The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1871-08-17
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PETER CRISP.
A Comic Episode of Italian Travel.


Colonel NJ. and myself descended from
the cabriolet Of vehicle, wherein we
had been ensconced since daylight, at a
miserable little inn on the road to Naples,
when, to our CONSERVATION, at the same
moment the Lete NOR of our Roman So.
journ emerged from the interieur, took
out his phrase.book, aud, repeating to
himself the needed sentence, approached
u fat, cross looking woman, his fellow
passenger, and Offering his arm and n
Foulez vous promenade, Madame ? be-
gan to stride with her up and down the
road before the door, while the horses
were drinking. There have been many
piquant chapters written on bores, but
the travelling bore has never been ade-
quately described. lie has u singular
advantage over his coafreres who stay
ut home, inasmuch as the claim of
common nationality-especially before
the tide of American continental travel
had grown SO full aud pervasive-is one
not easily repudiated; and. on the
strength Of it, if the victim be a good.
uatured man, an unlimited amount of
intrusion and extortion may be prac,
ticed with impunity. 1t was on these
grounds that Vernon, than whom
more thorough gentleman and agreeable
companion cannot be imagined, had suf-
fered himself tacitly to accept, in the
double capacity of dnache aud protege,
little pretentious and ignorant fellow.
couutryman, a sign engraver by trade,
who, having prospered in his calling,
became ambitious to see the world and
make what he called the grand toner.
1t was mooted question whether the
pleasure Of Veruon's society, priced as
it justly was, compensated for the vex.
ations incident to that Of his companion;
and whether the latter were not, on the
whole, counterbalanced by the amusc.
ment his absurdities accustomed; but
practically the matter was settled by
the laws Of good fellowship, which made
US patient under an inhiction that would
otherwise be uumitigated to our amiable
and accomplished countryman, To
leave him to the tender mercies of Crisp
would be anything but fair play; yet
had we conceived the idea that he would
follow Vernon to Naples, and secretly
obtain seat in the same carriage, we
should long ago, 10 self defense, have
had recourse to thecut direct. However,
we consoled ourselves with the resolve
to quietly give him the slip on our ar
rival; aud meantime beguiled tho way
by recalling Peters ridiculous maneu-
vres at Rome, which, we agreed, would
furnish playwright with abundant
materials for farce, If not comedy.
The first time we ever saw him was
one morning when he appeared at our
lodgings in search Of Vernon, who could
not hide his modification at being thus
discovered as an Involuntary bear. leader.
Peter Crisp was dapper little man,
with a face curiously made up of mater.
ial shrewdness and complacency, with a
fussy manner aud affectation of style in
dress which only served to emphasize
his vulgarity. Vernon was i'll when he
encountered him at Lyons, and became
indebted for services then aud there
rendered, which made it seem migrate.
full not to accept his proposition to be-
come his con,pdgnon de poyoge and act
as his interpreter Of foreign lingos. BY
the time the poor fellow reached Italy
he repented of his acquiesceuce; and at
Rome appealed half comically aud half
in earnest 10 our forbearance; SO that
when Crisp came jauutily in and claimed
acquaintance with us all, first as fellow.
countrymen and then asfriends of Yer
non, We resigned ourselves to the pen
ance with good grace. "Some Of you
gentlemen" said he, with a patronizing
glance around, "are invalids, | believe.
No doubt you have found it hard to
take exercise in these dirty streets. 1
have discovered fine walk, and will
show you the way whenever you like.
You will 60 to a square near here, and
up flight OF steps, and there are clean
paths in plenty" This offer of the
freedom of the Pincian, and the novelty
OF the information, at once enlightened
US as to the verdancy Of our uninyited
guest. Carriages wore now announced
for the days excursion, which included
visit to the English Cemetary and the
Forum VI course Crisp took posses.
sion OF the vacant seat, AMI Vernon OK.
changed looks of dismay with US as we
rolled through the Piazza d'Espagna.
Sauntering among the ruins for an hour.
We saw Crisp standing apparently spell.
bound before the arch of SeptiImus
Severus, and gazing at the euta6lature
through double oye-glass. Regarding
this as a piece Of nero atfec.ation, aud
yet curious 10 know what he had made