formed
around a teacher from the neighbOriDg
elementary school or slIb-otiicial with a
! literary taste, who reads aloud to those
! who frequent the shop, either every even
! ing or twice or three times a week. lie is
/ not paid for his services, but one or other
1 of wine and the host most likely supplies
him with a frugal supper.
On a holiday the wine room bFightens,
particularly il there are manageable
daughiers or nieces, and the evening fire.
aueutfy concludes with a game of lotto,
tor an Italian is by nature a ,gambler. In
sucn places, however, the risk is not
great. A single card costs TWO centesimi,
90 that five may be bought for a penny.
J M il n I'm in
such extravaganza as thar, unless it be
some asuirant to the daughters hand
who is ignorant or careless of the old
proverb which says that those who win
in love are sure to lose at play, two
cards, or at most Jour, as 4 rule. The
person who collects the money and draws
the numbers-it is never the host or hos
tess-uoes not play himself. The happy
owner OF the card which Is hrst filled up
receives a Ira, and If anything more re-
mains in the pool the pay is continued
and the second winner receives IT. IL is
pleasant 20 watch SUCH game in which
children OF and old men Of 20 seem 10
take an equal interest, and TO see TIE
solemn eagerness with which withered
and chubby hands alike place tdeir
white beans on the numbers that are
drawn.
Twelfth Night is the great winter festi-
val Of the Fiorentnes, though it is now
celebrated almost exclusively in domes-
tic circles. After the children have
fallen asleep the mother takes their stock
ings away and ills clean ones with fruit,
sWeetmeals. and little presents, among
which TWO or three pieces Of charcoal
carefully wrapped UP in paper are usually
to be found. These treasures are carefully
hidden in different parts Of the room, and
as soon as the children wake the search
Tor the stockings begins. with some
slight variations, a similar custom pre-
walls, we believe. at Norway, though It is
not observed on the same day.