Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-02-23

Noticeable characteristics of Florence, Italy
A whip is never used for other pur-
poses than that of being loudly cracked
in the air to warn the people in the mar
row streets of the approach of a carriage.
In striking contrast with the modern
vehicle are the primitive looking two
wheeled carts, painted blue, red, or green,
and drawn by diminptive donkeys, with
their noses buried in huge baskets of
hay. Their trappings are made gorge
Gus with numerous little tinkllng brass
bells and bright colored cords and tassels.
Often q scarlet blanket is thrown over
tke animals back, and, should the day be
rainy, his driver, who usually walks in a
companionable way by his side, will car
ry bright-green umbrella almost large
enough to protect both. Italy takes the
lead in art, but in all matters pertaining
to home life and comforts her people are
far behind the times. They cling tenaci-
ously to the old, regarding suspiciously,
almost superstitiously, all innovations.
They have ceased to produce world-dis-
turhing minds, and are living In memoir
les of their past. Tourists, especially
those hailing from the free and indepen-
dent soil of America, who part with their
money with less reserve than travellers
from any other country, contribute much
to the support of the poorer classes. The
FJoreutines spend more time in the
streets than in their houses, the bright
ness of the former at all times being
preferable to the chill somberness of the
latter. The frequent fiesta days are
never neglected, everyone on these occa-
sious turning out ia quest of fun and
frolic, so that the labyrinth of crooked
stl eets, with the unbroken high walls of
houses on either side and narrow strip of
sky above, become quite gay. Even in
their gayety, however, there is a certain
air of severity that Is almost depressing,
genuine light-hearte dness finding no af
fnity with this serious, earnest minded
people. They are very kind-hearted,
obliging, and polite, taking advantage of
you With the pleasantest smile imagin-
able, considering such a course their nat
ural and lawful Prerogatiye, too long
established to be questioned. They will
indulge in petty piIfering on every posi-
BILE occasion, and prevaricate with calm
ness that is startling. Still it is always
done in g. smiling, genial manner, and
their public courtesy-at least in the out
ward forms-ls worthy of emulation, One
seldom experiences the slightest rudeness
or roughness ON the streets, or in any
public place or assembly, but is continu-
ally importuned by beggars, their stock
in trade consisting of every variety of
deformed body,-the sore-eyed and blind
predominating,-a laden with tales of
woe of every conceivable description.
These creatures generally carry small
tray Of matches for sale, to give sort of
legitimate aspect to their presence. Tips
are expected from all hands for every
possible service, real or imaginary, and
the necessity for complying with this long
established but excessively annoying Gus
tom becomes really imperative. After dark
the entrances to the theaters, cafes, and
other public places are besieged by the
we'll known "Fioraie," or flower girls, who
one and all are women of iH-repute, plying
their vocation under this pretext, their
undisguised app sarance on the streets
being forbidden by law and the rule
strictly enforced. They carry basket
filed with small punches of cheap flowers,
tied on the ends of neat;ywhittled little
sticks, which they thrust into the hand or
pocket of the passer-by. Macaroni coarse
bread, and wine are cheap, and form the
staple articles of diet for the sipopolanie,"
excellent bread being bought for cents
per kilo three pounds). The price of
wine ranges from to so cents per
auart