Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. II.djvu/89

Rh pressed upon, or pushed about, or otherwise annoyed, at least not by the Italian people. They conduct themselves with good-humor, kindness, and even with the utmost delicacy towards well-dressed persons arid children. It is a part of what they call educazione, and of which it is to be wished that our northern people had somewhat more.

December 10th.—Soirée at Count Colloredo's, in company with princes and princesses, French, Spanish, and Italian. Amusing enough for once! I was most pleased with the hostess, a lady who appears good, clever and decided, a lady of the great world, and, as it seemed to me, of character also. It was a great joy to me to see the young Princess G——, the daughter of Queen Maria Christina, by the second marriage. Without being precisely handsome, she has a very pleasant appearance and agreeable manners. The wreath of flowers, with long, depending sea-grass, which she wore, was very becoming to her head, and somewhat long, but very graceful neck. The young prince, her husband, is also handsome, in the southern style. The Princess P——, not handsome, but very amiable, and belonging to the most refined fashionable world, was an actual air-balloon of gold, silk and black lace. A couple of Italian counts or princes, were mentioned to me as men of great erudition, and especially interesting in conversation. The names have escaped me, and of their interesting conversation, which their appearance led me to believe in, I heard nothing. The subjects on which the company in general—which this evening was not large—conversed, were merely trifles and private occurrences;