Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-10-07

pslled TO give pledges on both sides The 4
Piedmontese nobility retained certain no
hillary privileges, such as an exclusive
RICH, to appear in box at the theatre, or to
dance at a public ball and dancing was
held to be an aristocratic exercise, in which
the middle classes must content themselves
with the part Of spectators.
At the head Of band Of young people OF
his own age, Giscomo Girardi chose, how
ever, one day to infringe the national rule
established by his betters; and at public
ball, headed quadrille Of united dancers,
in the very face OF the aristocratic portion
of the assembly The palrician dancers.
indignant ut the innovation, would fain have
put stop to the attempt; but vociierous
cries of"AmussmsHf for all alike, dancing
for high and Loio," were raised by the Pile
beians; and 10 this outbreak Of sedition
succeeded other cries Of liberal nature
In the tumult that ensued twenty ehalleng-
es were given and refused, not from coward
ice, but pride; aud the imprudent Giacomo,
carried away by the impetuosiiy Of his age
and character. ended with innicting blow
upon the proudest and most insolent Of his
advefsaries.
The unprecedented insult proved Of Sc
rious moment. The influential family Of
San Massano swore that il should not pass
unpublished the knight OF 81. Maurice, Of
the Annunciation, all the chivalry and no.
biity Of the country (which an infringement
Of privilege is sure to render unanimous,)
affected TO resent the offence both individu-
ally aud collectively. At his fathers sug.
geslion, the young man took refuge with
one Of his relations, vicar Of a small village
in the principally Of Masserano, in the en-
virons Of Belle, and. in consequence Of his
| fight, Girardi was condemned, as contu-
macious, to FIVE years Punishment from
Turin.
| The dignity to which the whole business
was rashly elevated by all this notoriety. in
vesting boyish ARRAY with the importance
OF a conspiracy, impaired considerable con-
sequence to Giacomo Girardi in the eyes Of
his fellow-counlrymen Some saluted him
as champion OF the liberties OF the people
Others as one Of those dangerous innovators
who still dreamed OF restoring the indepen-
dence Of Piedmont bot while at the court
Of Turin, the insolent chastiser Of nobility
was denounced as 4 leading member Of the
oCuiVSt uuS loNAithg huC Ptot IUC BNhoah
was quietly minIstering to the performance
OF village mass. after the fervent fulhment
OF his own religious duties
This stormy commencement Of a life
which had seemed predestined to peace and
tranquility. exercised powerful influence
o~ss the fortunes Of Giacomo Girardi. In
penalty for the follies Of his boyhood, for,
upon his arrest on the groundless charge Of
having attempted the life Of the First Con-
sui, his accusers did not fail to recur to his
early disorders, as an evidence Of his dam
gerous tendency as a disturber Of the pub
lie peace. But from the moment Of quit
ting Turin, and during the whole period Of
his exile, Giacomo, Indifferent TO the love Of
equality ns,illed into him by his father, re-
signed himself TO the influence Of the relig-
ious principles derived from his mother
He even carried them to excess; aud his
relative. the worthy priest. whose faith was
sincere, but whose capacity narrow and un.
cultivated, instead OF checking the exalted
fervour Of the young enthusiast. excited it
TO the utmost, in the hope that the lowell
ness Of Christian humility would impose a
check upon the impetuosity OF his charac.
ter But in the sequel, the worthy vicar
! repenied the fashness Of his calculations
= for Giacomo would hear Of nothing now bu,
embracing the sacerdotal profession. The
wild, hot.headed young man insisted on be-
coming a priest Of the altar.
In The hope OF arresting a measure which
, would deprive them OF their only son, his
; father aud mother got him recalled home
and by the utmost eloquence Of parental
! tenderness. prevailed upon him to resign
his projects and acquiesce in their own
I Ia few months, Giacomo Girardi wal
] married to beautiful girl. selected for hin
r by his family. But, TO the great astonish
: ment Of his friends, the young fanatic no
e only persisted in regarding his lovely bride
: as an adopted sister. but exercised over hel
: mind so strong an influence as to persuad,
2 her to retire into a convent, while he re
: turned to his pious calling in the neighbour
hood OF Belle.
At a short distance from his favourit,
!, village, rose the last branch Of the Pennin'
Alps-a vast aud towering chain Of noun
tains the highest peak OF which, Mont
: Mucrone, overshadowed gloomy little val
? ley shaggy with overhanging rocks, OBJ
a bCuTeu Dy mlstsi OoTueIeu Oy awful PIeC'
pieces, and appearing at distance to limbo
r dy all the horrors with which Dante AM
: Virgil have invested the entrance to III,
! internal regions. But on drawing neare
e to the defle, the impending rocks wer
= found 10 be cleited with yerdure; the pre-
Y cipices TO be relieved by gentle slopes
= where Towering shrubs afforded a beautiful
ladder Of vegetation, inierspersed with ma
: iural bowers and thickeis; while The mis,i
varying in hue according to the reflection
Of the sun, after becoming white, pink, o
violet, evaporuted altogether under the in
III iuence of the noontide radiance. 1t wa
D. then that, deep in the lovely valley. lax
le Of about FIVE hundred ieet in length BEGAN
il apparent. slimented by crystal springs, an
ID giving rise to the little river called III
a Oroppa, which at some distance farther en-
Sc circed aud formed into an island one Of III
he yerdsnt hllucks Of the valley, on which th
m piety of the inhabitants has erected, at greI
I'd cost, and consecrated to the Holy Virgin
a one OF the most remarkable churches in III