n by a layman, and
describing the indignation of an elegant ecclesiastic at the visit of a
man in poor and shabby clothes. His complaint is answered by a friend,
who remarks:--

"La vostra eccellenza
Vorrebbe tutti i poverelli ricchi."

"Your Excellency
would have every poor fellow rich."

The presence of the celebrated phrenologist, George Combe, in Rome at
this time added much to Dr. Howe's enjoyment of the winter, and to mine.
His wife was a daughter of the great actress, Mrs. Siddons, and was a
person of excellent mind and manners. Observing that she always appeared
in black, I asked one day whether she was in mourning for a near
relative. She replied, rather apologetically, that she adopted this
dress on account of its convenience, and that English ladies, in
traveling, often did so.

I remember that Fanny Kemble, who was a cousin of Mrs. Combe, once
related the following anecdote to Dr. Howe and myself: "Cecilia [Mrs.
Combe] had grown up in her mother's shadow, for Mrs. Siddons was to the
last such a social idol as to absorb the notice of people wherever she
went, leaving little attention to be bestowed upon her daughter. This
was rather calculated to sour the daughter's disposition, and naturally
had that effect." Mrs. Kemble then spoke of a visit which she had made
at her cousin's house after her marriage to Mr. Combe. In taking leave,
she could not refrain from exclaiming, "Oh, Cecilia, how you have
improved!" to which Mrs. Combe replied, "Who could help improving when
living with perfection?"

Dr. Howe and Mr. Combe sometimes visited the galleries in company,
viewing the works therein contained in the light of their favorite
theory. I remember having gone with them through the great sculpture
hall of the Vatican, listening with edification to their instructive
conversation. They stood for some time before the well-known head of
Zeus, the contour and features of which appeared to them quite orthodox,
according to the standard of phrenology.

In this last my husband was rather an enthusiastic believer. He was apt,
in judging new acquaintances, to note closely the shape of the head, and
at one time was unwilling even to allow a woman servant to be engaged
until, at his request, she had removed her bonnet, giving him an
opportunity to form his estimate of her character or, at least, of her
natural proclivities. In common with Horace Mann, he held Mr. Combe to
be one of the first in