Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-11-21
MONS. THEoDOLps EXPERIENCE.
Amoug the Brtgands- How He W as
s'aDsured-A Night spent with the
VtiInfhs I'm the Rain.

Amoug the Brigands- How Ne vas
Cansured-A Night spent with the
VIiIaias fn the Rain.
Special Correspondence Philadelphia Even
ing Bnlletin.l
ROME, ITALY, October Is. 1874.
Poor Monsignore Theodoli. He is safe
back at Certosa di Trisulti, but after a
sorry experience. He was not on his
road to Rome when the brigands seized
him. He was on a visit to his friends,
the Carthusians, at Trisulti. After din
ner on the day he was seized the Mon
sgnore went out to take a leisurely
constitutional" He saw a pretty wood
path that appeared to be new one, and
entered it. After he had been enjoying
the beauties of nature some ten or fifteen
minutes five or six armed men sprang
out from the trees. crying, Ecco, Mon
signore Theodoli, we have been waiting
several months for you" They seized
the unlucky prelate and raced him up to
their camp on a neighboring mountain.
When he did not return to Certosa his
servant went to hunt him, and not find
ing him in the woods began to suspect
what bad happened. While he was
searching in great distress, little
shepherd boy beckoned him mysteri-
ously. The boy had note, which the
servant found was from his master, tell
ing his sad story, directing the man to
20 instantly to his family in Rome, and
tell them to send him $4,000 francs in
gold instantly, for his ransom, adding
that no means must be taken to discover
the brigands' camp to the authorities; it
they did, he would certainly be killed.
The servant obtained $4,000 francs from
the Monsignore's friends at the Certosa,
and hastened up to the brigsnds' camp
that very night. When he reached there
it was dark and raining very hard. He
found his poor master seated under a
tree, in most melancholy state. If you
had seen Monsignore Theodoli you
would be able to appreciate his deplorable
situation. He is one of the sleekest,
most polished of court prelates. Every
appointment in fastidious order; long,
pointed nails, looking like bitsof mother
Of pearl the brightest of silver shoe
buckles; every mark Of personal care
about him. His health, also, is attended
to with the most scrupulous prudence.
Imagine such man-no longer young,
whose life goes by clock work, the ex-
actitude of a chronometer - sitting
chattering with cold on the damp
ground at night under s'tree in the beat
ing rain, with no other covering than his
clerical garments, and in mortal mo-
mentary dread of having his brains
blown out or his throat cut Courage is
not part of Roman prelate's educa-
ton. Undoubtedly tho poor old cleri-
cal nobleman's teeth chartered as much
from fear as from cold and fatigue. The
brigands angrily ordered the man to re-
turn and get the remainder of the $4,000
francs, enforcing the demand by the
most alarming threats, which nearly set
the old gentleman beside himself.
The servant agreed to do as they or
dered, but begged them to let MIN stay
all night with his poor, terrified master,
promising faithfully to go in the morn
ing for the money. They consented
Poor Monsignore Theodoli shivered and
trembled under the tree; his faithful do
nestle opened the ecclesiastical um
brella, which is a vertable family roof
in size, and sheltered his master as we'll
as he could; but all night the rain
poured down ptiessly, and the wretched
Monsignore was a sight to behold. Never
in his life had he known such sorrow and
agony He was born in rich and priucely
family; his whole existence had been
pleasant, we'll ordered one At day
dawn the servant started off in haste for
the moHey, and the cruel brigands raced
the unhappy old gentleman Hp another
mountain, so as to avoid discovery. At
ter thirty six hours of this agonizing
suspense, the good servant returned with
the money. The brigands counted it
out carefully. One of the rascals saucily
begged the Monsignore to pardon them
for their severity, and with mock humil-
ity asked to kiss his hand. The old gen.
tleman extended the hand conhdingly,
as the Roman priests are accustomed to
do. and the impudent brigand, instead
of kissing it, drew off the ring from the
third finger with sly laugh. Then the
Monsiguore and servant were allowed to
depart, the rascals pointed shorter way
home, wished them buond passegiato,
and the court prelate, with sleek, shining
plumes sadly ruffled and out of order,
returned to the Certosa, a sadder and, if
not wiser, certainly poorer man.
Luckily, those who sent the gold had
the precaution to mark some OF the
pieces. The military and police, who
were on the watch, soon got track oft, !"
and sixteen arrests have been made.
Among them are some who are recogniz-
ed BY the servant as belonging to the
brigands' band. Part Of the money,
too, it is reported, has been found. All
the suspicious families in the environs
have been taken into custody. This
prompt action of the authorities, it is
- L. ..olnnoI n uhanlfhun i'm rrna-