Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-04-14
FILLPPO PALMA;
Or, The Power of Music.

Translated from the German Of Waldbruch.l
The rich old miser and pawnbroker
Critic, was about to close his store and re-
tire to his solitary sleeping apartment. He
threw quick, searching glance about him
pianos, guitars, household furniture of
every kind and description, which the ne
cessities of the poor, or the extravaganza
of the rich had gathered there, strewed the
room in strange confusion.
After cautiously surveying the whole,
and satisfying. himself that no thief was
concealed within, who could despoil him of
his boarded treasures, be turned to close
the door, when young man stepped upon
the threshold His elegant mantle only
partially concealed the richness of his dress
and the symmetry of his form; he might
have been about twenty-five years of age,
and withal looked so gay, and glad, and
liie-loving, that the old niiser drew back
amazed. Gracefully raising his hat he dis
closed a profusion of glossy, raven curls,
and face that might have served a painter
for an Adonis of EndymiOn. His eyes fell
upon the grave, parchment-like features of
| the old usurer, and though he could not re-
strain smile, yet he failed to Danish the
traces of care which saddened his brow.
"Bravo, my young lord" exclaimed
| Critic. II call you man of your word. |
have always said that the noble lords of
Rome, and indeed OF all Italy, might safely
take for their model Signor Fillippo Palma
none know so well as he how to live-how
| to circulate money, and none SO punctual
to return borrowed loan."
alt greves me much, Signor Critic, that
this time | so i'll deserve the praises with
which you overwhelm me. L know that
to-day / should have repaid the small
! sum-"
"Small sum small sum- You owemea
hundred ducats, and to-day counted upon
| it. lent it, too, without pledge, bethink
you, upon your honest face; but certainly
you have brought it with interest, and you
wish to joke me."l , aU... nj ..s ,-r-.-
| r"Would to God it were so," rejoined Fill
lippo, "but believe me, we singers carry
empty pockets while the Carnival lasts; our
opera managers cannot pay us until Shro-.
vetide is over. Meanwhile we must live;
therefore have come to beg you to double
that loan, and let me have another hundred
ducats upon my honest face" ..
s'The d. take me ii that is not rare
Joke" said the astonished Critic. "Do you
| think Ihave found my money or stolen it,
that can throw it after you as you scatter
your light songs among the silly crowd?
No, no, will teach you better; L have your
bond, and if / cannot jingle both money and
| interest in my purse this day, you shall 60
to the debtors prison and there celebrate
your carnival, unless, indeed, your manager
or the foolish song-loving rabble of Rome
will redeem you" .
wPray, listen to reason, Signor Critic. If
you should stand me upon my head, not a
single duclt would fall out of my pocket;
wait only until the carnival Is over, and you
shall see; manager will then pay me my ar
rears, and perhaps, also, shall be the BRIDE
groom of rich lady, whose love l seek
now to woo. do entreat you, good Critic,
let me have the money, draw up the bond,
and will sign it,"
"a wife" said Griffo, thoughttully, ga
widow, perhaps an heiress, who is she? and
how far has the matter gomez" ,,.g u
mot so far as you think, neither do L
know who she is. / have seen her only
twice, but more is not necessary to fall des-
perately in love-the thing is soon finished;
for she seems to be unmarried, and to all
appearance is blessed with every earthly
good" -'N"'
'"I will listen to you no longer, you
young madcap; you shall go to prison
to-day if you cannot give me full
satisfaction or furnish me responsible
security" and hereupOn the old mig
gard flew into parOxysm of rage, and
poured forth perfect torrent of curses, all
of which Fillippo received with the most
imperturbableg gravity. Resolved upon OBJ
tanning the loan, and hoping to gain his
point as soon as the storm had passed by,
Fillippo meanwhile stepped to an open
piano, and began to play a favorite ara
which had lately gained him much APP
plause. Seeing, however, that Grito's
wrath was rather in the flow than In the
gbb, he seated himself and began to sing the
aria, which he supported with vigorous
accompaniment. He had at first no other
intention than to show his firm resolution
1 and to appear as unembarrassed and as
much at his ease as possible, but when he
II perceived that the. old man listened with
II delighted astonishment, he began to sing
II in a style worthy of Fillippo Palma, the
most celebrated singer of his time.
A mirror hanging opposite reflected the
face Of the miser, and F4llippo watched
i with anxious interest the various emotions
\ which passed through his soul and warmed
n into life his stern, rigid features. AT first
Il the muscles Of his face relapsed and expand
! ed as the full, deep tones trembled through
II the hall h then, fas the swelling waves of
! rich melody rose and sank in wild sport and
n play, the angular features gradually formed
themselves into sweet smile, and the man
II of gain. who had until now listened only to
l the sound of gold Stood SPELL bound ;alight
4 was in his leaden, soulless eye, and his lips
trembled. Itwas though an angel of beauty
had touched him with his magic wand, so
/ COMPLETE wasthe Transformation; the clear,
( rich tones of melody fell upon his soul as
the warm, bright rays ofothe sun upon the
} earth after o long rainy season. AS Palma
! at last with Il lively emotion and brilliant
nassages drew towards the close, GriffO
Gould no longer remain quiet in his corner;
he stroye to express by the motion of his
limbs the spirit of music; noiselessly he
moved Chat he might nobiby an 'unlucky
etet, interFupt the esweet4t0ned stream Of
/ enchanting melody. AS the aria, was con-
clmded. and Critic stood painting, wiping
| the perspiration, from his forehead, the
u .jnobiao1l 9d5 10 I9bIo yd