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tressing situations, since the said owner transfers a considerable portion of his own cares to his shoulders. Such a person evidently belongs to the second class, that of poveri diavoli. Lastly, there are cavalieri, who, at the expense of the husband, are the friends and confidants of their mistresses, assist them in their adventures, arrange assignations, keep watch, deliver messages, adjust petty quarrels, and must of course be constantly on the alert: these must be referred to the third class, or the deplorable.

sex is for all that is good and fair; how easy it is for an intelligent man to improve a female, even though somewhat neglected by nature; and how ready women are to enrich them→ selves with the stores that we are capable of furnishing: it follows of course, that where the ladies are not rich in accomplishments, the intel lectual circumstances of the men must be at so very low an ebb, that no supplies can be spared on the one hand without incurring the risk of a disgraceful bankruptcy, and no accession of property can accrue on But to return to the bottega full the other. In every country thereof charming females. Here every fore where the minds of the men are one on whom nature has conferred deficient in cultivation, this circumthe blessing of sight, may doubly stance is the best excuse for the wo rejoice in the possession of that in- men, who, there in particular, stand estimable gift; but while he remains completely justified in our opinion there he may well dispense with the where the eyes are so amply indemservice of his ears, for there is not nified for the loss sustained by the much to be heard, at least not much ears, as in Italy. It is deeply to be that contains a particle of sense. It regretted, however, that this ocular pains me much to be obliged to ex-gratification should be greatly dipress myself thus concerning a coun-minished by a vile habit which the try which has produced females who have been invested with the degrees and titles of doctors and professors; but in spite of my pain, and in spite also of the she-doctors and she-professors of yore, little or nothing that savours of good sense is to be heard in a company of the most fascinating females in modern Italy. This is perfectly natural, and might be easily accounted for, and that to the advantage of the fair sex. The at-out and return it to the pompadour, tainments of the ladies invariably constitute the most accurate thermometer for those of the gentlemen; and if, in any country, the conversation of the former is deficient in sense, we cannot expect that of the latter to abound in that quality. Every one knows how susceptible the softer

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greater part of the fair sex in Italy has adopted. This is the abominable habit of taking snuff, to which they are passionately addicted: in no part of the world is it carried to such excess as in Italy. Young and old, beautiful and ugly-all take snuff. Every female of twenty car ries her box, or has it carried for her by her beast of burden, her ca valiere servente, who has to fetch it

likewise committed to his custody, ten times every quarter of an hour. Cavaliere, or contino, la tabacchiera! Such is the requisition incessantly issuing from her beautiful lips, and the ever-officious cavaliere opens the pompadour, takes out the box, and presents it with the utmost re

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spect; a delicate thumb and finger || patience of the cavaliere servente, are dipped into it, and we behold an who, in his despair, calls upon all the act which even the most fascinating saints in heaven*, is completely exwoman cannot perform with grace, hausted. And wherefore do they or in such a manner as at the mo- make this sacrifice? In order that, ment to appear amiable or an object next morning, that is, about two of desire to a person of the other o'clock in the afternoon, they may sex: for one would no more wish to be able to say, Yesterday I was kiss the loveliest lips in the vicinity one, two, three hours at the casino; of which such abominations are com- we had a deal of mirth, and were mitted, than the bristling beard of a highly entertained"--which assertion, nasty Capuchin. In Italy, however, as we have seen, is an evident violapeople think differently: there they tion of the eighth commandment. take snuff and kiss away. I was myself acquainted with an amiable young couple, who, animated by the purest emotions of love, had not only but one heart and one soul, but also only one snuff-box, to which both assiduously paid their devoirs; and every wow of love, every assurance of everlasting constancy, every embrace, was regularly sealed and seasoned by a mutual pinch. Tastes differ-that is all we can say for it.

