Steel Buttons

The prejudices in favor of nobility are very strong in Italy, and though family connections are prized so highly there, no man seems ashamed if he has no family to boast. In "Glimpses of Italian Society" the author says that she was astonishedto hear a wcllbred clergyman say gravely to afriend, also a man eminent for talents and fortune: "Yes, there -is a grand invitation at such a place to-night, but I don't go beeause I am not a gentleman; and the master desired I would let you know that it was for no other reason that you had not a card, too, my good friend, for it is an invitation for none but people of fashion, you see." At all this no one stares, no ono laughs; and it is accepted as the proper thing. A ivornan of quality, near whom I sat at the fine ball Uragadin made in honor of tho season, inquired how I had passed the morning. I named several churches I had looked into, particularly that which they esteem beyond the rest as a favorite work of PalJadio, and called the Redentore. "You do very right," said she, "to look at our churches, as you have none ngland, I know; but, then, you have so many other fine things, such steel buttons, for example," pressing my hand 'to show that she meant no offense.