Litchfield enquirer., 1864-01-21


 The tables for the reporters were speedily arranged, as well as seats for the officers, and the prisoner was brought in. He stepped out of the circle of officers surrounding him and said
 " Excellency, up to the present day l have borne the respectable name of Alswanger, and rendered it honorable by my military career and general conduct. My unhappy destiny, however, renders it duty for ms to guard it from disgrace hence openly confess that l am not the son of the banker Alswanger, who died tive years ago at Rome, but the son of one Diderici, of Strasburg. will be as short as possible in my further explanation.
 "I Was a wild fellow, the place behind the counter was too snarrow for me, for days lounged about in the open air, learned by compulsion to read, write, and calculate lit- tie, and, when in my ninth year, was appren- ticed to shoemaker. At the end of seven years, during which the strap had subdued my exuberant spirits, was set at liberty. Re joicing like a lark, I passed out of the gates of Strasburg, and after few days came across a travelling company of actors and mounte- banks, whom joined with great pleasure. l soon acquired all their tricks, easily learned to accompany myself on the guitar, and became the buffo of tue company. But at the end of a few years felt disausted with my position, as longed for more substantial employment l therefore gave up my engagement, and start ed on my travels alone with my guitar. Uu- fortunately, wherever applied for work, was turned away, as only Germans were wanted, who understood heavy work, while had only been taught to make ladies' shoes. ln this way, I reached Lyons, but !found no work there, and went on in good spirits to Mar seilles. My exertons to obtain employment were also fruitless here, and I found myself again compelled to earn a livelihood by sing ing in taverns and public houses. At one of these places l met ship-captain. who had got into terrible quarrel with the company, aud whom liberated from the hands of his as sailants by my resolute conduct. ln gratitude he took me with him to Leghorn, for it as a matter of perfect indifference to me where l went. He dismissed me there with hand some present-at least, in comparison with my circumstances at the time. Here, too, found no work in spite of all my efforts, but trusted to my guitar, which had hitherto pro cured me livelihood, and wandered onwards 1 in good spirits. In this way l arrived at Aqui. la at the end of the year, and sat down in 6 lemonade shop ill q very melancholy mood As my earnings had been very small latterly aud found no work here either, the sight o several officers 1 noticed in the shop suggest ed enlistment to me. l soon noticed conside rable excitement among them, and l iancied that was the object of an animated conver' sa.ion, which annoyed me, and l at length looked at them inquiringly. They had hardly seen my full face, however, ere they burst into X general laugh One of the gentlemen walk ed up to me, and asked me who was. was quite startled when I looked at him. I fan cied that 1 must be gazing at my own portra in glass, so perfectly did the man resemble l ne, even to the cut of his beard. In my sur prise, l was only able to answer that was $ shoemaker in search of work. Very good, in that case you are free,' the officer replied and l ask you whether you would like to be my valet Igladly accepted, as in this way, l had no further anxiety about dinue.
 ''The next day was dressed and became the well-appointsd valet of Lieutenant As wanger, only son of rich banker at Rome. My duties were light for merely had to wait on my master, and the rest was done by the other servants. When my long hair had been cut my resemblance to my master became even more striking, so that the gentlemen m- vited to supper party were amazed, and de- clared that twins could not be more alike. At these meetings, sometimes abroad, sometimes at home, the guests were so conyivial that was often obliged to help my master-whom accompanied everywhere-home and put him to bed. My master several times went out in my livery to invite his guests in his own name. which caused him great amusement, as he told me. On one occasion I was obliged to put on his uniform at party of the sort, aud take his place at table, though I avoided talking much, lest should betray myself by my dia- lect and mode of speech. Suddenly one of my masters guests exclaimed, Jack, sing us one of your merry songs.' My master laugh ingly took off the livery, saying that he had been indulging in joke, at which the guests seemed rather offended but the new supply of Syracuse and Cyprus wine brought up. restored their good temper, and the jest was laughed at.
 On cold, wet autumn night, accompa nied my reeling master home, and he com- plained of violent headache and giddiness. I quickly prepared glass of cooling lemon- ade-"
 GOT perhaps glass of poison," the general interrupted him.
 Be kind enough, general" the prisoner re- piled, to hear me to the end The lemon ade as we'll as A wet towel round his head ap-