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Otago Daily Times, Issue 181, 26 June 1862, Page 6

A letter from Rome, dated April Ist, contains the following story : — " The English and Americans in Rome have this week been the victims of a hoax worthy of Barnuni. It was announced that Rarcy, the horsetamer, had arrived, and that Avith proper inducements he would consent to give an exhibition of his powers. As three-fourths of the forestieri in Rome belong to the ccpiestrian order, thanks to the glorious temptations of the Campagna, and as the Roman nobles especially court tho honors of a knowledge of horse-flesh, there was no lackAvhat'cver often seudi notes lodged for the temptation of Kirov ; and on Friday, in the Doria Ridingschool, "the exhibition took place. In the gallery were ladies, especially artist ladies, anxious to study the beautiful groups to be formed by the noble horses aud the splendid horse-tamer. Chairs for the Queen" of Naj>les were quickly appropriated to better Avomen ; nnd had it not been that the incense of some hundred cigars from eminent sculptors, Roman princes, and English grooms in the riding-school below proved soi.neAvhat stifling, enjoyment would have been complete when Rarey entered. . Was it Rarey ? Forty Americans and English had seen Rarey two or three years ago but was'this thickset, awkward-looking man really hin ? There was much room for doubt, it seemed; vet as it appeared that his hair and his voice were all right, it was finally concluded that he Avas only somewhat altered for the Avo.rse, and profound were the • reflections offered on the antiresthctic crt'eets of prosperity, and the dreadful results of liberal potations on the nerves. Nervous he certainly Avas, and awkward to boot. A placid-looking brute led in with much parade hy two grooms, lent himself mildly to the Rarey process, exh bited Avith much more caution than grace, and then a young fresh colt from the Campagna trotted into the riding-school, was duly lassoed by an assistant, and dragged, half strangled, into the small hoarded arena in the centre. , Here a most laughable incident occurred, for the poor persecuted colt, in a■ moment of desperation, leaped lmwooden walls and plunged among the spectators. Consternation seized the noble Italian audience, and helter-skelter they rushed, Dorias, Colonnas, and Borgheses, into doorways and up on window stools, Avhile roars of laughter from Britons and Yankees sent the poor frightened colt faster and faster round the house., The Rarey process having failed eventually to complete so far the beast's education as to ' prevent him from kicking aud plunging continually, the audience retired, receiving atthe lasfc moment the cousolotary assurance that there were three Rareys, arid that thisAvas not the Rarey, but a Rarey. Next day, however, the truth came out. It Avas no Rarey at all, not CA-en an American—only an English traveller named Golding, 'with a pseudo-Yankee accent picked up in Canada. All our moralisings on the disastrous effects'of prosperity and vicious .fermentations.had been Avhnlly superfluous, but. the consolation was considerable that the man lind

never been"able to touch his ill-earned scudi, and that they were carefully returned to the owners hy the banker to whom they had been paid." It is said that Airs. Windham and one of her sisters are at present iv Barcelona, and that she frequents the opera there brilliant with diamonds. A celebrated opera troupe is there, among whom is Giuglini.— Liverpool Albion. At a recent ball given by the French Minister of the Interior, the Countess de Persigny wore a most ingcniouMy-devised costume, representing a winter's night with dikes of snow. Tlie Princess Anna Murat Avas dressed as a Neapolitan, and the Princess Christine Bonaparte as a Mycostis, her dress being covered with blue flowers. 'The Countess Walewska wore a nipsy costume of blue and crimson satin, and the Count, a Venetian domino. The Countess de Morny was a Picrett'i pink satin and blue buttons ; Mine. Alphonse de Rothschild appeared as a Ileba of the lime-of Louis XV. ; and Mine. GustaA-e de Rothschild in a dress covered with ivy and marguerites, sprin kled Avith emeralds ; the three daughters vi Marshal Magtiau appeared—one as a bee, unolheras'a Scotch huntress, and the third in a dress sprinkled with red cauielias ; Mine. ErJinger in a harlequin dress of red and black ; Mine. Kmile de Girardin appeared as a Ma-.quL-c of Louis XV., followed 1 y v page, and holding a lofty parasol; and Mine. Leopold Lehon, in a dress covered with cherries. Prince de la Moseowa avoi-c the dress of a Reitrc, chief of German mercenaries in the middle ages. Prince de Demidoff Avas iv the costume of a mar- I guis oi the ancient Court, wearing in his laced cravat the famous Saney diamond. Count de Lutcroth Avore a dress representing Gambling— one half red velvet, and the other black (rouge - et-noir), with a girdle embroidered with playingcards, pieces of gold, and bank notes and having at one side a full purse, and at the other an empty one. MM. Cordier and Ilandouin appeared as Don Quixote on horseback, and Saneho Pauza on his ass. A person, Avhose name Aye could not 'learn, Avore a costume representing on one side Marriage, and on the other Widowhood.— Court Journal. '.-'.-'..