The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-05-12
HE KNEW HE WAS RIGHT
BY ANTHONY TRoLLoPR.
CHAPTER LV.
Continued. l


But the American minister hardly
knew how to behave himself when he
met Mr.. Glascock, or even when he was
called upon to speak to him. Florence
no doubt is large city, and is now the
capital of great kingdom; but still
people meet in Florence much more
frequently than they do in Paris or in
London. 1t may almost be said that
they whose habit it is to go into society,
and whose circumstances bring them
into the same circles, will see each other
every day. Now the American minister
delighted to see and to be seen III all
places frequcnted by persons OF GER
tain frank and position in Florence.
Having considered the matter much he
had convinced himself that he c0uld
thus best do his duty as minister from
the great Republic Of FREQ States to the
newest asd, rs he called it, "the free-est
of the European Kingdoms" The min
lister from France was u marquis, lie |
from England was an earl, from Spain |
had come count, and so. In the do
nestle privacy of his embassy Mr.
Spalding wonld be severe enough upon |
the sounding brasses and the tinkling |
cynbals, and was quite content himscll
To be the Honorable Jonas G. Spalding,
Honorable because selected by his
country for "a post of honor; but he liked
to Le seen among the cym0als, ana
heard among the brasses, and to feel
that his position WAS as nigh as thelrs'
Mr.. Glascock, also, was frequently IN
the same circles and thus 1t came to
pass that the two gentlemen SAW each
other almost daily. That Mr.. Spaldlng
knew well how to bear himself IN his
bigh place no one could doubt; bat he
did nor quite know how to carry himself
before Mir. Glascock. At home at Boston
he would have been more completely
master of the situation.
He thought, too, that he began to
perceive that Mr.. GlaScock avoided him,
though ho would hear on his return
home that that gentleman had been at
the embassy, or had been walking in
the Caseino with his nieces. That their
Young ladies should walk in public
places with unmarried gentlemen is
nothing 20 Americans fathers aud
guardians American young ladies are
accustomed to choose their own COM
panions. Bat tho minister was tor
mented by his doubts rs to the ways of
Euglishmen, and as 20 the phase i'll
which English habits might most pro-
perly exhibit themselves in Italy. He
knew that people were talking about
Mr.. Glascock and his niece. Why,
then, did MIR. Glascock avoid himi 1t
was perhaps natural that Mr.. Spalding
should have omitted to observe that
Sir. GlaScock was not delighted by
those lectures on the American con-
s'itutiou which formed so large part
of his ordinary conversation with Eng
lishmen.
1t happened one afternoon that they
were thrown together SO closely for near
lv an hour that neither could avoid the
other. They were both at the old palace
in which the Italian Parliament is held
and were kept waiting during some
long delay in the ceremonies of the
place. They were seated next to each
other, and during such delay there was
nothing for them but to talk On the
other side of each of them was Strang
or, and not tO talk In sucRclrcumStauCg
would be to quarrel Mr. GlGscock be-
gan by asking after the ladies.
"They are quite we'll, sir, thank you,
said the minister. 81 hope that Lord
Peterborough was pretty well when last
YOU heard from Naples, MIR. Glascock.'
Mr. GlaSCOCk explained that his fathers
condition was not much altered, and
then there was silence for moment.
'Your nieoes will remain with you
through the spring | suppose " said Mr..
GlaScOCk.
"Such is their intention, SIR"
"They seem To like Florence, think"
"Yes,-yes; think they do like Flor
ence. They see this capital, sir. perhaps
under more favOrble circumstances than
are accorded to most of my country wO-
men. Our republican simplicity, Mr.
GlaScock, has this drawback, that away
from home ii subjects us somewhat Il
the cold shade of unobserved obScurity
That it possesses merits which much
more than compensate for this triting
evil | should be the last man in Europt
10 DENY" 1t is TO be observed that
American citizens are always prone t,
talk of Europe. 1t affords the best coun
tsrpoise they know to that other term
America,-and America and the UnitCC
States are of course the same. To speal
of France or of England rs wcighin:
cauaIlV against their own cOHntr,
seems 10 an AlutIlCdh " W. "' .1'S'"'N'
ty,-and almost AN insult 10 himself
With Europe he can compare himself
hnt even this is done generally in tht
style of the Republican Brownin!
when she addressed the Ancient Mar
bles.
"Undoubtedly,' said Mr. Glascock
"the family of minister abroad ha!
great advantages in seeing the country
to which he is accredited
THAT is my meaning, sir. But, as
was remaIking, We carry with us rs {
people no external symbols of our stand
ing a. nome. The wives and daughters
SIT, OF the most hOnored of our citizens
nave no nomenclature different thar
that whlch belongs To the least noted
among us. 1t Is perhaps n consehnencf
of this that Europeans who ora -,
toned in their social interconroo 80 90,
assistance OF titles, will not aIway,
trouble themselves TO inquire who an
what are American citizens who mo,
ait opposite to them at table. / hay.,
known, Mr.. GlaScOck, the wife an,
daughter of gentleman who has bee
thrice sent as senator from his ma
tive State 10 Washington, TO renal
as disregarded in the intercourse of
European city as though they had foru
ed part of the family of some grOct
from your Russell Square"
Let the Miss Spaldings go where the
WILL, said Mr.. GlascOck, "they will NJ
fare in that way.D
The Miss SpaldinPs, sir, are yer