Show QUAINT OLD PLACES ALLURING TO THE TOURIST everything in city Is in artistic OB classic form what you find and how you may purchase tese fascinating crafts rome the shops of florence are wonderful enticing and numerous nume roua they glitter their gold and silver toys in the onen fronts 0 the little shops established in the time of cosmos first that are set picturesquely on either side of the ponte vecchio ot all the wonders of this wonderful old city of tuscany this old bridge is the moat provocative of thoughts dt the past with its glories its cruel wars its deeds of blood and of romance stand ing in the loggia its three central arches frame the landscape like pic tures the sunset sky Is wonderful you see the river winding sluggishly now green yellow and the tall stately buildings bordering the arno their graceful arches and colonnades rising from the water as in venice and beyond are the green bills of val lambrosa lom brosa the shops tin the old bridge are set close together and the side walk Is so narrow you must continual ly take to the street to make progress only to spring nimbly back again to escape being crushed under the wheels of a passing omnibus but though the bridge la a medley of human beings seemingly inextricably mixed with vehicles of af alons no one ever Is crushed nor in any way damaged you walk in the narrow street or stray carelessly across it and escape harm tor the movements of all are as leisurely your own precious and semi precious stones of every size shape and color are displayed in the little windows of the shops with draping chains of gold and silver and pink white and red corals crossing the bridge to turn into the borgo st jacopo your ears are deafened by the sound of hammers by which men weld into form pots dishes and jars of shining brass and copper this little dark street Is lined with fascinating shops the windows old bridge at florence are full of antique treasures old church lamps la silver bronze and brass hang on hooks above the open doors they gavay towards you inott angly there are old candlesticks and italian three wicked lamps like choso in use now where gas ar electricity is not there are shops of wood carvers where you may take lessons in this ancient art it it pleases you everything in florence Is in artistic or classic form at the little battalo where I 1 buy cream for my afternoon tea it Is given me in a little glass bottle shaped like an antique vase on the via maggio there Is a marvelous little shop no larger than a good sized room it is literally crammed ath fas cina ting small things old silver lamps vessels teapots and vases hand made metal things all charming and desirable and not dear are too numerous to mention there Is antique jewelry in earrings bracelets and belt clasps I 1 saw earrings set with a curl ous dull green stone that could be dl vided into three balls slightly oval in shape they would make charming tips to cravat ends or to those of a bow there are old rings set with huge stones in a curious metal neither gold nor silver and cameos are so plentiful and so cheap that one could easily pick up enough to make a neck lace or a tiara at a wonderfully small sum there are modern cameos too but it does not need a connoisseur to show the difference the modern ones are sharp and crude beside the sitf ened outlines and mellow tones of the old ones in this shop I 1 saw ing pid parabola para sola with gold tipped ribs and carved ivory handles in the email round form that the high born dame of old carried in her drives and which are also in vogue to day the bro cadee coverings are rich in texture color and design but alas so tender from age that they crack anew at touch but the frames are still in perfect order it is impossible to give the prices of these things there la no price that should be accepted the final price depends on the tact and shrewdness of buyer and seller coveting a wonderful chain of large silver beads nearly two yards in length I 1 asked ehg price the answer came glibly lire sig nora I 1 offered thirteen lire but shrugs and up siftings lif tings of hands with vehement head shakings was the only response writing my price on my card I 1 gave it to the man telling him in case he changed his mind he could send the chain to that address he mournfully accepted the card and without looking at it laid it on a table and sadly but politely responded to my buon giorno on reaching home two hours afterward to my joy I 1 found the chain already there |