Romantic Corsica, wanderings in Napoleon's isle; . Corsicans compared with the Italians and theSpaniards do not present quite that picturesque appear-ance which we naturally associate with Southern peasant and the labourer are generally garbed incorduroy, with slouch hats and red sashes. The men inthe towns wear black clothes, generally clumsy and ill-fitting. Amongst the women folks, too, there is a strangeabsence of colour, due to a large extent to the long periodof mourning which follows the death of a relative. Fiveyears is generally the length of time, but in the case ofa very
Romantic Corsica, wanderings in Napoleon's isle; . Corsicans compared with the Italians and theSpaniards do not present quite that picturesque appear-ance which we naturally associate with Southern peasant and the labourer are generally garbed incorduroy, with slouch hats and red sashes. The men inthe towns wear black clothes, generally clumsy and ill-fitting. Amongst the women folks, too, there is a strangeabsence of colour, due to a large extent to the long periodof mourning which follows the death of a relative. Fiveyears is generally the length of time, but in the case ofa very near and dear relation the period is mostly pro-longed. A second bereavement often causes the Corsicanwoman to renounce colours altogether. The youngpeasant girls, however, are exceedingly fond of pleases them more than a gay coloured scarf towear over their heads, mantilla-like. The variety ofshades, too, which they contrive to combine in one dressis often positively alarming. In the towns that inimitable French savoir faire in the. THREE GENERATIONS : A TYPICAL CORSICAN HOUSEHOLD. To face p. 299-] THE CORSIOAN AT HOME 299 matter of dress is visible to a prominent degree. Theyoung ladies of Ajaccio and Bastia, and to a lesser extentof Cort6 and Calvi, present a dainty appearance whichalmost suggests that they have stepped round the cornerfrom the Rue Royale. Young men about town preferto ape English fashions, and do it badly. Hard feltand straw hats are in great favour, and the chapelleriesanglaises nourish like green bay-trees. Any other articleof dress to which the description English can evenonly remotely be applied is certain to have a ready sale. The Corsican, rich or poor, is a believer in scrupulouscleanliness. No matter in what lost little village thetraveller finds himself, no matter how poor and mean thelittle inn may look, he may rest assured that his mealswill be well served, his bed leave nothing to be meals and a good bed ! What more do
Size: 1336px × 1870px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookpublisherlondonetctfunwin
