MARKETING IN FLORENCE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 62, 13 November 1880, Page 4 (Supplement)

MARKETING IN FLORENCE.

The Florentines are an economical race, and can live on less, probably, than any other people in the world. They are content with a very, little — not requiring eves what ( we should call the necessaries of life. Their < diet ia principally dry bread (butter they rarely eat), oeffee, macaroni, "leeeo" (boiled beef), aud "minestra" the weakest of wishywashy spnps. The^ast two, are d,ajily (nevji- j table ; no, matter what else they eat, >' fosso" and •' minetyra'' they must {have,, or -they would consider themselves defrauded of .tbeir rights. It is easy to. live in Florence ! economically) for marketing iB arranged to .Buit purses, of any size, and one cap bny any part of a ohioken, even to a slioe of the breast alone. In this way there is.no waste, and only enough for one day's consumption is ever provided. It is really amusing to see the Fiorentineß bargain. ' They would not consider a thing properly bouaht, under a half -an-hour's talking and 'argument. Baying and selling is reduced to a system and a regular routine, which, if neglected, would make ;bem unhappy, and consider themselves as cheated beings. Their greatest triumph is the purchase of an article at the lowest rate possible, and this is a source of bpa.jsng for the next twenty-four hours. They will baggie over two or three centimes until a looker-on could cry aloud in desperation at their absurdity. They gesticulate, both talk at the same time, and lash themselves into ! snob a. state of excitement that' one would, think they were oonoocting no less a plan than to dethrone the King. ' - v

Yon Biilow tells a story apropos of Italian trading, very amusing, and scarcely exaggerated. A man observing in a shopwindow an article marked 11 francs, thus reasoned to himself — " The price is marked 12 franos. That means 10. The shopman v wlll offer it for 8. It is not worth .more than v 6. 1 don't want to give more than 4; so I'll offer him 21" This suggests the principles upon whioh trade is carried on. I venture to give an illustration of the process, in the words that I have, heard so often that they glide off tbe end of myjaen without an instant's hesitation : Buyer. " What's the price of that hat t" Seller. " Twelve franoß; sir." B. (In a tone of astonishment) " Twelve fraucs ( Heavens ( What a price I" S. ■< It's not dew, ail. You couldn't get it aB cheap anywhere else in town." B. " Nonsense t What's the lowest prioe you'll take for it?"

S. "Well, as it's yon, I'll, give it for eleven." .

B. " Per Baooo. Why, it's not worth hal: that."

S. '• Well, what will you give for it V* B. "I won't give a centime over six francs." ' (This very decidedly, as if he really meant it.) S. " Six francs ! Why, it cost me more than that!" B. '; Go along !" (Tries on the hat, which is very becoming, and continues, in a coaxing tone.) " Come, now, let's finish this affair. Name your price." S. "Well, well, take it for ten." Seizing it as though everything was settled, and hurriedly wrapping it up.) B. " Stop, stop! I'm not going to give that price.' ' Makes for the door, as though he also thought the affair' ended.) S. " Stop, sir I Tell me how, frankly, the highest price you will give." (This in an encouraging tone, with head on one side, and a sweet smile/) B. " Oome, I'll give you seven." Makes show of palling out pocket-book, with the air of having made a handsome offer that would be snapped at.) S. (Now beginning to 'get excited.) " This is more than I can bear ! We will talk no more about it !" B. (Seeing too muoh decision in adversary's manner): " Well, come now I How, muoh will you take ? I'll give you eightthere I"

8. " No, no, no I I won't sacrifice the hatl"

This is the right moment for the bnyer to rush from the shop, sometimes even getting to the corner of the street, when the excited I seller will dash bfter him, im|loring him to oome back and take itfor ninfi and a half. Then work begins in earnest, and, they rise .and fall alternately by half-franos, and sometimes fight />ver the last two sous, when the bargain is completed amidst a torrent of words and 'wild gestures and glazing of eyes, which, to the uninitiated, would look very like a bloodthmty combat. The eonqueioj (which is the conqueror?) goes off with his hat, as proud as. the victor of a score of battles, to show'his hard-won treasure to admiring friends, who turn it over, and peer at it, and examine it critically, praising him for his shrewdness in making suoh a bargain. This hat will be a source of happiness to him for two or three days; making. him a hero to a oixole of admirers, to whom he will ga over tha same etory twenty timee % relating his powers at bargain-making with as muoh interest and energy the twentieth time as the ftt&t.—Scribner's Monthly.