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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1877 Excerpt:... social system r f Rome; that is, lie produces and deals in grain and cattle; there is ' buttaro' (cattle breeder) besides; but the characteristics of each are so different that the one does not well translate the other. 'Cortello' for 'coltello' (a knife). The substitution of r for ' in a good many words is a common Romanism. 'Dishperato' for 'disperato' ('out of himself with vexation'), is another Romanism; as also 'Bashtonata' for ' bastonata' (a cudgelling); at least many Romans, particularly old-fashioned people, when using some words in which sp and si occur, put in an k on occasions requiring great vehemence of expression. Zecchini. The zeechino was the gold standard coin in Rome before that of the scudo was adopted. Its value was fixed in the reign of Clement XIII., 1758, at two scudi and twenty bajocchi--something between 10s. and 11-.; it was current till a few years back; and 'zecchini'is a common way of saying ' money' when a large sum is spoken of, just as we still talk of guineas. 7 'Merenda ' is a supplementary meal taken at any time of day. It is not exactly lunch, becaase the habit of taking lunch at one and dining late has not yet obtained to any great extent in Rome; and where rt has, lunch is called ' dejeuner'; breakfast (i.e. a cup of coffee and a roll early in the morning) is always called ' colazione.' The established custom of Rome is dinner (' pranzo, ' or 'desinare, ') at twelve, and supper (' cena') an hour or two after the Ave, varying, therefore, according to the time of year, from six or seven till nine or ten, and even later. 'Merenda' is a light meal between 'pranzo' and 'cena' of not altogether ceneral use, and chiefly on occasions of driving outside the gates to spend the afternoon at a country villa or casino. 'Som...