Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-05
SHOPS OF OlO FLORENCE
QUAINT OLD STORES ALLURIN0
TO THE TOURIST.
Everything in Florence Is in Arts
tic or Classic Form-Fas-
cinating Crafts.
Letter From Florence 70 yoSu.

Letter From Florence 10 Vogue
The shops OF Florence are wonderful,
enticing and numerous. They glitter Their
gold and silver toys in the open fronts
of the little shops. established in tie
time OF Cosmos |. that are set pic
turesauely on either side OF the Point.
Necchio. OF all the wonders OF this won
derful old city of Tuscany. this old bridge
is the most provocative OF thoughts Of
the past with its glories. its cruel wars.
Its deeds of blood and Of romance. Stand
ing in the loggia its three central arches
frame the landscape like pictures. The
sunset sky is wonderful. You see the
river winding sluggishly, now green, now
yellow and the tall. stately buildings
bordering the Arno, their graceful arch
es and colonnades rising from the water
as in Nenice-and beyond are the green
hills Of Vallombrosa. The shops on the
old bridge are set close together, and the
sidewalk is so narrow YOU must oontinu-
ally take to the street TO make progress.
only TO spring nimbly back again TO es-
cape being crushed under the wheels o.
passing omnibus.
A Medley of Human Beings.
But though the bridge is a medley OF
human beings. seemingly inextrtcably
mixed with vehicles Of all descriptions.
no one ever is crushed, nor In any vsy
damaged. You walk in the narrow street
or stray carelessly across 1t, and escape
harm, for the movements OF all are as
leisurely as your own. Precious and semi
precious stones of every size. shape and
color are displayed in the little windows
of the shops with draping chains OF gold
and silver, and pink. white and req
corals. Crossing the bridge TO turn INTO
the Borgo ST. Jacopo your ears Are oeal
ened by the sound Of hammers by wnich
of shining brass and copper. THIS nt'ie
dark street is lined with fascinating
shops The windows are full OF antique
treasures Old church lamps In silver.
bronze and brass hang on hooks above
the open doors: they sway toward YOU.
inyitingly There are old Candlestlcks.
and Italian three wicked lamps like those
in use now, where gas or electricity IS
not There are shops OF wood carNers
where YOU may take lessons In this An
cient art. If it pleases you. They VIII
reproduce faithfully old designs. or your
own, and carve for you. at ridiculous
ly small sum, little wooden or gold pic
ture frames of dimensions to suit your
demand
There are bookbinders who, for sms.l
sums. will bind your favorite books IN
lovely. precious. Florentine Veiium parch
ment or leather with beautiful gold ana
colored traceries. You may nave ,ns
binding of ancient. parchment-bound
books copied, with the quaint little parch-
ment strings to tie the leaves together.
Everything Is Artistic.
Everything in Florence is In artistic or
classic FORM At the little lattaio. where
I buy cream for my afternoon tea, II -
given me In a little glass bottle shaped
like an antique vase. On the Via Magic
there is a marvellous little shop no larger
than a good sized room: II Is literally
crammed with fascinating small Things
Old silver lamps vessels. teapotS and
vases Handmade metal things, al
charming and desirable. and not dear, are
too numerous to mention. There -
ANTIQUE jewelry In earrings. bracelets ana
belt clasps I saw earrings set with
curious dull green stone that could ne
divided into three balls-sliRhtly oval IN
shape-they would make charming bps to
cravat ends or to those Of bow. 1hera
are old rings set with huge seone0 In .
curious metal. neither gold nor silver; ana
canoes are so plentiful and % cheap that
one could easily pick UP enough to mako
a necklace or a tiara at q wonderfully
small sum. There are modern canoes.
too but II does not need connoisseur to
show the difference. The modern ones
are sharp and crude, beside the softened
outlines and mellow tones OF the old ones.
In this shop I saw fascinating old para
soils with gold tipped ribs and carved
ivory handles in the small round form
that the high born dame OF old carried In
her drives. and which are also In vogue
today The brocaded coverings are rich
in texture. color and design. but. alas. SO
tender from age that they crack anew ut
a touch. But the frames are still in per-
feet order