For the ladies of Italy whom we have left in one of the botteghe already described, there is certainly this excuse to be made; that it would be scarcely possible to endure for so many hours the most oppressive en nui without occasionally rousing the mind by some stimulant or other. And yet the Italian fair, though they make a point of appearing as late as possible at the theatre, summon all their strength and perseverance to enable them to continue to the latest moment at the bottega, especially during the fiera or the carnival, In this particular too a no less creditable emulation subsists among ladies. There they sit as immoveable as if they were fixed to the spot by the spells of some wicked magician; they will not stir while a single pinch is left in the box, or till the

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Very early in the morning these botteghe are the theatres of most moving scenes. There you discover various figures holding a smoking cup of coffee in one hand, and in the other a glass of reeking water. This water reeks because it is hot, and this hot and reeking water, to which a little sugar is added, is swallowed by the above-said figures in long draughts, interrupted only by sighs. This beverage, called acqua caldo, is said to be highly conducive to health; and therefore the first cry of every son of Latium on entering the bottega is, Olà! bottega! acquá caldo! After finishing the glass of water, he sends after it the cup of coffee (which, to give the devil his due, is truly excellent); and then falls into a sort of stupor, during which the stomach has leisure to digest the liquids which it has received. Every body knows for what purpose warm water is drunk with us; but it agrees perfectly well with the Ita

* In Italy they worship only saints, and pray only to saints: about God Almighty they care no more than if no God existed: indeed it would be quite superfluous, since, as it is well known, Sán Antonio di Padova complies with the solicitations of those petitioners to whom the Almighty has refused to listen.

lians, which is more than I can say || occupied every evening by ten or

for myself, since a trial that I once made of it at the urgent importunity of my friends had well nigh cost me my life. By way of conclusion be it remarked, that the only difference between the casino and the bottega consists in this, that the ladies appear at the casino in the evening only, but at the bottega, if they have occasion, in the daytime also. The gentlemen frequent the casino at all hours of the day and night, and there seek recreation after the disagreeables they have gone through at the bottega.

While we are quitting the bottega and casino, to enjoy the pleasures of the corso, I must describe a droll scene which I once witnessed in a casino dei nobili. In a small town in the Lombardo-Venetian kingdom, there is but one bottega, which is

twelve illustrissimi and illustrissime, and is then inaccessible to every nonillustrissimo. Just at the hour of this solemn assembly, the baker of the place, a non-illustrissimo, took it into his head to want a cup of coffee, and as he durst not invade the sanctuary, he appeared at the window with his peel, which he popped in, and forwarding it to the bar of the caffettiere, situated at the farther end of the room, he loudly intimated his desire. The words impertinente, sfacciato, passed from mouth to mouth in the circle of the illustrissimi: the baker, however, took no notice of them, but gently drawing back his peel, freighted with the coffee, briskly emptied the cup, which he returned by the same conveyance.

(To be continued.)

RUSSIAN SUPERSTITION.

A RUSSIAN officer, who is still liv- || manded its tribute: wearied out with ing, not many years ago obtained the exercise of the day, the sportsleave of absence that he might pay man looked about for some place a visit to his father. During this vi- where he might take a nap, as he sit, he sometimes passed a few days could not very conveniently sleep on with a neighbour in the enjoyment of his horse, and a mizzling rain more. the pleasures of the chase. Not over threatened to wet him to the long before the expiration of his skin. A church, situated by the leave of absence, this neighbour sent || road-side, presented itself. The open him another invitation to a hunting- but covered porch was all that he party. His father expressed his dis- needed. Taking off his saddle and pleasure at being thus deprived of placing it for a pillow, he ordered the company of his son, and the lat- his servant to let the horses graze ter gave him a solemn promise that awhile. No sooner had he begun to he would return the same evening. taste the sweets of sleep than his ser The sport was prolonged till dusk; vant jogged him, and intimated that the friend of the officer strove to de- it was time to start. After repri tain him, but, like a dutiful son, he manding him for the disturbance, he set out for home agreeably to his again composed himself to slumber, promise. He was on horseback, and and again his attendant awoke him. attended by one servant. Night de- The master was angry, called him a

coward, and said he supposed he was frightened on account of the place. "By my faith," said the man, " 'tis no joking matter. Only look about you; see how the church is lighted up; and hear what a knocking and hammering is going forward in it."

The officer raised his head, and found that what his servant said was correct. Through a crack in the old door he perceived a coffin, and near it a figure dressed in white with dishevelled hair, making all sorts of motions. He seized his arms: the crazy door, incapable of resisting the force he applied to it, burst open, and he entered the church. The white figure had disappeared, but the coffin was still there. He hastened past it, took up one of the lights, and after a long search, discovered the figure cowering beneath the covering of the altar.

the morning, is invariably buried before sunset. In the government where this event occurred, the people had so much humanity as to deposit a corpse in the church for one night previously to interment. The female in question was engaged in procuring the teeth required for her mother from a body which had been brought thither the same evening. The sacristan, who was a relation of hers, had furnished her with the key of the church; and in order to deter passengers from approaching, and perhaps also to heighten her own courage, she had lighted up as many candles as she could find. She had already secured one tooth; and hammer and pincers lay near the corpse.

