The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1874-11-26
HOTEL-INCIDENT In THE RIVIERA.

HOTEL-INClDENT In THE RIVIERA.
No one who has soiourned for while
in the Riviera is surprised at the crowds
of foreigners that are collected from all
parts of Europe into it's various hooks
and retreats. We English go there to
escape mist and fog; the Russians, to
avoid extreme cold the invalid Ger
mans, to put a barrier between them
selves and the whitening east wind
Some again visit it for other than sani-
tary reasons. Monaco, with it's gam
bling attractions, entices and detains
some, and the mere enjoyment of eli
mate luxurious even in winter invites
many more. n.
We-that is, my wife and myself
were enjoying few weeks at one of the
large hotels that are so numerously
dotted along this coast. 1t might have
been at Hyeres, Cannes, or Nice, at
Monaco or Mentone, Bordighera or San
Reno, Savona or Pegli or it might
have been at no one of all these.
We had been staying-it is sufficient
to say-at the Hotel du Bon Vivant
about week, when there appeared at
the-table d'hotesa very striking person
age. AS soon as dinner was over, my
wife found herself (by accident) near
the visitors book and discovered that
the new arrival had entered himself as
the Baron Monteggiana-Taver
We were chiefly English at the hotel,
there was no italian there, and our ac-
quaintance with the natiol.I Burke was
limited so we easily accepted the the
DRY that this lengthy appellation was
one OF the most ancient titles in the
land. We were subsequently informed
by the Baron that it was Sicilian, which
made our ignorance the more excusable.
l don't think it was his title, or, at
least, it was not only that, which made
us all so charmed with him. It must
hare been his noble bearing, his per-
feet manners, his evident desire to
please, his modest evasion of all topics
bearing on his own career, and his
handsome face. He was apparently
about 80 years of age, his black hair was
as glossy as ravens plumage, and his
black flashing eyes betrayed passion
ate soul; while his thick mustache
framed, rather than concealed, smile
that irradiated his intellectual counter
ance with sweetness and light"
Such, at least, was the description
given of him in one of my wife's letters
to my mOther-in-law; and 7 am glad
happened to look into that letter, as it
has saved me some little trouble in at
tempting to describe him in words of
my own.
The Baron mixed very little with his
own countrymen, and, as I ventured to
suggest to my wife, seemed rather shy
of them. He never went to the public
amusements, and declined to subscribe
to the Circolo. She explained to me,
in reply, that he was the only noble,
man in the place, and was, perhaps, a
little naughty toward his compatriots of
lower rank. He had also informed
her himself that he had selected our
hotel for the express purpose of mixing
with the English, as he was expecting
shortly to receive a governmental ap-
pointment. and for the better discharge
of his prospective duties, little knowl-
edge of English was desirable.
should have mentioned before that
[ only speak my own language; but my
wife can converse in italian with ease
and fuency, and the Baron very natural
ly talked with her a good deal, and oc-
casionally condescended to speak to me
by her Interpretation.
Shortly after the arrival of the Baron
g..
ther enlivened by another. This time
it was Russian Lady, attended by her
3 maid. There were no other Russians
at the Hotel du Bon Vivant and she ap
peared to have come there rather from
necessity than by choice, as there were
norooms vacant in the inn usually fire.
quented by those of her nation. She
declined to enter her name in the visi
tors book, and for the first two or three
days dined III her own room, and helc
aloof from the rest of us. This, added
to the effect produced by stateliness
not to say grandeur of department., and
rich sobrlety of dress, prepared us al
for the discovery which in a few days
oozed out, that she was a Russian Prin
cess, a widow, who wished to remain in
ecognita, and to live quietly in the en-
loyment of an unconventional freedom
from the obligations of nobility-an
enjoyment beyond her command at
home. aan
We never fully understood how this
oozed out. Her female attendant coulC
understand nothing, and therefore
could divulge nothing. The maitre
d'hotel assured his guests that he knew
no more than the rest Of the world land
by his mysterious shruggings. his self