Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-01-02
q Bargain I'm Naples
[CAaries Warren StOdaarfs Naples LsV.r

Charles Warren StOddqri's Naples Letter in SIN
francisco Chr0nicLe
Have you ever msde bargain in Nanlas9 7
have been cycling light cashmere suits f'Jr thres
days past, and this morainy 10 ada a nn-cS.sa
tie nature OF which shall never cease n mar
vel at An Italian friend having vJluntsered
70 ASSIST az toe ceremony, we entered a gentle
man furnishing establishment the prooristor
OF which greeted US with fraternsl warmth
What would have? Only Command him AMI T
would be served with the utmost expedition. |
wanted light suit, such as a SeIlo " might wear
through hot month and then throw ont tha
window. All, yes! lie had the very article: and
with that he rolled the clerk of from the cana
yer, Where ne was sound asleep, and pulled
Gown al avalanche OF ready made garmsntI
They were not stylish, but they would d. /
selected what seemed the least Objectionable OF
the lot, ana approached that delic its subject,
the price thereon. Beppo beamed upon me- don' Z
know what his name was, Dut it m ght eAsiIy
nave been Beppo. Beppo said, "Only 20 francs
Tor that complete and lovely OUTFIT" In struck
me that the prica was reasonable, and wa,
ABOUT TO settle the bill when niy friend pIucke 4
me by the coat-sleeye with an Expression OF
horror and exclaimed, 'You must never nav
the price asked you; make him an offer!'' /
wsDdefed II no would feel insultsd were 10
suggest 60 francs as a fair bargain. Again nv
friend saved me from dIsgracsful sacrificed
"Ofer the fellow 3d." said he. [ offered 90
francs and expected 10 be stabbed on the spot.
bIf no; Beppo thought Il q cruel thing for so
excellent gentleman as myself ia thus rob him
OF "tho finest suit Of clothss In Naples st thgt
figure! He would take 50 frsncs aud nothing
lcss, at which announcement he did the clothes
up IN parcel Make it 81 francs and stick
there" This was the last utterauce of tue m1ni-
ter al my elbow, and when L obeyed orders with
the calm elaboration of one who proposes 10
h8ht IL out on that line. poor Beppo burst into
tears and plead hts caQse. This was too muc b
for man with large family aud no mean
stomach; be might, owing to the tact that he
had secretly admired me ever since nv arrival
IL Naples make IL 40 francs; but triend5hip uu-
selfish, AID undy ing friendship, alone proinpte6
The generous sctI With that anuouncsm ant nv
friend took me by the shoul der and " 4iked me
out CT the establishment. We didn'G go far: We
tarried about the Threshold for a momsnt a ad
L was once more seized and walked back again
while Beppo embraced me tenderly, and cried
With much emotion: Take them for thirty-
i've traDcs-take them; / am ruined man,
but ! would not have you go Gus into the
world naked and foriorn for the sake of a
few souls!" Feeling by this time that [ was
quite brute, L resolved to brass t out, and
therefore, put down my ~ francs, which Beppo
received without q murmur. tragedy in i've
acts could not have so worked upon my feelings
as did the picture OF Beppo weeping in the
midst OF numerous and starving family and
this picture haunted me as [ left that unhappy
spot. A moment later Beppo was az my side
begging that wOuid allow him the p.ice of a
glass or wine,-only sousl 1t was conscience
money, and was freely given; but as l turned
the corner close AZ hand, BeppO was still watch
in his eye that reemed to say, After all this
shopping have the best OF you, nv bow" or
course the cloth Is pasted together, aud the but
tons put on with starch; bu. time is fleeing,
and perhaps shall rise into cooler latin ies hi
season to save myself.