Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-30
WONDERFUL CITY
EVER ATTRACTIVE
Visitors in Rome Regret the
Coming of the Day of
Departure.
CITY ETERNAL is UNLIKE
ANY OTHER IN THE WORLD
Difficulties Experienced by the
Shopper Who Is Unfamiliar With
the Italian Language.

Stan Correspondence Of The Star.
ROME. May 11.-Rome, the Eternal
exerts a potent influence upon the Wis
itor. a seductive lure. The counted days
Of a limited stay fly with distressing ra-
pidity and long perspectives Of unseen
sights stretch out in all directions
when the time comes to leave. One feels
tempted to cut loose from all ties and re-
main. but, of course, one resists the
temptation. And so we are leaving
Rome today for Naples
1t Is difficult to analyze this feeling of
deep regret experienced when the time
comes to bid adieu to this wonderful
city 1t is billy and hot dusty and chill
ly. dirty and noisy. But all these factors
are as nothing in comparison with the
historical and artistic and religious at
mosphere the visitor breathes from the
moment of his arrival which makes
Rome different from anything else in
the world.
If the tourist who can speak no Ital-
ian save graz.a." and bon giorno,"
'permesso" and ''guanto" and can under
stand only about one-half of one per cent
of what he hears feels so fond of Rome
how much more attractive must be the
CITY 10 one VINO can enter into the
thoughts and lives of the people through
acquaintance with their language 1t
has been matter of deep regret since
entering Italy that l have allowed the
years to pass without acquiring at least
a smattering of this liquid expressive
tongue.
Oi course. one can get along without
ita!ian, by sheer force of dependence
upon the intelligence of the people. And
Notwithstanding Italians are numerous;
IN the shops are many of Them the cab
ur1N eIS nave usually a few words and
all hotels are equipped with linguists
who can solve the difficulties of English,
American. French. German, Spanish and
even Russian visitors. And when the
pinch comes one can travel with a vest
pocket dictionary, which will furnish in
almost any situation the cue word to
serve as an open sesame to the Italian
understanding, whit gesturing comes
quickly as means Of conveying a mes
sage or asking a question.
Romans Well Worth Studying.
But it is one thing to manage the
practical business of touring, and quite
another to get into relationship with the
people. The Romans are well worth
studying and 1t is evident that the lack
of their language deprives the visitor of
d wealth. OF entertainment ana 1nIOr-
nation.
Italian is a great disadvantage to the
tourist. That is in the matter of shop
ping. To go into a store and ask for
the interpreter Is almost an invitation
to be charged extra prices. OF course.
where the rates are flxed-''prezzi FISH
and marked plainly on the goods there
Is no such risk. But in. other cases the
rates rise rapidly upon the sound of an
English-speaking voice asking for trans
lation.
There is one place in Rome where the
non-Italian-speaking buyer is in a way
safeguarded by his ignorance of the ma
tive tongue. That Is at the rag fair"
della Chancelleria and adjacent street
and spaces. Here once a week the traf-
fckers in cloths. clothing. laces. rags
and remnants Of all kinds assemble. put
up their booths in the early morning.
and all day do lively and vociferous
trade They are neighbored by dealers
in jewelry and junk of every description,
while on another side are the permanent
ly stationed open-air vendors of flowers.
fruit. vegetables and fish, clustered
around the statue of Giordano Bruno.
burned here as hereto, February II.
1900
You pass through the crowded way be-
tween the booths and noticing an attrac-
tive bit of neutrality-suspicious. 1t is a
discarded priests cope-pause and ask the
price. Quickly comes the answer. Sew,
enty-five Ira" perhaps in fairly good
English. but more commonly in Italian.
If you do not understand the Italian
numerals-and they are most difficult to
motion for the dealer to
write the price on a bit of paper. Then
realizing that 1t Is too high. you move
away. Instantly You are arrested by a
OBTAINING hand, the fabric is held before