Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-04-15
GARIBALDI AT HOME.
HOw he Received n Party of American
Visitors who Called Upon Him.

Visitors who Called Upon Him.
The Milwaukee Wisconsin prints a
letter written by Mr.. E. d. Holton, of
that city, from Rome, in which he gives
an interesting account of visit to Carl
baldi. He says: Garibaldi lives out of
the city, about two miles away. We
therefore took measures to inquire if he
would favor our party, viz: Mr.. and
Mrs. Smith and daughter, my wife and
myself, with an interview. We received
in due time an autograph letter from the
general himself setting down this day,
at two P. NJ, when he would see us. Ac-
cordingly, we took carriage, and drove
to his place, beyond the Porte Pia via
CASA line. We came to his pretty villa,
not far from the residence of the king.
His house is handsome two-story struc-
ture, of cream color, standing within a
high wall inclosure, and in the midst of
garden, with trees and flowers and
conservatories around-a pleasant and
suitable home for this distinguished
servant of his country. A servant girl,
plain and simple, responds to our ring of
the bell, and at once, without the least
ceremony, conducts us to the presence
of that man who, rising from the COM
mon walks of life, and without any
prestige of birth or friends, and stand
ing upon the one, simple, democratic
principle of the equality of men before
the law, has, by the magnitude and the
majesty of his brave deeds, filed the
world with his fame, borne an important
part in rendering his country illustrious
among modern nations, and secured the
affections of mankind. The salon into
which we came was large plain room,
with its windows to the south.
The day was bright and beautiful, and
the sunlight filed the room. 1t was
room without ornament. Tables were
around, upon which were books and
maps. In the center of the room stood
large table, also covered with books,
maps and papers, and in front of this
table sat the eagle-eyed old man, 'front.'
ing us as we entered. We at once ad-
vanced, and, without the least ceremony,
introduced ourselves. He held out his
hand, all cramped and twisted with
rheumatism, and received us sitting. He
suffers dreadfully from this disorder,
and can only get about at all upon his
crutches. But though his body is drawn
and cramped so badly, the brightness of
his eye is not dimmed, nor even the
sweetness and intelligence of his face di-
minished, and he converses as cheerfully
and freely with us as we could have
wished. 1t SO happened that no one
else was present to see him but our
selves at the time. There was standing
by the side of the room, little away, a
young woman, and it occurred to Will
liam E. to inquire for his family, when
he turned toward this lady, and said:
"That is my wife" She stepped for
ward, and we all shook hands. I asked
for the children, when the servant
brought in boy two or three years old,
the picture of his father, and girl six
or eight years old. 1 kissed the sweet
boy, and then undertook to kiss the girl,
but, with witching eyes and acts, she
undertook to hide by her mother. But,
pursuing my opportunity, 1 seized her,
and paid her off with smacking kiss,
much to her fathers and mothers
amusement, and not evidently to the
child's dislike. Here great baskets of
flowers were brought, and each guest was
furnished with a bouquet of rare and
beautiful fowers-roses, violets, camel
lias. Our conversation ran much upon
America. When asked what his feelings
were toward the United States, he re-
piled 81 consider myself one of her
citizens" He did not quite understand
where Milwaukee was; so, calling for
large sheet of paper, 1 took my pencil
and drew an outline map, showing Bos-
ton, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore,
New Orleans, and the Atlantic coast, the
Mississippi and Ohio rivers, the lakes,
and the river st. Lawrence, and noting
Cincinnati, st. Louis, Chicago, and then
Milwaukee. He seemed to have his
geography brought back to him, and was
interested to note our home SO far away
inland. Thus we chatted on. He speaks
English, but not very perfectly, but
seemed to understand all we said to him.
When I asked him if be would not come
over to the Centennial, he pointed to
his crutches standing against the wall.
Did we stay half an hour or an hour
I.cannot say. Long enough to have the
face and form of Garibaldi Gas he sat be-
fore his table and his maps) and the
surroundings, as well as his words,
deeply engraven upon our minds.