The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-10-22
the sense Of smell The conclusion som chow
cuts the ground from under the romance
which poets. novellsts, and painters have led
us to associate with the period.


The position OF women In the Flore
| community seems TO have differed materially
! from time to time In the very earliest period
| they are said to have been OF the simplest
habits. when the greatest ornament Of tn.
! most noble woman in Florence was no other
| than tight skirt OF bright scarlet without
| other cincturo tnnn n belt OF antique silvia
| and a mantle lined with black md white
| The simplicity OF woman's dress. however
| seems not to have been OF long duration for
| as carly OF 1923 the city authorities made
strong ordinances against the excessive orna-
ments OF the women. Similar laws were en-
| acted mt later periods in Florence. but
| tho attempt to enforce them was grad
ualiy given ur. and the women were left to
their own devices. SO far, however. no
one may Judge from eNtant portraits
tho women of Florence were not extravaganza
In dress during the fifteenth century. though
their tasto seems odd enough to us. Caterina
Sforza. the wife Of Giovanni de'Medici appears
in a dress OF plain black. with the neck cut
square and surrounded by a narrow band Of
white. The sleeves ire plain at the wrist and
pulled at the tor. and slashed with white.
She wears close-fitting headdress OF black.
lined with white. a portion OF which falls on to
ln6 snOulueT. IL Is kcpt III pidCo w u
black band passing over the front OF 1t and
beneath the hair at the back OF the neck. She
wears but ono ring. and that Is q broad one on
the marriage finger.
Mr. Seattle does not agree with Burckhardt
In thinking that In tho Florence OF the Renais.
eance woman was equally respected with man.
and that her education in the highest classes
was essentially the same as that Of her brother.
There were. 1t Is true. individual cases whore
women stood very high in culture and in the
public regard. but that such n condition was
at all general. even among the highest classes.
is pronounced open to grave doubts In one
unfortunate respect, indeed. woman seems to
have been put on the same plane as man. for
she was not shielded from the vulgarity and
indecency hnbitually exhibited by the other
sex. Her presence does not seem to have re-
strained the mon from INDUCING In the most
ribald conversation. and the songs OF carnival
time. than some OF which 1t would DO difficult
to find any writing more filthy. were especially
addressed to the ladies. 1t Is doubtless q fact
that Alessandra Scaln. Vittoria Colonna and
some others could be not only highly gifted.
but enjoy the respect as well as friend
ship OF the most intellectual men Of
their age. but the author OF this book
submits that these sporadic cases no
more sustain general proposition as
to tho standing OF culture OF the women
OF the day than the talents and requirements
OF Mary Somervlle proved that her feminine
contemporaries in England were equally cul.
tivated and respected. The words OF Lorenzo
de Medici point to q similar conclusion. for
speaking OF a talented woman. he says that her
understanding was superior to her SEX Who.
ever heard brilliant man described a.
superior to his sex? Ono may draw like In
ference from the relations OF Lorenzo to his
own wife. who was born an Orsini, and as such
was Of an older and more aristocratic family
than her husbands. She objected to Polizi-
amos remaining in their house as a tutor to
her children on the ground that he had re-
pentcdly treated her with insolence. Never
theless. Lorenzo insisted upon leaving his
children entirely In the charge Of the man who
had insulted his wife.
There were. as We have said. certain aspects
OF Florentine life at which the author OF this
volume prefers not to look too narrowly. He
acknowledges. however. that II the mon and
women OF American cities should give SO little
heed to the sacredness OF the marriage tie as
did the Italians Of the Renaissance. murders
and crimes of all kinds would be much more
frequent than they are now. Strange to say"
he adds. this condition Of life does not seem In
the least to have degenerated the race. physi-
cally or mentally. as We are so often told that
such state Of things would do" natural
consequence OF the lax manner Of regarding
the marriage tie was that but little difference
was made In the treatment OF legitimate and
illegitimate children. At the same time. II
one may Judge of Florentine life in general
from the few examples known to us. the rela.
tons between husband and wife. and espe.
cially between parents and children. were NOS
unhappy. but the reverse. Marriages which
according to our views would have been intol-
cradle seem not to have been particularly OBJ.
noxious to either party. and there apparently
existed great deal Of real family Affection
Upon this point Mr.. Seattle suggests that the
art OF the Renaissance. the writings.
and consideration OF what the age accom-
plished should teach US that there must have
been beneath tho surface. which was too often
frivolous and shocking much that was earnest
and noble. which deserves respect and homage
NJ. w. II.