Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-04-15
OSHKOSH IN THE VATICAN.
Dr. }. N HYDE of Chicago. in the Overland for April


rugged youths, full of music AMI am
bition, whom our great West has con-
tributed TO the roll of officers OF the
United States Navy. His exterior,
it must be confessed, was neither
that of a Beau Brumm nor yet OF
an Admirable Crichton. He was, it
was true, large of limb and tall OF
statue; but then he had also red hair,
square brows and jaw, struggling
beard, and wide set teeth He spoke
the French and German languages as
though be was cracking nuts betw cen
those same teeth, and his appearance
in the dance was highly suggestive
of the motions of the farmhouse in
his old home at Oshkosh, Wis.
When his vessel, the United States
sloOp-of- Musk aloosa, was station
ed at Civita Vecchia 10 Italy, in the
year 1866, be visited the Eternal
City on leave OF absence, and took
up his residence in the Hotel de
Rome, on the Corso. He was assign
ed an apartment on the third floor of
that spacious hostelry, and there he
soon forgot the ship biscuit and salt
pork that are as inseparable from sea-
cruising 10 the Mediterranean as in
less historic waters.
1t happened that his room faced
upon an ally, on the other side of
which was large stone residence,
one of whose windows was exactly
opposite his own. This circumstan
of itself would hardly require men-
ton, were it not for the additional
fact that twice every day-at 10 in
the morning and 4 in the afternoon
he discovered he had for vis-a-vis
girlish faca and graceful figure of q
lovely young Italian. The rough
stone-work of the old walls made a
frame that contrasted delightfully."-
with the bright icture it inclosed.
The Lieutenant concluded that he
had never seen anything half so
beautiful before. Whether this was
due to that isolation from all repre-
sentatives of the sex which is inciden-
tai to the life of sailor, or to the
natural susceptibility Of the heart Of
youth, is a matter of conjecture. 1t
can only be said that, with him, to
look was to look long and often, and
surprise was soon succeeded by ad-
miratiOn.
The young lady, Signorina Aliza
Cozzi. was related 10 Monsignore
Bella, gentleman well known in all
political and religious circles in Rome.
He was understood to have decided
inclination to wear upon his head the
hat of cardinal. Bat of this, of
course, Lieutenant Dixon Knew moth
ing. He only cav clearly enough
that the young girl was about 10
years old, and had great iustrous
black eyes that served double pur-
pose they not oLly gave forth the
iniescribable light that dances IN the
eyes of youth and beauty, but they
also reflected portraits of young gem
tlemen with red cheeks and incipient
whiskers. Her hair was black and
almost as plentiful Of light as her
eyes. And as to her figure, that was
as graceful and 1.-the as the form OF
the Sabine beauties that her remote
ancestors led back captive and reluc-
tant brides to their homes in ancient
Rome. Dixon could hardly blame
those old Latin bachelors.
She did not apparently notice the
advances made Oy her neighbor, but
we may be quite confident that she
had q suspicion of the trouble brew"
ing beneath the brass buttons that
covered his broad chest, for although,
looking, it must be confessed that he
concluded by actually throwing kisses
to her across the ally, and finging
expensive bouquets into her lap. L
hope the fair Aliza, should this chron-
icle ever reach her eyes, will pardon
the publication of these details. 1t
must be remembered that she was
only young lady, and had neither
the required strength nor skill to
fling the boquets back again. On
these occasions she rose hastily from
her seat, and thus the flowers fell to
the floor. But somehow they after
ward invariably found their way to
her toilet table; and somehow, also,
it always happened that when be was
at his window she was at hers. Aft
fairs was rapidly progressing toward
that point when it seemed as il the
new hotel and the old pension were
to be on most excellent terms with
each other, when one morning our
Lieutenant heard the young lady
singing Rossini's exquisite cavatina,
"Una Yoce" The voice was that Of
sweet and rich contralto, and the
words of the native tongue of the fair
Italian seemed to the American toll
of meaning. 1t led him to form a
sudden conclusion. He would secure
an introduction to her at all hazards
He made no delay in his efforts. IL
was easy to discover her name, and
he learned incidentally Of her rea-
tionship to Monsignore Bella. Now
it so happened that be had already
been introduced to .monSignore at a
reception given by the American
Minister at Rome at the legation
His plan was then soon perfected
he would go to monslgnore, and ask
for a letter OF introduction-not to
the young lady, but to her father. #
could not but happen that be would
thus be put in mmunication with
the daughter. Lieutenant Dixon
drove st once to the Piazza di Spagna,
where the gentleman be sought lived
in apartments.
1t has been already remarked that
Monsignore Bella was exceedingly
anxious to place upon his head the
bat of 8 cardinal. At this very time
he was up to his ears in all sorts OF
plans and projects, looking to his adj
vauoement in the church. He, how
L