The New York herald., 1922-03-26


first time since the war Roman
society has come from behind
gloomy palace walls. In round of
gay festivities the Romans brushed
aside memories of war, of hard times
and of the ups and downs of the Ira,
Rome is conspicuous as one of the last
capitals on the Continent where the
ceremonies and brilliant pageantry OF
other days still exist and still enjoy
much of their old popularity.
The court set the example during
the holiday season preceding Lent by
giving teas and other social events.
Then there is an Italian nobility still
able to maintain it's traditional pomp.
Many Italian noble families, 1t is true.
live now in straitened circumstances.
but they spend their evenings light
heartedly during the festive season,
celebrating in the hotels when they
could no longer afford to do SO at
home.
Then there are new diplomatic ar
rivals at Rome, notably the American
Ambassador, Mr.. Washburn Child
Italo-American families did much en-
tertaining during the carnival weeks.
Among them are the American born
hostesses Marquise Dusmet, Princess
San-Faustino, Princess Boncampagn
and Duchess Elsie Torlonia. The per-
mament American colony in Rome now
numbers only some 500, where there
were 5000 before the war. but the num-
ber of transient Americans is again re-
sumlng peace time proportions. The
British colony also has kept open house
during the festive season.
Carnival Month in Old Days.
Carnival month in the old days meant
weeks of public festivities. The Corso
Umbcrto Primo was packed night and
day with rollicking. boisterous crowds.
The streets, especially on Mardi Gras,
were whirI OF variegated color--men.
woman and children in fantastic cos
tunes. Streamers fluttered from the
telegraph wires and showers Of con-
fetti upset the stiffness of any sedate
passersby. Stiff hats are an irresistible
temptation to the hilarious crowds on
such nights.
People began celebrating this year a
month before Mardi Gras, but parades
and costumes were not permitted on the
streets. The merrymakers. however
found sweet revenge by delugfng the
streets with tons OF confetti and throw
ing paper spirals over telegraph wires
until they looked like macaroni drying
in the sun. They did not celebrate less
but simply transferred part of their
ftinmaking into halls where before they
had frolcl1ed on the streets. The writer
attended several dances, among others
the Artists ball the aSturday before
Mardi Gras, the Rome replica of the
Quartz Arts. Here the aim was less
nd vie nc in ttD
Paris function than to reproduce the
atmosphere of the happy Etruscan life
OF century ago. An old wayside inn
and Punch and Judy show were built
inside the club hall for local color. The
members formed an impromptu troupe
of strolling players. They rehearsed old
melodies of the period on weird musical
Instruments for weeks ahead.
Dancing is nine-tenths of the Roman
social life to-day. 1t has become the
rage OF young and old Three times
more persons fill the halls than they
comfortably hold. At the Artists Ball
couples could hardly move about the
floor, such was the crush. But every
one was animated and happy. old
friends shouted greetings back and forth
across the hall, and laughter drowned
out the sound of the music. These
gigantic Roman social events to-day are
parties OF romping children. The mcrri-
ment Is of the same simple. spontaneous
sort, people laugh for the joy of laugh
ing. During the carnival period fun
making crowds overflowed tho halls
into the streets, thus the night life these
last weeks has had much the same pic
turcsque. festive glamour as Of old.
Change I'm Roman Social Life.
The most conspicuous change in Rome
social life to-day as compared with be-
fore the war. is that the center has
shifted from the palace salon TO the
palatiaI ballroom of some large modern
hotel. The Princess formerly invited
fifty or hundred friends to a ball or
reception at home. in strict intimacy, as
the expression was. Bepowdered and
liveried buffers stepped quietly and dis
creetly about with refreshments, and
stood In dignified silence about the hall.
Guests reduced their movements to a
graceful gesture of the hand now and
then. They reclined languidly on the
italian replica OF Md-Victorian settees
the affectation of the day-and often
spent an entire evening in some tete-a-
tete In one corner. Etiquette then de-
fined every word and gesture.
Now all this has changed. Jazz"
has been put into Italian social life
Instead of so. Roman hostess to-
day will invite 500 guests and hold her
ball in large hotel. Guests remain
"a p'edi." standing up, as the Italians
say, and constantly on the move. A
hostess fits about the room graciously
chatting with all her guests. Visitors
themselves spend the evening saying a
few words to great many people.
rather than engaging in long. dignifed
conversations with a very few. They
now know the meaning of cafeteria as
Americans use IL and serve themselves
at richly laden buffets. The bepowdered
lackeys with large silver platters have
disappeared.
Entire evenings are spent in dancing,
the main attraction at any social event
now Young and old In Italy dance
and in general dance better than else
where on the Continent. Tho newest
dances appear in Rome at the same
time that they do In London. Paris and
New York. with OF course the fox trot
and the one step as the standbys
italian women have more love Of color
in dress than do the women OF other
continental capitals. A daring yellow
or vermilion is therefore much less
daring in Rome than Il would DO else
whore. Paris. here as elsewhere, con-
tinues to dictate modes But the train
service for styles from France to Italy
is not rapid. While New York society
ia content to wear short skirts at least
three months after they have ceased
to be the made in Paris, the Roman
monde will not feel the need of a change
kax a year yet.