In 1867 appeared D’Azeglio’s autobiography, ‘I Miei Ricordi,’ translated into English by Count Maffei under title of ‘My Recollections’ which is undeniably the most interesting and thoroughly delightful product of his pen.  “He was a ‘character,’” said an English critic at the time:  “a man of whims and oddities, of hobbies and crotchets....  This character of individuality, which impressed its stamp on his whole life, is charmingly revealed in every sentence of the memoirs which he has left behind him; so that, more than any of his previous writings, their mingled homeliness and wit and wisdom justify the epithet which I once before ventured to give him when I described him as ’the Giusti of Italian prose.’” As a polemic writer D’Azeglio was recognized as one of the chief forces in molding public opinion.  If he had not been both patriot and statesman, this versatile genius, as before intimated, would not improbably have gained an enviable reputation in the realm of art; and although his few novels are—­perhaps with justice—­no longer remembered, they deeply stirred the hearts of his countrymen in their day, and to say the least are characterized by good sense, facility of execution, and a refined imaginative power.

A HAPPY CHILDHOOD

From ‘My Recollections’

The distribution of our daily occupations was strictly laid down for Matilde and me in black and white, and these rules were not to be broken with impunity.  We were thus accustomed to habits of order, and never to make anybody wait for our convenience; a fault which is one of the most troublesome that can be committed either by great people or small.

I remember one day that Matilde, having gone out with Teresa, came home when we had been at dinner some time.  It was winter, and snow was falling.  The two culprits sat down a little confused, and their soup was brought them in two plates, which had been kept hot; but can you guess where?  On the balcony; so that the contents were not only below freezing-point, but actually had a thick covering of snow!

At dinner, of course my sister and I sat perfectly silent, waiting our turn, without right of petition or remonstrance.  As to the other proprieties of behavior, such as neatness, and not being noisy or boisterous, we knew well that the slightest infraction would have entailed banishment for the rest of the day at least.  Our great anxiety was to eclipse ourselves as much as possible; and I assure you that under this system we never fancied ourselves the central points of importance round which all the rest of the world was to revolve,—­an idea which, thanks to absurd indulgence and flattery, is often forcibly thrust, I may say, into poor little brains, which if left to themselves would never have lost their natural simplicity.