Wichita eagle., 1888-03-23
MODERN NOTIONS.

"A vast cnanR6 toward mO0ern QOLiOnS mas
arrived. A street railway skirts the Coli
scum, and omnibuses chase one another into
the famous precincts of the city. The site Of
grand palace, reared In 1886, is now beer
garden, with the beverage ct three cents a
glass, and the walls of the building altered to
suit the purposes of the business conducted
therein Public life has lost much of the
traditional picturesqueness and romantic
appearance. To be sure, the brown hooded,
long bearded Bensdictine monks, the bare
footed Capuchins. with their hair cut into q
topknot, the white robed priests of the Red
Cross, the Christian brothers, in their black
gowns and immaculate collars, clergy in
knee breeches, black stockings and silver
buckled shoes, and students in flowing robes
and wide brimmed, low crowned felt hats,
are met at every turn; but they are dwarfed
in number and novelty by the uniforms of
the military, for Rome is policed by Is, 600
troops, in all the glory of infantry, engineer,
rihemen, cavalry, field artillery, grenadier
and gendarmes dress. They line the streets
and fll the houses To their uses, as well as
those of the civil authorities, the oldest Of
buildings are being appropriated. Eligible
locations for private or governmental uses
are selected, without regard to the antiquity
of the surroundings, and structures of tho
living Ga erected Here and there on street
corners strapping young fellows in blue
jackets, breaches Of the same color, red vests
and blue stockings, with their feet in huge
hobnailed shoes or sandals, and swathed at
the ankles, loiter in the company of gray.
boards, in rags hidden beneath cloak that
reaches to the ground, who pose with artistic
effect on an umbrella of blue stuff.
American and English are such numerous
visitors that the influence Of their customs,
manners and habits is crowding the typical
resident out of existence They have now
their doctors, their dentists, patent medicines
and tailors, and one sees the announcement
in all quarters that English is spoken. The
peasant who comes to town with his team OF
three horses, Respondent in flaming trap
pings, plumes and tinkling bells, and driver
tandem to his cart, has to pull TO one side tt
allow stylish broughams, coupes and family
carriages, with prancing animals and clean
shaven coachmen and footmen with the
asparagus bunch looking tuft on one side ot
their shining high hats, to pass.
THl ROMAN COWBOY.
In this day the Roman cowboy is looked
upon curiously enough by even those who
speak his own tongue when he comes to the
city for the holidays. A veritable "bull
pusher' he is indeed, with his short stick and
It's iron point in hand to goad the cattle.
The sombrero of his North American coz
temporary differs only in color from his black
felt hat, while the accouterMents of leather
leggings and spurs are alike.
Deserted, save with occasional exceptions,
Is the public square around whose massive
steps Neapolitan girls of rare beauty and
bright hued dress were wont to congregate
to hire their charms for the artists guidance
in his work. A few are still left, and q strik-
ing comparison they make with their sisters
in bonnetS, sealSkin sacques, velvet Jackets
and silk dresses. No hustle or padding serves
TO fill out their highly colored dresses, nor
bangs TO set OF the classic arrangement Of
their hair, parted in the center and falling In
sven proportions on each side of the head.
Tapering from shoulders to the hips, their
waists are symbols of healthful ease and
good twenty-four inches in circumference.
No corsets mar the outlines Of the graceful
figures. Their swan-like necks are bare al
most to the shoulder blade. Theirs are the
"eyes black as sloes and hair the color Of the
ravens wing. In one particular only 90
shey resemble the Roman girls In modern
dress: they love high heels On their shapely
low cut shoes, and oftentinos have them four
inches in length. Women In Rome have a
passion in this direction, for thereby the foot
is arched, its size curtailed to the eye and the
instep gracefully turned
The glory Of Rome has well nigh departed: /:
she tag end of its once every day self is alone
deterranedly preserved in its bad cigars and
leathery bread made without yeast. The for
mer burn as if composed Of brown paper
wrapper and pine shavings for filings. For
the latter, the sarcasm Of Hawthorne that
the most lasting monument Of the memory
Of ole bakers Of Rome would be pile Of
heir own loaves is IS applicable now as it
va 10 his day.-RoRs Cor. Baltimore Sun