260 SNOW SELLERS OF ITALY. 



do the piercing winds howl above; they cannot penetrate that mantle 

 with which God has clothed the face of nature ! 



Some overwise people are in the habit of sprinkling salt upon snow 

 before their doors; they could not do a more silly or injurious thing. 

 The result is to change dry snow or ice at thirty-two degrees to brine 

 at no degree. 



SNOW SELLERS OF ITALY. 



Snow is an article of absolute necessity in Italy, particulary in Sicily 

 and at Naples ; to supply the latter, one of the largest capitals of Europe, 

 which has a population of four hundred thousand souls, all snow 

 consumers, a very extensive mountain range is put in requisition. 

 From the Apennines, and from all the nearer branches of those moun- 

 tains, Snow during the summer months is constantly being brought 

 into the city by land and by sea, and the quantity is immense. Hun- 

 dreds of men and boys are employed exclusively on this business. 



The chief supply for the city of Naples comes from Monte St. Angelo, 

 the loftiest point of the bold promontory that separates the Bay of 

 Naples from the Bay of Salerno, and is situate about twelve miles from 

 the former; it is brought in row boats by night to Naples, and is there 

 received by a number offacelimi or porters, regularly appointed to that 

 service. These porters deposit their loads in the snow custom house, a 

 building called " La Dogana della neve." To this general depot, the 

 retail dealers come to furnish themselves from all parts of the town, for 

 there is scarcely a street in Naples, however miserable, but has its snow 

 shop. Indeed, there is an old law by which these shops are never 

 allowed to be shut in hot weather, by night or by day, and if the owner 

 absents himself he must leave some one in his shop, ready to serve the 

 snow should it be called for. The snow trade of Naples is a government 

 monopoly, and produces a considerable revenue. Of the mountains of 

 snow brought daily into Naples, some finds its way to private families, who 

 use it at their meals, some to coffee houses and sorbettieri, where it is used 

 in sherbet, lemonade, &c. ; but the principal part supplies the inferior 

 venders ofgelati and the acquaioli, or water sellers, who cool with it the 

 plain beverage they sell to passengers at the corner of almost every 

 street. In domestic use, snow not merely does its duty in the wine 

 cooler, but is served up at table in an open vessel, out of which each 

 person helps himself to a piece as he prepares to drink his wine. That 



