99 

 CHAPTER VI. 



ITALIAN MANUFACTURES. 



SPARTERIE. LEGHORN HATS. MODE OF CULTIVATING AND PRE- 

 PARING THE STRAW. MANUFACTORY AT BENENDEN. PIETRA 



DURA. MEDICI CHAPEL. ROMAN MOSAIC. ROMAN PEARLS. 



ARGENTINE. LF,VITICAL PROHIBITIONS WITH REGARD TO FISH. 



JEWS IN ROME. CEREMONY OF THE RENEWAL OF THEIR PER- 

 MISSION TO REMAIN IN ROME. FINAL RESTORATION OF THE 

 JEWS. 



HENRIETTA. 



AUNT, will you have the kindness to tell me of what your 

 hat is made 1 ? I see that it is neither of straw nor willow. 



MRS. F. 



It is of the material usually called " Sparterie," a term 

 which originated in its being first made of the grass called 

 Lygeum Spartum; but now, I believe, that many other sub- 

 stances are employed. Mine is made of the poplar, which is 

 cut into very thin slices for that purpose. 



What is the reason, mamma, that Dunstable straw is con- 

 sidered so superior to any other! 



MRS. F. 



, This superiority is generally attributed to the straw being 

 grown upon a chalky soil, which makes it finer in color and 

 more pliant than that which is grown upon clay or sand; but, 

 independent of the superior fineness of the Italian straw, the 

 British manufacturer will never be able to compete with the 

 foreign, in consequence of the cheapness of labor upon the 



