North Italian Folk: Sketches of Town and Country Life

								

rather than photographs taken on the spot. And so, if anyone should
discover aught that is inaccurate towards the present, let him go back
a space upon the steps of time and live away fifteen years beside the
country housekeeper or la Pettinatrice, in the Signor Prevosto’s
company or with the village sempstress. For to these will I go for a
verdict, and to these—not my readers, because they will not read what
I have written, but my staunch supporters always—to the people of the
Riviera and the Apennines I now dedicate ‘North Italian Folk.’



                                                          ALICE CARR.

CONTENTS

  Part One.
ON THE RIVIERA.



                                                             PAGE
GENOA                                                         3
MARTEDÌ GRASSO (Shrove Tuesday)                             9
LA FIORAJA (The Flower Girl)                               20
LA FESTA DELLE PALME                                         28
HOLY WEEK AND EASTER FEASTS (I Sepolcri)                   39
LA FANTESCA (The Servant Wench)                            46
IL NEGOZIANTE (The Shopman)                                57
LA PETTINATRICE (The Hairdresser)                          67
FISHER-FOLK                                                  77
SANTA MARGHERITA                                             87
THE LACE WEAVER                                              97
IL MANENTE (The Husbandman)                               106
LA DONNA DI CASA (The Country Housekeeper)                116
BATHING TIME                                                125


Part Two.
IN THE APENNINES.

                                                             PAGE
THE MOUNTAINS                                               137
AT THE CHESTNUT HARVEST                                     156
UNDER THE CHERRY TREES (The Bridal)                       165
THE PARISH PRIEST                                           175
THE PRIEST’S SERVING MAID                                   185
IL SIGNOR CAPPELLANO                                        191
SWEEPING THE CHURCH                                         200
THE VILLAGE SEMPSTRESS                                      208
THE VILLAGE DAMSEL                                          217
THE VILLAGE SWAIN                                           231
THE LOVE-LETTER                                             240
LA CRESIMA (The Confirmation Day)                         252
IN VILLEGGIATURA (Town Folk in the Country)               263


Conclusion.


IL CORPUS DOMINI (The Procession)                         275

FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS.

  VIEW OF GENOA, FROM THE TERRACE OF THE ACQUASOLA     Frontispiece
THE FLOWER GIRL                           To face p._       24
THE LACE WEAVER                                „             98