The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-27
LA BELLA S0RRENTlNA.
nom ne CoyaiH n10auns.
WOnciulcdJ
CHAPTER III.

MOnlu DtuiNiNi NsAth TtA 'ihi7''s 'N''' 49,
soul 10 wo. X at the tn X Of learning to Do
a gentleman Reading, writing. and
tritle of arithmetic ne had already been
taught, after fashion; but something
more than this would, he presumed, be
necessary before he could be considered
ut TO associate with foreign dukes ana
princes. He therefore began by closely
observing the manners and dcmeanor OF
the rich fofcsticn who froquented Sor-
rento during tho winter months, ana VINO
often hired his boat 10 sail over 10 capri
and the famous Blue Grotto; but after
long and conscientious study, lie found
himself unable to obtain any hints from
them. Tint there was difference be
tween his ways and theirs he could easily
see, but in what II consisted lie could not,
for the life OF him, discover; nor did he
think that he should ever succeed in iini-
tatiug those gentlemen with any appear
ance of ease.
In this perpexitv he decided on apply
Tug to one Antonio BaSsano, surnamed
Bottiglia who in those parts enjoyed II
great reputation for sngnCIty and kuOWl-
edge OF the world, and who. according to
his own account, was Il man OF much Cul-
ture and rtiiucd education. lie owed his
nickname partly TO AN alleged penchant
Tor drink and partly to the PECULIARLY OF
bis figure. lie was "A wzenCd, wrinklCd
Old man, who should by rights have been
lean. but who, by freak OF nature, had
become afflicted with stomach OF the
bow window order; 80 that. with his long
neck ami spherical body, ne did bear some
resemblhncc To the bottles IN which many
OF the South Italian wines are kept. lie
lodged Ia sorrento, and lived principally
at the expense Of his utighbOrs. COntriNiug
60 accept 1aVors IN such u manner rs TO
convey the impression that the donor was
the o liged party.
To this astutc person Luigi presented
himself abruptly. one evening
BOttiglLi.' SAID he. d" want you to
Teach me o behave like a gentleman. How
long Will it take you, and what Will you
punrgeY
gentleman, indeed" exclaimed Bot
ngila, looking up over his horn spcctacles
with infinite scorn. "llave YOU come INTO
nfOrtuuc, then, Luigi R.lttaN'
What has that To do with III | tell you
what want. and offer to pay for 1t. If
you don't like the job. or can't do 1t, say
20. aud Will go somewhere elsa
Gently, gently my dear young I lend;
DO not let u- lose our ttmper- this warm
weather. Well, will do my best with you,
and certainly You were right 10 come to
me; perhaps theie Is no other man within
evenly miles who cOnld have helped you
~ can. But what ia the world YOU should
wish To be like u gentleman ioI--you who
are simple fisherman, and never will be
anything che
" Neverm'n that, Bottigla. Now, what
payment VIII You ask -
Upon TIL question there was rather
lengthy discussion, each man trying To get
.tnt ItlNfI N' Allf iti4NI uAAtA Tue lllllt-
bonorod Italian fashion; bot finally il was
amcably arranged that Luigi shOnld pro-
yide his perceptor with supper three times
q week, Oh which occasions the latter war
To give the h,neht # his experience in the
uuatt"i ~ Department ANA polite CONVEX
satiDu, while one evening III every week
vns To be devoted To the study Of call
FTaphS ana literature. at an outlay of one
lifG per lo,-ui-thC incntal Strain dtmaud-
eli from the teacher on sucn occasions be-
tng, is BOtugna pointed cut. excessive.
The compact wa- Vigorously observed
on both sides for time; hut It soon be-
came evident that that part OF It winch
related to the outward appearance ana
conduct OF "a gentleman was hardly likely
10 prove II siicces~. Lug. AFTER practising
bOwlng, hanulng char. leaving and en-
teriug "A room, opening the door Tor lady,
aud so FOL Tn, during three weeks, WAS inln
90 give il up n II bad job. lie burst into
roar OF laughter one night. when old An
toulO was backing ana pusturing before
him, ana throwing himself MO "A chair
declared he would play the fool in tins
way no lon-er.
1t Is no use, Botiiglia, he said. You
VIII never make me INTO noble SignOr.
ALI as God created me, and ~ l must re-
mnn. After ali, what does IL signify
whether a man bows IN this way or in that,
so that he does what Is civilf'
"Alusi yes sighed Antonio. You
oannOt turn "A thistle INTO a rose. or an ass
(without being offensive to youl into an
Arab steed. You are common man, my
poor lul-l-d very con mon man, ana 4
Tear that, ns you say. there is little use IN
trying to refine you. Now to me, OH The
other hand refinement ana elegance are
~ second nature; but then, To be sure,
lam OF noble descent | could mention
names among my relatives that would as
tonish YOU, were II not that Boosting Is "A
thing foreign TO my tcmperament But,
continued Antonio, having an eye 10 his
suppes Z" II II early days to despair yet.
Let us continue our course; perhaps IN the
end may yet make you presentable."
" No, no, answered Luigi; II Is a
waste Of time and trouble. You shall read
90 me instead, and improve my mind"
Bottglia did not quite approve OF this
suggestion, which entailed greater
amount OF eXeltion on his part than he
had bnrganed for; but he guve IN at
length, in consideration Of a somewhat
tpcI eilsed allowance OF WINE, and thence
forth regularly produced, after supper,
some greasy dog scared volume which lie
bad picked up for few soidi and read
from it, IN Il monOtouous, sing-song voice,
till his auditor was fast aslecp-a consume
nation which II seldom took more than u
quarter OF an hour 20 effect, Sometimes II
wis TnsSO, sometimes ATiOstO. sometimes
novel, and sometimes IA newspaper 1t
did not greatly signify the result was al
ways the same. and WAS considered equally
satisfactory by both parties concerned.
Thus, in "A slow, logged fashion, Luigi
set about the work OF ms cduca on, hay
Ing always before him "A dim expectation
chat AnnuuZata would one day come back
10 sorrento, De saIlsnru Win the progress
he had made, and consent TO their speedy
nuptials. That II might be well tor him to
seek her out was an idea that had not as
yet suggested itself 10 hun. He certainly
was young man of remar kahle patience.
From OLD MARTA, who was now IN easy
circumstances, thanks to the money sent
her by her niece, he got occasional news of
the tnumphs of his beloved. Messages,
too, were frequently transmitted 10 him
from her nj first; but as the time went on
these messages became rareT aud rarer,
and at last ceased altogether
she does not mention your name"
Marta would say impatieuily, IN answer TO
his repeated inquiries "Nhat would YOU
havei She has other things aud other poo
pie 10 think OF now
Aud then Luigi would walk sadly away,
WIN his head bent down, and would not
uhilepu'ntiy quarrel with BoiUgiia after
ward lie hnd long since conhded his hopes
" thlt worthy, ho had laughed them Ia
,corli' M he found that by do ng 80 he was
~ dnuger OF losing his pupil, when he had,
OF course, adopted u different Inc OF con
quot. II wiss he who suggested thar Luigi
should write Il letter to the absent tair one.
and who under took 10 compose for him
such one as should 1T once touch The
heart OF the recipient, and show hcr that