Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-11-18
YEaSGEeIk.AN ESHS.
THE PARTY OF SIN.
a Trait Of the Nineteenth Century.
BY JOHN ISMAS.

a Trait Of the Nineteenth Century.
BY JOHN ISMAS.
from the .iugnoiia far 1881
Beppo Antonio sole proprietor of the Hotel Deiia MA
donna situated Of the guctest streets oil the 'c
nal CITY, stood at the open door of his dining VIII
comcal blending of hope and grief IN ms Pa'e ana no
very engaging countenance. 1t was dull time OF year
for travel and Beppo had serious doubts whether his ia
b!es were not TO purpose; or rs yet, though
his hepmate had sent up three times from below t" say
that the macaron boiled almost TO PASTE ana the
fish fried cndcr not creature had taken ms sea
at one of the little tables and ordered even bowl OF
nnes,ra. There indeed person wth'n the
room tall elderly man, with gray HAIR and o'ae eyes
an enormous queue dangling half way down eis pacA'
and remarkably hungry look pcerng out from hrs lace,
and indeed characterIzlng his person. but thiS man $
garments were seedy, not to say shabby; and though ne
had been walking backward and forward from one end
of the room 10 the Other for than three quarters Vi
an hour he had yet called for nothing; and Beppo
nourished huge suspicion, that If he should order and
eat his dinner payment not quite $" certain TO FOL
low as he could wish sSome broken down miitture,
nu,tered Brppo his heart almost prevailing to give the
poor fellow meal and cup of wine, at the risk even OF
catching scratched face curtain lecture from his
better half down below; 'some poor kckcdabout vaga
bond that has been standing up to be shot at the best
part of his life, for three pauis month, and now that
fighting has gone out of fashion, is left either TO beg
slurve, just as best suits his convenience.
Beppo probably right in his conjecture The
strangers port erect and his walk up and down the
room was as much like soldier march parade il
was like any thing. Besides, his complexion was bronz
ed by the sum- his chin upheld by stiff leather stock,
and his coat though very much worse for wear. had
standing collar edged with furnished gold lace. He was
old soldier, past question, and ceraln very poor
or appearances sadly beed him.
At length Beppos anxirties relieved The vete-
ran pretermed his march, and, sealing himself
OF the tables, called 10! boui and measure of brandy
and by the time this command wa fulfilled, the despair
ings of Beppo little aeviated by influx Of
customers to his boiled. broiled. and roasted.
First old gentleman, tall and thin, with slight
stoop of the shoulders remarkable head cover
ed with stiff white hair, and small black eyes, which the
fosts Of seventy winters had not yet robbed Of their
fire. He was plainly but handsomely dressed In blue
coat and pantaloOns OF very fine cloth, and apparently
new, and wore upon finger of each Of his small white
hands antique ring set with Il jewel OF price. His
expression grave and sad, and before he sat down.
he crossed himself with air of The deepest deToon.
He accompanied by lad, or, rather young man, Of
about seventeen remarkably handsome, with large hazel
eyes, and beautifully shaped head. covered with
OF dark curling hair, with whose tanylcs the fingers OF
beauty might love TO play. His department toward his
aged companion full Of charming reverence, soft
ene6 down by affection and the eyes of the old man Of
ten rested upon the bright, blooming face, with look of
the tendercs love, slightly tempered with sorrow. They
conversed together in French butt like the veteran who
preceded them. gave their commands to BePpo, in good
Italian, strong marked with the sharp French accent.
They asked for pOoge III jtieane, an c"iscuc au1
fines hc1Ges and bottle of sparkling champagne which
they drank diluted with water
The next was younger man, Of perhaps thirty or
thirty Ave. His conn leSon very dark, his hair cut
Short and black the blacklist Of JET hts lips thick and
prominent, his flat and unlneaning, his figure in
cning corpulence and his expression vulgar coarse
and lerocous. His beauty not improved wital
by huge pair Of mustaches He rather fnppishly
dressed in purple frock- coat red wastcoa and blue
pantaloons with broad red stripe down the sides His
fingers were covered with rings, heavy gold chain
crcled his neck, descending into his lett waist coat
pocket, and his heels adorned with ra!r of
ceedngly long gold gilt spurs, that iaHgIed against
the floor and each other at every STEP He demanded
ola podrida, well seasoned with garlic, aud two bottles
of wne-one of port, and the other Of sherry.
After him, stout, rather good. looking man, of
fifty or ihcreabout with bald head short, black,
curling beard merry black eye and clear olive
plcxion. He rock ccat of The latest Partisan cut
a shawl-puttern waslcOa red Slippers and trowsers of
very unusual amplitude. A diamond OF great value
sparked upon the hit Of dagger that might be
projecting conveniently from his breast and large and
very beautiful dog, of the newfoundland breed, follow
ed him into the dlnngroonl, whste he took his place.
like webred beast, under the table This parsonage
bowed slightly and smiled he entered, took his seat
with an ndoent good. humorcd look Of supreme
chaunce, and called for dish Of boiled macaroni,
rae of lemonade, and lngergasS half full Of
ter with which he refreshed and pcrtucd his hands be-
fore he began eating.
Then followed man of about thirty, with broad Ger
man face heavy blue and red hair cropped cs to
his head. He tall and stout but awkward in figure
and movement. His clothes ilmade, but of the
finest quality and his boots covered with mud that
had been on them long enough to become perfectly dry
moment he sal down he placed q lal ge gold snuibox
upon the table before him. Just the side of his plate
lie called Tor herman sausage, some boiled fish,
slowed rabbit, plenty oil bread and bottle of frs, rate
Geneva. his Italian was scart and mos, nharuouuus.
" qualified WIKI plentiful spr!uklng of deem German
gutluras.
Six gentlemen now taking their dinner under
the ROOT of the rejoicing Bcppo Antonio; and nhounh
he would have been glad to administer to the appees nj
three times many, still it very much better Than
having his eaabes left his hands, unconsumcd and
unpaid for. "Onc more fer good luck nut,rr,d Ben.
po s'und Ill lay out couple Of cra-=ie i'll oil for Nh.
lamp of my patron ST. Joseph, over the way; more
for good luck, and the odd number
His petition was heard; more just at this
entered the room and taking his seat called for glass
icc-water bowl Of peasoap Ia pursc Pomes de tcrre
au 9re dhoteL, and large dish o. deiyue's dc pommcs,
o. as we should call them in English plain apple lrers
which, be it observed, they cook in Rome to pereclot
He was young man of fair complexion, we'll dressed
but with nothing remarkable in his appearance aud was
at once set down by the landlord well the other
guests, for Englishman his travels His method
Of speaking Italian went far TO confirm this suspicion
During the few minutes that elapsed between the is
suing of directions and their fument the
had glanced over The persons Of all his companions in eat.
ing and smiled The chance that had brought together
men of SO many different nations he supposed them to
represent The veteran he set down Prussian; the
old man and the youth natives of France; The man
with the mustachcs and red waiscoat Spaniard or
Portuguese him with the beard and bald head Nal
tese Jew; and the drnker Of gin Swiss or German.
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