New-York tribune., 1903-03-21
IN ITALY.
Sketches of People and Things t"
-. the Peninsula.


THE LAND OF THE LATINs- By sht Ashton t.Iss6 Rol,
Co.
Mr.. willard gives US In this book genial essays
on life in Rome and other parts Of Italy. Some
Of the chapters are descriptive sketches. as Is
the one on 1.-The Vatican" Here we nave the
picture Of Papal function and the crowd ehat
waited at the foot of the scala Tegta to push
themselves into the conhning chamber where
the Pontin finally appeared In state and voucn-
safed an apostolic benediction to group OF
sailors from visiting warship who adoeo Cnree
cheers and tiger to the "vivas" OF the as
sembIage. Other papers descend trine In the
scale toward perfunctory exposition. as the
chspter on "Bookshops" which Ia a series OF
brief sketches Of the popular authors Of the day.
The marked Lack OF the advertising spirit III the
bookseIlkng business is attested by the author
experience In trying to procure photograph OF
a well known author.
A full wear after Giovanni verga had mounted
TO what might reasonably be called the heights
of celebrity, as the author OF "CaValler1a HusII-
cana" applied for his photograph In the SHOP
Of leading dealer in Milan, ana was !nioEnIeo
by the person in charge that the individual was
unknown to her. On my urging her sne retlreo
into some inner sanctuary OF the estapnshmehI
where information on such Tecondite matters
was to be had, If anywhere, and on returning
produced photograph OF Dr. Verga, physi-
clan and medical writer Ia whom 1 was WnoIy
uninterested. Giovanni Verga was at that time
living in Milan, not ten minutes walk from tne
photographer who declined to be aware OF MS
existence. Since then it is due to him to say s1,
that his photograph has become reasonably
familiar: and that-away from Milan at least
it is not difficult to obtain
Single poems Of no great length may yet be
put on sale in Italy. Such poems appear from
time to time in the windows Of the shops,
printed in big letters on large white pages
though there may be no more than ten pages IN
all. The country houses Of the Italians soWe
much to a heritage from the past in impressive
villas but show examples as well Of noteworthy
work in the present day. The residence OF an
artist near Perugia is described as an instance
Of successful adaptation Of medieval forms to
The needs Of a modern house and studio. Where
a house stands on slope the matter OF terraces
has so important bearing that it would some
times seem that the house was built for the ter
races and not the terraces for the house. A
villa not far from Rome, near viterbo. is de-
scribed as being, in its mass. quite broken into
two detached cubes in order not to interfere
with the symmetry Of the waterworks!
down on the lower level. toward the entrance,
one observed a peculiar effect Of water compost
ton. suggesting an inundated garden In the
centre rose high circular basin with Jet or
water in the middle. surrounded by carved fig
ures and surmounted by g. sort Of canopy. Ana
below this circular basin the central space Of the
garden was converted into large tank filled
brim full of an Opaque and rather yellow dutd,
entirely shutting of the approach to the middle
Jet, except by narrow balustraded causeWays.
The waterworks in the front of the villa
were arranged with reference to broad levels
and rejecting surfaces but on the higher land
behind everything was disposed with a view to
more sparkling and vivacious effects. From an
upper terrace a stairway descended in double
flight, and a broad basin, laid out in a fan
on one side to the base Of the other. Above this
lower basin were smaller ones Of the same form,
dWinding to a mere cup at the top. The whole
composition was literally supplied with water.
It gushed out everywhere. Even the parapet Of
the stairs was converted into open conduit,
and the vases, placed at intervals along it. were
Utilized as cups for Jets.
When Queen Margherita was established in
he Palazzo Piombino an amusing little incident
ent color to a characteristic italian scene which
We find set forth in the chapter royal homes.
The populace displaying its happiness in the
birth OF the Princess Jolanda by marching in
body to the palace and making demonstration
Of loyal enthusiasm. The Queen is held In an
abiding affection by the people. and the move
nent was spontaneous
The cries Of the crowd brought her to the bal
cony which opens from the great room just
over the entrance, and gave the multitude the
of looking at face very familiar to
Inern Wnlcn at rndI moment could smile despite
the heavy drapertes Of black which covered her
figure. A touch of the human nature which
makes the whole world kin injected into
this little moment Of solemn festivity by the
sudden appearance of the Queens pet cat on the
balustrade. This enormous creature, fed on
royal cream and coated with royal fur, had fol-
lowed its mistress out through the glass door
onto the balcony, and had wished to satisfy its
curiosity as to what would be visible from the
railing. The Queen, far from resenting the
creatures familiar intrusion stroked his soft fur
and smiled, and the crowd below broke out into
fresh plaudits Of amused admiration. which con-
tinued until the animal and its mistress with
drew.
Of the theatres of Italy the author notes that
productions cannot be made with the sumptu-
BUSINESS OF setting common in England and
America. The arrangement of the auditorium
into boxes wastes space and cuts down the box
office receipts. and the prices are low. Add to
this that the cities are small and long runs out
Of the question. and one can realize that rent
and salaries alone become something of a tax on
the manager. An incident of Ristori's tour in
Chilli, which the author believes has not been
published, was her successful intercession for a
prisoner condemned to death for killing his wife.
The Chilians seemed to think Ristori almost
superhuman, and made curious demands upon
her. None exceeded the appeal from this man
that she would obtain him a pardon. She
visited his cell and heard his story, which, in its
confession Of swift jealousy and ungovernable
anger, put her greatly in mind Of Othello.
Ristori was convinced Of the mans sincere re-
gret at his deed. and actually made an appeal in
person to the proper authority, the president of
the council, who heard her respectfully and
promised to look into tfHe The mans SEN
tence was commuted to Imprisonment for term
Of years.
The book Is illustrated from portraits Of the
royal family and several photographs, outdoors
and in. taken by the author.
A TIP ON TIPS.