The Continental Monthly, Vol. 2, No. 2, August, 1862, page 39 by Various Authors
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es have any front-doors, three quarters of them are open all night long; for, as on every floor of a house, there live different families, they find it saves trouble--trouble is money in Rome--to leave the door unclosed. These dark entries, for they are seldom lighted, offer a grand chance for intrigues, and when you have lived here as long as I have, you will find out that they--improve the chances. A cerina, in addition to keeping you from breaking your neck, by tumbling down stone stairs, gives light to avoid the stray dogs that sleep around loose, and to see if there is any enemy around who wants to give you a few inches of cold steel. You may laugh at robbers here; but you may cry for mercy in vain to a Roman who seeks vendetta--revenge, you know. Bad way to use foreign words; but we all do it here. Speak an Italianized English after a time, the effect of had examples. But come, if you want to see Rome by moonlight, it's time we were off.'
As they reached the street, Caper asked Rocjean where he could buy the cerina.
'At any dragheria' said the latter.
'Good, there is a druggist's store up the street--Borioni's.'
'A dragheria means a grocery-store in Rome. If you want molasses, however, you must go to the farmacia for it, [that is the Roman for druggist's shop,] and you will buy it by the ounce.'
'Live and learn,' said Caper, as they entered the grocery and bought the cerina-price, one baioccho a yard.
'And now let us walk out to Saint Peter's, and see the church by moonlight.'
'The want of sidewalks in this city,' remarked Rocjean, 'compelling the Romans to walk over cobble-stones, undoubtedly is the cause of the large feet of the women, added to their dislike of being in pain from tight shoes or boots. For genuine martyrdom from tight shoes, French, Spanish, and Americans--but chiefly Cubans--next to Chinese women, are ahead of the world.'
'But apart from the fact that they do walk on the