New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-25

iieAAA~DSO-~
the famous towns OF Europe which we know IN
English Miss Noyes has contributed a particu-
IarIy good volume. Her success in writing or
Ferrara is due to the fact that she has fallen IN
love with that 'ctta di sienziO" whose charm
subjects the traveller to notable test There
are other places in Italy, such as PeruGia, which
even the least imaginative of men could not out
recognize at places of enchantInehI
The secret of Ferrara is not 50 easily appre-
hended One must carry to the town special
constituencies to the associations of history and
to the kind of picturesqueness which does not
lie on the surface. There are fOrbiddins ele-
ments in its lovely physiognoHy. Looked at In
the wrong light or with imperfect sympathies'
they loom too large. Miss NOyes has seen Fer
lara in gray weather. when il is undenlaFy
bleak but she has it also in May. the
month of all others" for the town. when as she
says nothing could be more delicious than the
atmosphere-clear radiant. Iimpid. sweet with the
odor of roses and loud with the song of nightin-
gales This atmosphere has inspired her. and
Der pages accordingly full of life and OF ap-
probation.
Though Miss Noyes has not the scholarship
disclosed by Mr.. Gardner in his recent Dukes
and Poets in Ferrara." she shares the feeling
held by the author of that delightful book for
the human interest in the annals of the town
She has done much careful reading. and her
nine chapters setting forth the rise and deca~
dence of Ferrara form vivid panorama OF
Italian life. The historical narrative is enriched
with many clever sketches of memorable fig
ures and here and there a passage takes us
into the heart of old Italian society. Witness
this glimpse of the i'll fated Parisina, daughter
Of Andrea Malatesta and wife of Niccolo Of Fer
rara:
Madonna Parisina entered her home in an III
omened hour. received almost in silence by peo.
pie mourning the ravages Of two dreadful years OF
gentle creature, fun of interest in life. With the
i % Iar ee family and governed MS bousehoId
with most exemplary discretion passing her HE IN
whom she ruled virtuousiy and trained in all house
wifely knowledge and skill at the fitting time hnd-
with fifty ducats and a well hlled marriage chest
rfo th Prnee t 10 sT nf fb ffenth e3ry and was
| fort. and even Of mere decency. underlay the ap-
time Throughout his reign Nccolo was strait
ened for money MS fatheTs @ ana the
| and even later the famous magnihcence of the
show PaTisnas Closets were Crowded with gor-
| geous garments. stif with gold and lined with
vessels worked by the most excellent craftsmen,
lay piled upon the shelves, only to be brought
forth by special festvity, when the chambers
Maud be and hastily {b S Seg great Would y
| aside her ordinary gown of hOmespun such as her
| himself was never seen except in splendid array,
but the young PRINCES r and W1t S1dg
4
for a tunic for him. since he had but his
green one, which he every day. and MeliadUSe-
/ sent by his father to PadCa some occasion.
| to ask for four yards of cloth. that he
covered with rich stuff. but the mattresses OF
straw the cOverletS in rags and the pillows gnawed
| by rats. Their numerous attendants Stiu
Off. PariSina had to order cloth to be given
| to Meliaduse's tutor. that he might make himself
a veStUre. pair of hose and hood. since he was.
| so to speak naked. and it not for the honor
| OF the marquis that his sons companion should
| about in such plight. The pages chiftren OF
noble birth sent to be trained in cOurtly exercises
| in this famous home of chvalry, all slept hUddled
and doublets. embroidered with the white eagle Of
| Este, were often ragged
| There we have the very essence Of the civil
zation Of Ferrara an affair Of rude simplicity
| and courtly spendor. The story OF the town
] brims with culture and with crime The
| princes of the house of Este were types of the
most perfect aesthetic taste and the profoundest
| corruption They pass in interesting review
| through the pages of this volume. Miss Noyes
| tells US who they were, what they were like. and
what they did, and adds instructive chapters on
| the marvels Of art and architecture they caused
to be created for their greater glory She handles
her facts in the right way. Throughout she is
| not only useful to the traveller but entertaining
| to the stay-at-hOme. Her sisters pen drawings
! are we'll executed. and in addition TO a group
| OF half tones from Ferrarese paintings there Is
| a frOntispiece in phOtogrGvure from the Saint
Jerome of Cosimo Tura- one of the most nota-