Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-01-20

THE BRIGAND-SYNOPsIs OF THE IN
CTDENTs.-Alessandro Massaroni, the
Italian Robin Hood, was one of the dar-
ing spirits that seem to have been created
10 correct the unequal distribution OF
good and evil. Chief Of a lawless band
infesting the mountains near Rome, his
name spread terror throughout Italy.
I No place was secure from his emissaries,
and so skiIlful were his arts Of disguise
that be was often made the cOnhdant OF
plots laid by bis enemies 10 entrap him.
He was a strict dispenser of moral jus
tice if he made free with the rich he
was the almOner Of the poor; and never
did he resort to violence, but when a
tempting booty and u stout resistance
stood in his way. Like the famous free
booter of merry England, he mingled
with his m~alefactors, aud those who
paid the dearest for his pranks
were often the first to laugh at his
humor. He was q very gentlemanly
brigand, full of chivalTy ana romance (;
and his mode Of detention and aestrac-
ton, particularly towards the ladies, was
in such good taste, that they were fain
TO admire his g%allantry, n celebrate
his exploits in songs. A mystery hung
over his birth. His mother was q young
FlOreutiBe, who, having been seduced
and deserted by some puppy un-
known" had died of a broken heart, and
the only family record he POSSESSED, was
her miniature; which, even in the
widest moments Of disc0rd and rapiEe,
produced in him certain compunctious
visitings Of nature, that showed he was
deserving of a better fate-such was Mas
saroni: nurtured by banditti-once their
comrGde-n0w their chief. The pranks
Of this bold bTigand are amusingly shown
M. He learns that a gripping
old steward, heavily laden with
gold rung from poverty, is to pass
over the mountain, disguised, for better
security, in the habit of a pilgrim. This
is a booty quite in his way, and he lays
in wait fOf it, coil uDJOFe. He com
mences a pretended game Of chance with
his patron, st. Eustace he throws for
the saint, then for himself, when fortune
in this instance favors the righteous, and
the saint becomes the winner of four
hundred ducats. At this moment the
steward totters in; when the brigand,
naturally conceiving from his lean looks
and tattered garments, that he is some
poor old beggar commissioned by st.
Elstace to receive his winnings, haEds
him over two hundred ducats on ac-
count, promising to place the remainder
under a certain stone ready for him at
an amounted hour. The steward, think
ing his companion mad, suffers no con-
scientious qualms to deprive him OF q
commission so pious and hOspitable he
therefore pockets the money, and, like a
prudent mau, returns anon for the bal
snce. New, in the meantime, st. Eustace
like most gamesters, has experienced a
reverse Of fortune, and, after a continued
run Of III luck, has become indebted to
the brigand to the tun Of ten thousand
ducats. As the saint Is 4 yigilant re-
ceiveT, he is no less q punctual paymas-
ter and if he sends a poor beggar TO col
iect his gains, ne, by the same rule, des-
matches a wealthy steward TO discharge
his debts OF honor. The brigand de-
mands his winnings the old miser raves,
resists and roars for help. MassaroDi
summons his troop, snatches from the
steward his Pilgrims stan and breaks it
in twain, when out fly to the surprise and
joy Of the predatory party dueats innu-
merablei He neXtlnterceptsa hamperOf
wine on its way to the Prince Biapchi,
which he turns to grateful account by
drinking tG tie owners good health
aud kidHaps the Count Stroggi, an ltal-
ian nobleman in the Austrian service,
WHO Is IOAI Hey INK ~ Nhb IAA4NG Va tlaN
prince TO partake Of its festivities. In
one of these mad fFoliOs Tor which he is
distinguished, Massaroni DISCUSSES him
self in the counts clothes, and assuming
his name repairs TO the palace. This ad-
venture costs him mis- life. lie passes
without suspicion for the expected guest,
mingles with the company, wins q round
sum of his host, ana hears some divert
ing accounts OF hIs own proves. lie Is,
however, suddenly recognized by the
old steward, who had not forgotten
the trick Of st. Eustace, az alarm
is given, the doors BTe clIseG,
and ali means of egress barred
out, when a young painter, a friend
Of the princes, whose life he has saved
from an attack OF his band, opens to him
the only means OF escape, and inplores
him to lily. The prince TO- enters, sur
rounded by his guard, when finding his
prisoner gone, he commands his soldiers
TO fire at MassarOhi through a window,
as he passes along the court yard OF the
palace. The command is ~obeyed-the
brigand faits. anon he PUSHES In,
wounded and bleeding, points to a pic
ture that hangs from the wall Of the
apartment, utters 4 cOnvulsive cry, and
expires at the princes feet, who, 70 COM
nADLE TIC LOiAgI VI Allb ElCLNH h4dkONNAo
TOO late that MaSsaroni is his own son.
There are other points worthy of notice
the scene where MassarOni rescues the
two students from the predatory attack of
his Pegples and that where he sings
the popular brigand song, which is a de-
lightful BiorcCdu. The music of the
piece is pleasing and appropriate, and
the force Of contrast is very powerfully
disnlaVed in the part where the banditti
are singing & bacChanalian air. Sud
denly the bell sounds from a monastery
on the mountain-the jovial strains die
away a solemn symphony gradually
rises till It swells into the full choral
hymn. The banditti PROSTATE them
selves ia deep devotion, Massaroni with
Gnivering lip and averted eye, bows be-
fore the cross the bell ceases ; the crack
of whips is heard travellers approach,
The music by e quick transition becomes
lively aud animated the brigands are
on their legs In an instant an attack Is
sounded, and the whole scene Is full Of
shirt and life. We remember nothing
In melodrams more characteristic and
impressive than this,
,fbe MAY Will be produced at the New
Memphis theater on Monday evening
with Vestrali IS the hero M~assaroni."
All the original music VIII be sung
/ several well known musical artists Of
/ this city have beer specially engaged to
give due effect to the solos and chOruses.
VestraIi is pronounced by competent
! critics to be without q rival in thischar-
aeter which will also afford Us a fine OPP
p%ortunity Of listening 10 her lyric accom-
plishments,