_Amusements and Sports_
Theaters, cinematograph theaters, and other places of amusement had
to close at midnight. Restaurants and cafés closed an hour earlier.
This did not apply to the war zone, where the military authorities
made their own regulations and imposed all kinds of restrictions for
defensive purposes.
[Illustration: TITIAN'S "ASSUMPTION" BEING TAKEN OUT]
[Illustration: TITIAN'S "ASSUMPTION" BEING TRANSPORTED ACROSS COUNTRY
TO A SECURE PLACE]
In general, theaters and motion-picture shows in Italy are well
patronized. Opera is still popular, and performances are given in
various cities. Society does not consider it good form to wear evening
dress. It would not be in taste for women to be elaborately gowned, or
to attempt to give dances or house parties. Officers do not wear their
dress uniforms, no matter what may be the function they attend. Ladies
avoid the use of jewels, and there is, generally speaking, a soberness
in the dressing of both men and women. Italy, however, is not gloomy
nor depressed. On the contrary, the Italians are vivacious, and their
sunny dispositions are manifested throughout the troublous times.
Sports generally have been abolished. There is no horse-racing, but,
for the purpose of breeding fine animals, horses are still being
trained.
Travel is freely permitted, though, of course, the war zone has been
carefully guarded. In the restricted area a pass was necessary, and
vital reasons had to be given for permission to travel. On account
of the shortage of coal, the number of trains has been reduced, as
well as the number of cars in each train. Travel is therefore lacking
in comfort, and it is not uncommon to see people standing even in
first-class compartments throughout journeys lasting six or seven
hours. The discomforts are accepted good-naturedly, and there is far
less grumbling than one would expect.
_Conditions in Venice_
The morale of the Italians has never been better. Caporetto has been
avenged, the Austrians were thrown back across the Little Piave, and
brought to their knees. Venice has been saved. The city by the sea
has had its trials. Severe, indeed, have been some of the air raids,
and three-fourths of the population fled. About fifty thousand of the
inhabitants remained, but this represents but one-fourth of the people
that lived along the canals of Venice before the war.
[Illustration: THE LAST SUPPER. By Leonardo da Vinci