Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. I.djvu/196

212 these great questions of human improvement amongst all nations, and the greater enlightenment and more perfectly organized activity which it must lead to, especially if, as Mr. Duepetiaux asserts, they will be of more frequent occurrence in different parts of Europe. And when, conformably with the resolution of this Congress, committees shall be established in all countries, the object of which will be these especial topics, and which will keep up a constant interchange of communication upon them from land to land, then, surely, popular progress in the right direction will be easy and sure.

In this Congress of representatives from so many various peoples, there was no lack of distinguished individuals, who represented nations as well as ideas. Englishmen, Frenchmen, Germans, Dutch and Brazilians, were in this respect interesting. The most remarkable for his beautiful individuality, was the Italian, Count Arrivabene, member of the Council of the Congress, and whose influence was especially valuable in the proceedings of the Congress. For this assembly, of about three hundred persons, was very vivacious; and conflicting opinions, misunderstandings, fermentations, and outbreaks, occurred not unfrequently, which the fatherly interference of the worthy president could not always pacify. On such occasions the Italian nobleman, whose dark eye shone brightly beneath locks growing gray, and whose furrowed cheek still preserved the glad glow of youth, stepped forth with peculiar delicacy and tact, and proposed a word, or some middle course in which the opponents could unite, or else gave some explanation which