The record-union., 1895-07-06
ROMAN WINDOWS.
Playing and Working in the, Ancient
City.
Solemnity and Grandeur of a Military
Funeral by Torchiight in the
City Of Rome.

spend half their time at their open win
dows. Not wishing to miss the benefit
of any new experience, we do likewise
and we see many things. From our
high windows under the caves we look
above the covered "loggie'' on the house
| tops, and across the open terraces with
their pretty roof gardens, where bright
flowers and trailing vines grow under
the loving care of the 'padroncina"-th
little mistress-who trips out al sundown
with her watering pot and passes on from
plant TO plant. We can see the exuber-
ant vegetation of an old neglected garden
attached to palace in the square be-
yond; its overgrown arbors. tangled
! bushes and orumbling ruins form rich
! background of color for the chasie out
lines of The building in front Here and
there spire reaches up its slender
| finger, and long unused and forgotten
turrets Jut out from the high angles of
some old building. Deep browns and reds
and delicate grays blend in soft tones,
and the tiled roofs are rich and mellow
with age. Little balconies make queer
angles on the profile of the houses, and
chimneys of every shape and hight stand
on the pitched roofs without reference TO
| order or symmetry.
1t Is pretty sight to look up and down
the long stree; ; k-haired, olive
| skinned women lean on the red cushions
OF the window-sills and bend their grace
| ful necks as they gaze laZIly down upon
the passers-by and dream away the hours
In happy 1nsouciance. Slim figures glide
to and fro behind the curtains, stopping
every now and then to draw aside the
drapery and throw quick glance across
the street. One would think that Italian
women had no other aim in life but TO
dream and breathe. \ ct in reality they
are industrious and thrifty. They rise
early III the morning and are at work
long before we open our eyes; even if we
set ajar the blinds at = O'clock and peer
out upon the gray dawn. the opposite
windows are already thrown wide open
and our neighbors are moving quickly
| from room to room, attending to their
household cares. But after the midday
dinner, which is usually taken at II
O'Clock, and after the post prandial siesta,
the women think themselves justified in
enjoying life after their own fashion.
They rarely go out for walk, from one
weeks end to another, excepting on Sun
days, but they lean on the red cushions
OF the window-sills and breathe in the
air without eXertion. In their daily lives
they do not crave privacy. but live in the
open, as it were, regardless of many pairs
site caves.
One OF our neighbors across the street is
a young girl OF IL; she lives with her
parents ana sisters on the third story OF
small house. She is fair, and her tall,
slender figure moves with the grace of
young doe; her soft hair is mbed back
from her frank, clear brow, and sweet,
childish, happy smile hovers about her
mouth, while rogulsh look plays hide
and seek in her brown eyes. Sue sits at
the open window with square of lawn
pinned on to her knee; her work bask ct
lies on the sill, and she bends over her
work, drawing her needle in and out
with pretty motion. But although her
fingers fold the narrow hem and stitch
the dainty kerchief, her mind has flown
beyond The window-sill, like the bird
that leaves its nest below the caves and
scars in mldalr, singing as it spreads it's
wings. And telicita sings happy song,
softly to herself, as her thoughts spread
their wings and hover through thszair.
Her eyes are restless, too. and wander
from her work to dart quick, questioning
glances into the street below. Why does
he tarry yet so long, when a pretty head
waits thus anxiously for his coming? A
bright, swift smile, loving motion of
the hand, like the wave of thrus4ias
wing, silent greeting with the eyes, tell
US that she has seen him. Two minutes
cannot say much in words, for the girls
mother is in the room, but they speak
eloquently with their eyes. 1t is enough |
for the language Is one they understand.
Soon the mother leaves the room and the
pair are left one moment by themselves.
He draws out plain gold ring, and TAX
ing her hand gently in his, places it on
her finger; tho next moment his arm is
around her waist, and we hastily look the
other way, lest any eyes save those of the |
swallows shall see their first betrothal |
kiss. That one blissful moment was in |
all probability the only one the young
lovers would have alone before their |
marriage.
ON the story below Felicita live young
couple recently married, and keeping
house for tbs first time. When the twi- |
light of the warm spring evenings
spreads it's soft shadows over the city, this |
Arcadian pair sit at their evening meal on |
the little balcony outside their parlor
window and enjoy the cool breezes from |
their airy perch. This evening meal is /
with them All occasion of great moment |
They first bring out the small table, just
large enough for two, and spread the !
white cloth; the plates and forks and |
glasses are set down as though they were
made OF crystal and of gold. The flask of
white Wine, with its straw covering, is at
one end. and the oil and vinegar at the
dish of crisp, fresh lettuce, flanked by
loaf of the dark Italian bread. And now
the happy pair sit down to their frugal |
meal as though it were Kings banquet:
they dress tue lettuce with exquisite care;
they pour out the wine and break the
bread; they look at the still sky above
and at the slumb bering street below; they
look into one another's eyes, and the cup
of their enjoyment is full. What is It |
over which they llnger with so much de-
light? Is it. after all, only little salad,
bread and wine? Or is it the spirit within
which gives sweet SAVIOR to these simple |
things?
In square little way beyond US we |
can catch glimpse Of a picturesque stone
fountain. a group OF women stand at
the edge of the basin washing the clothes
which they have brought in large baskets
from long distance; they have rolled up |
their sleeves far above the elbow, leaving
their full, muscular arms bare. and they
sway backward and forward as they lean
down to scrub and beas the clothes and
then lift them up at arms length and
sWash them in and out. AnunZiatina Is
there with our weeks wash; she chooses
this fountain because the water is soft and
warm. 1t is very old fountain; four
sea-creatures, with finny tails, spout out
the water, which gushes up in long, thin
Jets, and sweeps over to the basin. The
gray stone has been eaten out and worn
down with age and exposure, until it's
surface is mottled with rough indenta-
tions; green weedy coating covers the
bottom OF the basin, and the water laps
UP over the Shiny tails of the fishes.
The night scenes, watched from our
windows, are the most effective. On
days reserved for special celebration, the
birthday of the Queen. or the anniver-
sary of some event of national import
ance the illumination at night Is like
scene from fairy land. The usual gas