The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-01-21
THE TRIBUNE.
HOTEL INCIDENT IN THERIVIERA.
From Chambers Journal.

DllUS Europe I1UO Ito NdiIOltS IOOtAS
AM retreats.
We English 60 there to escape mist
and fog; the Russians, to avoid extreme
cold; the invalid Germans, to put
barrier between themselves and the
whitening east wind. Some again visit
it for other than sanitary reas sons.
Monaco, with its gambling attractions,
entlces and detains some, and the mere
enjoyment of a climate luxurious even
in winter invites many more.
We-that IS, my wife and myself
were enjoying a few weeks at one OF the
large hotels that are 50 numerOusly dot
ted along this coast. 1t might have
been at Hyeres, Cannes, or Nice. at
Monaco or Mentone, Bordighera or San
Reno, Savona or Pegl; or it might have
been at no one Of ali these.
We had been staying-it is sufficient
to say-at the Hotel du Bon Nlvant
about week, when there appeared at
the table d'hote very striking person
age. As soon as dinner was over, my
wife found herself by accident) near the
new arrival had entered himself as the
Baron Montecgiana -Taverneile. We
were chiefly English at the hotel, there
ance with the national Burke was limit
ed; so we easily accepted the theory
that this lengthy appellation was one of
the most ancient tides 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. 1t mnst
have been 'Ehis noble bearing, his per
feet manners, his evident desire to
please, his modest evasion of all topics
bearing on his own career, and his hand
some face. He was apparently about 30
years of age, his black hair was as glossy
as ravens plumage, and his black
flashing eyes betrayed q passionate soul;
while his thick moustache framed,
rather than concealed, a smile that If
radiated his intellectual countenance
with sweetness and light
Such, at least, was the description
given of him in one of my wifes letters
to nv mother-in-law; and I am glad
L happened to look into that let
ter, as it has saved me some little
trouble in attempting to describe him In
words of my own.
own countrymen, and, as L 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-,
III reply, that he was the only nobleman
In the place, and was, perhaps little
naughty towards his compatriots OF q
lower rank. He had also Informed her
ho4 ha hot al
for the express pupOse Of mixing with
the English, as he was expecting shortly
to receive q Governmental appointment
and for the better discharge of his pros
pective duties, a little knowledge of
English was desirable.
I 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
Monteggiana-Tavernelle, we were furth
er enlivened by another. This time it
WAS Russian lady, attended by her
maid. There were no other Russians
at the Hotel du Bon Vivant, and she
appeared to have come there rather from
necessity than by choice, as there were
no rooms vacant in the inn usually fire.
qUented by those of her nation. She
declined to enter her name In the visitors
book, and for the first two or three days
dlned In her own room, ana held 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 all for the
discovery which IN few days oOzed
out, that she was 4 Russian Princess, q
widow, who wished to remain incognita
and to live quietly in the enjoyment of
an unconventional freedom from the
obligations Of Lobility-an enjoyment
beyond her command at home.
We never fully understood how this
ooZed out. Her female attendant could
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; and,
by his mysterious shru ggings, his self
contradictions, and, above al, By his
manner. impressed Us all with the firm
belief that there was q secret in his pos
session. This, of course, confirmed the
truth of the report, and it became an
established fact that the lady was a Rus
sian Princess.
After few days of seclusion she
vouch-safed to make her appearan,e
at the table d'hotel, and retired with the
rest Of the ladies to the Sale des Danes
afterwards Then it WAS that the Baron
exhibited his Unborn as well as inherited
nobility. He attended to her little wants
placed her IN armchair by the fragrant
wood-hre, and, on receiving her thanks
in his mother-tongue,- his parents
plide, had no doubt prevented him from
le; ming any other.-he entered into a
respectful and courtly conversation with
her. There were plenty of other men
In the room who could have done it:
but the Baron was naturally The fittest
person to begin; and [ will give him
credit for boundIess f-possession--
not 70 call 1t impudence.
The acquaintance thus begun grew
with a tropical rapidity. The cold
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