Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-03-24
GARIBALDI AT HOME.
How Ae Received a Party OF Amor
can VlaftOra.

now Ae Received a Party on Amerf.
a Visitors.
Milwaukee Wisconsin,
Garibaldi lives out Of the city abont
two miles away. We therefore took
measures TO inquire if be 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 him
self, setting down this day, at 3 m.
when he would see rs. Accordingly. we
took a carriage and drove to his place.
beyond the Porte PA via Casa line. We
came to his pretty villa, not far from the
residence Of the kisg. His house is a
handsome two-story structure, of cream
color, standing with a high wall inclos-
ure, and in the midst Of a garden. with
trees and flowers aud c~onservatories
around-a pleasant and suitable home
Tor this distinguished ervant Of the
country. A servant girl, plain and SIM
pie, responds TO our ring Of the bell,
aud at once, without the least ceremony.
conducts US to the presence of that man
who, rising from the common walks of
life, and without any prestige of birth
or friends, and standing 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, filled the world with his
fame, borne an important part in rem
dering his country illustrious among
modern nations, and secured the afee.
tons Of mankind The salon into which
we came was a large plain room, with
windows south. The day was bright and
beautiful, and the sunlight filed the
loom. 1t was a room without ornament.
Tables we're around, upon which were
books and maps. In the center oil the
stood a large table, also covered
with books, maps and papers, and in
front of this table sat the eagle eyed old
man, fronting US as we entered. We at
advanced, 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, aud can only get about at
all upon his erutches. But though his
body is drawn and eramped so badly,
the brightness Of his eye is not dimmed,
even the sweetness and intelligence
OF his face diminished. and he conyersed
as ch~eerfully and freely with us as we
could have wished. 1t so happened that
one else was present to see him but
ourselves at the time. There was stand.
by the side Of the room, a little awav.
a young woman, and it occurred to VIII
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. / asked
for the children, when the servant brought
in a boy two or three years old, the pic.
ture Of his father, aud a girl six
or eight years old. | 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,
| seized her, aud paid her off with a
smscklng kiss, much to her fathers and
mothers amusement, and not evidently
to the child's dislike. Here great has.
kets Of flowers were brought, and each
guest was furnished with a beuauet OF
rare and beautiful Aowers-roses, violets.
cameIlias. Our conversation ran much
upon America, When asked what his
feeling was toward the United States, he
replied: / consider myself one of her
citizens. He did not quite urderstahd
where Milwaukee was; so, calling for a
large sheet Of paper | 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 az
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 | asked him if he could not come
to the Centennial, he pointed to his
crutcbes standing against the wall. Did
we stay q half an hour or an hour2 |
cannot say. Long enough to have the
face and form of Garibaldi las he sat
before his table and his maps, and the
surroundings, as well as his words,
deeply engraven upon our minds.