Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1860-10-25

THE MoUNTEBANK's HISTORY
I was born in April, 1874, just SIXTY. one
years ago, in the city of St. Petersburg
Of my infant days I need say nothing
save that being the eldest son of my father
I was treated with great distinction.
resided about forty miles from here on the
old family estate; and then time passed
monotouously enough until my sixteenth
year.
One warm day iD August, as we, that is,
the family, were seated on the balcony, we
heard the sound of music and on looking
up the road saw party of mountebapks
approaching. AsI expressed a great de-
sire to see them perform, in which wish |
was ably seconded by my brother and sis
ter, my father, who never refused me any
thing, sent one of the servants to invite
them to the house. They come, pitched
their tent on the green, and began their
performances. | was astonished at their
wonderful feats Of strength and agility,
delighted with their close fitting, bright
spaugled dresses, and heartily wished at
length that was one Of them. When the
performance was over, my father literally
rewarded them, and they went away. All
that afternoon my brother and I talked OF
nothing but the mountebanks, and we en-
deavored to initiate their feats. As | was
unusually strong and active for a boy of
myage, l succeeded better than any of them
and my parents, who witnessed my gambols
on the green, told me it would only take a
year or two of practice for me to surpass all
of the band All ! these words! 1 pom.
dered over them the whole evening; and,
restless and uneasy, was unable to close
my eyes with thinking of them. So pass
ed the night; day dawned, and I formed
the resolution-not strange, perhaps, in
one so young-of leaving my father and
mother, brother and sister, friends and ser,
wants, even that stately mansion, my own
dear delightful home, in which l had pass
ed so many happy hours, and which !
knew would be mine some day, and all tina,
might become one Of the merry brother,
hood. The next evening unbeknowns to
my parents, I left the house and two days
afterward, under another name, was 8
member of the strolling band.
Six years passed away. We travelled
from place to place with varied success
mostly bad and one by one the band de.
creased through disease, intemperance
and death, and of the twelve but too re-
NAMED, Gus.ave and myself. He was a
young fellow of about my age, and loved
him dearly. I told him my name and his.
tory, and he advised me to return home
I did so, taking him with me as friend
and companion. How all was changed
My parents were dead, my brother and
sister separated; and, as all believed me
dead, my brother Cozain was looked upon
as the count My return, so unexpected
and sudden, was hailed with delight; and
no one was more overjoyed to see me than
my brother, who never for moment thought
that my return stripped him of the title
and estate. No, no, he had too kind
heart for that! A few months after my
return he went to serve in the army as
soldier. Rapidly he rose in his profession
and at length became general. The en-
press bestowed on him the title and estates
of the deceased Prince de Radetsky, who
had died without heirs; and this obliged
him to assume the arms and family name
-Galetzon-ofth the former race. He mar
ried not long afterward; his wife died in
giving birth to Amy, and he survived hel
loss only twelve mouths, leaving Ranel, my
eldest son, her guardian. This was severa
years after I had disappeared; but l mus
not anticipate.
Il married at nineteen, and at twenty-on'
was the father of two boys. Two years at
terwar6 the countess died, and although