The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-07-14
"MY PALACE IN ROME"
THE ETERNiL CITY OF THE PRES
ENT COSTRfsTED WITH PAST.
DO Not Look for Romans i'm The
Masses Ignorant OF the History of
the Historic City.

and Monte Pircio-Pincian Hili-and only
a stones throw from the noted old Porta
FIamina. OF ancient Rome. so you VIII
ready see l was located In famous
and historical neighborhooG. IL was
plain. but vi-hal. a very grand palace.
built In the simple Florentine style, by
H. Anna natl. nearly three hundred years
ego. 1t is known In RI me as Palazzr
RcspoIi. 10 look at the exterior. which
has no other merit than its substantial
appearance and great size. it would al
most require a stretch OF ones imagination
10 conceive Of the elegance and richness Of
It's interior. one Of its most attractive
features. receiving attention upon enter
ing is the grand staircase OF ll5 white
marble steps. broad and OF easy ascent; all
the rooms. the floors. the walls. and cell
ings. with statues, paintings. etc, were
in perfect accord with the wealth ana
pride of an old ratrician family, whose
present descendants were not so proud
and certainly not so rich. The ground
floor Of this palace is rented out for va
IiOus purpOsss: coffee house where
some clubs meet. and then there are fur
nishad rooms for dodgers. and also sew
cral offices Of professional men, and there
are rooms to let on the second floor Tor
gentlemen. who are properly recon mend
ed and voucned for by responsible par
ties. | learned that the revenue aceruing
from these sources was the principal sup
FORT of the family. who owned the old
palace and occupied the upper stories.
l was a lodger on the second floor Cccu-
plying room overlooking the c0rs0 An
English gentleman who had liz cd ina the
city FOR number Of years, first Informed
me Of such nice lodgings after my arri-
val, and then went with me and made the
bargain after duly Introducing ME 10
the agent Of the family. Ny friend act
ing as Interpreter, and ny self quietly
mot speaking Italian agreeing 20 all
contracts entered into for my benefit.
THE TINUnr.
This was the incipiency OF my partial
possession Of a palace in Rome. The
tenure and nature OF the ownership
amply satisfied me. as ! did not expect
10 locate permanently I'm the classic oil
city. 1 properly considered various err.
cumstances, and then concluded not TO
purchase "palazzo Rospolr' in it's entire
~ at that time as ] was very comforfa-
bly, and hatteringly situated IN patrician
neighb0rh0Od and breathing the most
ai.stOcratic attn osphere. Ii is quite true
that did rot enjoy a speaking acquaint-
ance with the family yet we made Our
best bows and INDUCED our blandes.
smiles whenever We met or passed each
other.
l was free 10 come and go 10 and from
my looms cor my part Of the "Palazzo'D
al all hours without any trouble or in
corruption, III being 80 written IN the
bond" The old TCrter supplied me with
a key ana then explained q me knack
Of cperirg part Of yha great iron gate.
so that whenever l returned late In the
night 1 could enter witt out assistance.
/ experienced I'D inconvenience under this
head after the first niebt. The "frs;
night the key failed e. perform duty
and ! did not sleep under my own roof
/ took my meals at the cafe di Roma.
Piazza :. Carlo al CorgO. IL proved 70
Doe nrst-class restaurant and IN a popu-
lar and fashionable locality One could
get any kind Of dish he might wish, ard
cooked in good order. The walters were
the handsomest and best dressed men !
saw in Rome. They We're very atten-.
tive and spoke Italian end French. one
of them spoke English. This wss a Ink
ury fully appreciated by myself. and 1
felt perfectly at home with a hes rty zest
and relish for all wholesome and Well
prepared food that was p,fced before
me. / remember. with great deal or
dcrce that contributed so much TO render
Agreeable my soioun in the Capital or
Italy. and ROW as 1 pen these lines I'm
mcmOriam' the superb OLD room, with
It's rich and antique furniture, and all its
arpurtenances in a fashion and style
long past, wildly and plainly came up
hefore ME, r. minding ME Of the quiet
hours OF rest, and of thought and refec.
ton after the ramblec and sight-secings
OF each day Were ever. And the oil
porter. who was always at his post at
the grand entrance, opened vide the great
iron gate each morning and afterwards
closed 10 securely each night. lie was
a reserved and dignihei body, doing his
best al least In personal appearance,
towards sustaining the waning fortunes
OF a family that had known and seen
better times l did not succeed i'm get
ting well acquainted with him. which 1
desired so earnestly as it would have
been my hearts delight 10 have inter-
viewed him oft and long about mltters
generally and the history Of the family |
particularly. that he had served long ana |
faithfully. ] feel sure that the lots OF
questions" which I mad treasured up Tor |
the Old fellow could they have been an
sW cred, would have benefited the ques- |
fiOaer, possibly al the expense OF shorten |
ing the number OF the gate-keeper's days !
1t may be well that 1 did not get well ac- |
quainteG.
THE ROME OF TO-DAY.
Ny acquaintance I'm Rome wee not |
very numerous. ! did not give many /
grand entertainments while living IN l
"Palazz0 Rospoh." Ny object To- visit
ing this city SO renowned in history. was
quite the opposite OF seeking any living
society. ! had no desire whatever 10
move or mlngle in any circle, however
charmed and fashionable re might be-,
all us empty Establishments and syron
seiuetions were lost upon one whose
heart, for the time was cail0us 10 an
such, and whose mind was rather with
its classic past than its present depravlty
ana comparative nOthinsness. The an
cient relies and venerable ruins OF the
Rome lhat-0nce-eXisted speaks 10 as TO-
day with a far more eloquent tongue, m
their sad yet majestic loneliness, with
their Klngly robes All rent by the lmpe-
rial hand OF time. than aught else living
and breathing beneath the sUn and with
"a the range OF human vision The Rome
Jf-tO-day is quit. q different city from
The Rome-of-the-past such Is only too
1ainfilly evident 10 every stranger and
student who has revealed tn the proud
annals Of the home Of the Caesars. ana
lfterward visited IL in the flesh. anu
with the eye natural looked upon ITS d.
.ninutlve proportions with al It's modern
legcueracy. We know the Old city was
,uce much larger ia area, ana We think
L was more densely peopled than al
present.
Doubtlessly Ancient Rome. or Rome or
fac first second, and third centuries, had