The servant, who had listened to all that passed, now came up, and recognised in the female the sister of his landlady. The circumstance being made known, the poor girl was severely punished. The officer, who proved on various occasions that he was not deficient in courage, acknowledged that the terrors of that night threw him into a violent fever.

This story is literally true; and si

He accosted it, but received no answer. He threatened to ascertain by means of his fire-arms, whether it was of human kind or a spirit. A female rose, fell at his feet, and implored him not to betray her, and she would confess what had brought her to that place at such a tine. Her mother, she said, was a cunning wo-milar ones, though perhaps not quite man, and possessed many superna- so terrific, may be heard every day tural arts and attainments. In short, in Russia. The people there believe she was one of those who are called that the cunning women, as they are witches, and who in that country are called, who only strive to do mischief not yet all burned and exterminated. by their arts, frequently assume the She added, that her mother was then shape of dogs. Hence the dog is lying dangerously ill, and was desir- no favourite with the lower classes. ous of communicating her know- So much the greater is their fondledge to her, but could not do it tillness for cats, which they feed to such she had procured three teeth extract- a degree, that you would scarcely ed from a dead person; and had ac- meet with animals of that species so cordingly sent her thither on that er- large and fat as in Russia. A garrand. It should be observed, that dener's wife at Petersburg assured in this part of Russia, especially in the writer, that her cat would push the country, people will not keep a away the saucer, if milk was put incorpse in the house a night if they to it for her instead of cream. can help it. A person who dies in

32

SIWALD AND HIS ELEVEN SONS: An Iceland Tale. **

forged many a good sword might not be left, as not worth picking up, at the door, he said to his son, "Thou oughtest by no means to despise the inheritance that I leave thee, though thou vauntingly callest thyself the Strong; for wert thou not mine own child, thou wouldst not be able to lift my hammer." Siwald angrily seized the hammer by the shaft, and gnashed his teeth as he raised it from the ground. "Know, Siwald," proceeded the old smith, observing his dissatisfaction, "that thine is a va

FAR away in the north there is a country called Iceland, because it is on all sides encompassed with ice. The men there are stout and robust, and their wives bear them sound and healthy children. In this country dwelt in ancient times a peasant, who was the most expert smith far and near, but at the same time extremely poor. His name was Gaumer the Strong; for none of his neighbours had such muscular limbs or such extraordinary bodily strength. At last, growing old and weary of life, and seeing his smithy, like himself, some-luable inheritance, so surely as Thor what the worse for wear, for when he in Trudvang has spoken a good word used the great hammer, the roof over my hammer. As long as thou threatened every moment to tumble carriest it, the gods will be with thee, over his head, he called his son Si- and vigorous as thou already art, thy wald, who, in defiance of his father, strength shall increase every day. assumed his surname of the Strong, But no sooner shalt thou part with it, and thus addressed him: "When than in vain shalt thou style thyself thou seest that mine eye is ready to the Strong; for thy strength shall break, let me lie still that I may die daily decrease, and then, I verily in peace; but when thou perceivest believe, that thou wilt be induced to. that my heart has ceased to throb, change thy gods." and that no life is left in me, then lift up my pillow, and take what thou shalt find; for it belongs to thee."

When Siwald heard this, he was confident that it must be gold, or something of great value to which his father alluded; and as he was not the most dutiful son, but, on the contrary, rude in his manners, he had no rest till he had possessed himself of what was deposited for him there. He found nothing, however, but a sledge hammer. Enraged at this disappointment, he threw it against the door with such violence, that the roof sunk still lower. The old smith was extremely vexed, and pronounced a curse on Siwald's posterity. That the hammer with which he had

Siwald then threw the hammer over his shoulder, and travelled many a long mile over ice and snow, and found his father's words confirmed; for when he had thus journeyed many days, the hammer felt as light in his hands as a knife. It chanced one day that he came to a smithy, where twelve grimy fellows were labouring at the anvil. Here he solicited employment, promising to do as much work as all the twelve, if the master would pay him the wages of twelve. But when he was going to give a specimen of his professional abilities, it appeared that he was too strong to use such a hammer; for he shattered the anvil to pieces like glass, and destroyed with one blow what the

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