New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-09
ROMAN WINDOWS.
PLAYING AND WORKING IN THE ANCIENT
CITY


Italian women of the middle classes spend half
their time al their open windows. Not wishing to
miss the benefit OF any experience. We do like
wise; and we many things From our high
windows under the caves look above the COW
cred '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 "padroncna"-the little mis-
tress-who trips shutdown with her water
ing-pot and passes from plant to plant. We
the exuberant vegetation Of an old neg
lected garden attached TO pa.ace In the square
b, yond; Its overgrown arbors tangled bushes. ana
crumblng ruins form a rich background OF color
for the chaste outlines OF the building In 'front.'
Here and there spire reaches up its slender
finger and Ions. unused and forgotten turrets jug
out from the high angles Of some Cd building.
Deep browns and reds and delicate grays blend
in soft tones. and the. tiled roofs are rich ana
mellow with age. Little balconies make queer
angles the profile OF the houses. and old chlm-
neys of every shape and height stand on the
pitched roofs without reference to order or sym
metry.
1t Is a pretty sight look up and down the long
street; black haired olive-sknned women lean on
the red cushions Of the wndow-siils and peno
their graceful necks they gaze azily down upon
the passers-by and dream away the hours In happy
insoucance. Slim figures glide to and FRO De-
hind 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 other aim in life but -
dream and breathe Yet IN reality they are In
dustrious and thrifty. They rise early In the
morning and Of work long before we open our
eyes: even II we set ajar the blinds at o'clock
AMI peer out upon the gray dawn. the opposite
windows are already thrown wide open, and our
neghbors moving quickly from room to roon'
attending TO their household cares. But after the
midday dinner. which is usually taken at u O'Clock,
and after the post-prandia sesta, the women
think themselves justified in enjoying lsfe after
their own fashion. They rarely go out for a 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 ex-
crtion. In their daily lives they Go not crave
privacy. but live in the open. as 1t were, regard
less OF many pairs Of eyes looking out from De-
low the opposite caves.
One OF our neighbors the street i5 a young
girl OF seventeen; she lives with her parents and
sisters on the third story cs a small house she
is fair and her tai. slender figure moves with the
grace of young doc her soft hair 10 comoed
back from her frank clear brow. and sweet.
childish. happy smile hovers about her mouth,
while q roguish look plays hide and seek In her
brown eyes. She sits AT the open window with
square OF lawn pinned on to her knee; her work.
basket 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
flown beyond the wndow-sill Ike the bird that
leaves It's nest below the and scars In mid
air singing as II spreads It's wings. And Feicta
sings a happy song. softly to herself. az her
thoughts spread their wings and hover through the
air 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 anx.ously for his
coming? A bright swift smile. loving motion
OF the hand. like the wave OF thrush's wing. .
silent greeting with tho eyes tell Us that she mas
seen him. Two minutes more and he Is at her
side The lovers cannot say much in words. tor
the girls mother Is In the room nut they sp, ,ha
eoGsnty with their ins eyes unansanh Soon the
mother caves the room ana the par are 'a' pi H
gold ring. and taking her hand gently IN his
PAGES II on her finger; the next moment MS arm
,Sav. lest any eyes save those o, the swallows
shall their first berotha Kiss ina. one e Is.
young lovers would have alone before the'r mar
on the story below Felicia 1--we a young couple
recently married, and keeping house for the nrst
whSn se It's d s oa ons the city,
this Arcadian pair sit at their exening sai ana
The The soo bTeSSes from rHf he airy perch
evening meal is with them an occasion Yi ste i
imst large enough for two. and spread the white
cloth; the plates and forks and glasses are SCI
gold The mask of white wine. with It's straw
covering is one end, and the oil end vinegar az
crisp' fresh lettuce ianked by loaf o. the dark
Italian bread. And now the happy pair sit D do%n
banauet: they dress the lettuce with exquisite
they pour out ,h Mine ab aMa o oIsIs the
sIumberlna street below: they look into ore an
others and ns G wc Gi hy nsS With so
much desht Is it, er al ALL s only w lfs Which
lives Ives a" sweet SAVIOR to these simple things?
In a square little way beyond US we, we can
4 NJ
washing the clothes which they nave Drought IN
roIs va Ser sleeves far above the elbow eav
ing their full muscular arms bare ana shey sway
scrub and beat the clothes and then Eft them up
at arms leRSth and swash them IN ana OUT.
chooses this fountain because the water Is soft and
warm II Is very old fountain; four sea-cre Great
gushcs up in long. thin jets and sweeps over to
the basin The gray stone has been 'a mat, our s
surface is notified with rough ind, nations green
weeay coating covers the bottom Oh the ph h anu
the water laps up over the shiny tais OF the hsnes
The night scenes. watched from our windows,
are the most effective on days Tess Ga, Tor shs
anniversary of some event OF national iiniortance'
una,on al nigh; is IKE scene b from abo a1y
fixtures with many litte scnllang lights N Line Inc
iancy: one would say that millions OF ilny stars
had fallen from above and were hoySring IN ma,
hT STsr Which, Viii have huns at n mast day
still wave from the house-tops. the paconies
x,ndow- stills stand lines OF bright lights. ike
strings OF burning drops outlining the frame
4 military funeral by torchlight Is full or solem-
nitv and grandeur. can remember one OF uii-
usual magnifcencc; the interment or a we'll
tnown general Every division OF the army was
represented in large numbers: the infantry N tnelr
main uniforms the quick. 1.-the "bersaglieTl a.ert
mi concentrated. their jaunty COCKS ieatners
blowing in the wind: the stawart geniarnes, SOBER
,ni solid the cavalry regiment in their gay &C,
'outrcments and the busnesslike sappers ana
miners Tramp. tramp, 'ramp-thousands OF
rnons moved slowly down the street 10 the solemn
inc OF the funeral march; the military bands were
,I,cel N short intervals In the procession ana me
,olf-veilei strains OF The distant buges mingled
Ike an echo with the fuller and more distinct tones
- - 80 i,,st beneath us The long lines of NOV
ms, torches now DYING down in the blowing OF the
Ind until the last spark almost seemed extn-
,ngry flare threw strange and ghosily light
,'nams from the shining sabres the brass helmets
md the cpaulc's when the genera had been i ;h
way 10 his last rest the troops returned WIN tne
trong quick step Of n victorious army, with pam
,ors flying and the bands all playing the inspiring
rains of the most popular airs Inc "ehetai 10
lead; long live the General. . 49,