The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1876-06-27
THE SPANISH LEGATION IN
ROME.
ny JOAQUIN MILLER.

There WAS call for soldiers in old
Rome 10 90 10 Spain ari fight for the
new Republic against the Preteuder
Don Carlos. IL was "a novel and ro-
mantle idea Ia go from the city OF the
Caesars to fight for the new Carthage.
| 80 told Spanish friend. full of advcn-
ture and ambitious for glory. aud We
two together called early one morning
At dIngy old palace which bore the
arms of Spain above its portals.
At last the lazy porter admitted US.
and led us IN. Then be limped laisily
upstairs. bowing all the way. and look
ing back. for be had Eve franc note
which Signor NJ had slipped into his
hand in the vain hope of waking him
np.
The porter limped slowly down. like
robin of frosty morning. on one leg.
and We went up.
50 The secretary of legation received us
in that most obsequnious manner pc
ton: is'a:- fn'' fn The Latin countries. He
would scarcely be seated in our pres
enoe.
:. But wish TO see his cxcellency, the
minister of Spain To the court of
italy," said NJ
But his excellency excellency
is-not-is not. Really. Signor NJ. 1t
is but twelve o'clock.
Aud at what time can l hors 10
have my card sent 10 his eSee!lency Z"
Well. really. We rise early here in
Rome AT home you know we rise at
two: here his excellency kindly acri
fees himself 10 the cares of office aud
the fortunes of his country. aud may be
seen as early as one o'clock.
The polite clerk bowed ~ he said
this bowed very profoundly, and shut
his eyes and held his breath NJ the very
mention of such sacrifice on the par,
of high bred Spaniard in all Europe.
Il will wait. said NJ. and he began
10 roll a cigarette.
Good. good, that is best; you are
the first here You will certainly. 10y
right of priority-to say nothing ct
your name--be the frs, To see bis ex
celleney."
NJ. bowed. The secretary rolled up
a cigarette. lighted it. put it in his
mouth, and blew the smoke through his
nose. n If his nose WAS double bar.
relied shotgun to bc loaded up with
paper and discharged with smoke,
There was silence. Through the
smoke saw that the coat Of the kind
secretary Was literally threadbare. The
furniture was so poor. it was reduced in
many cases 10 perfect skeletons. Standing
ON three legs like. poor broken down
horse. WAS = sofa it looked as If 1t had
| been led and Was standing before the
| door of q soap factory, waiting TO be
Knocked on the head and cut into
/ chunks. and bniled into Jelly and con
. vcrted into cakes of first class fashion
able Windsor soap. The curtains were
of another century. The carpet looked
sif /, had been marched over by the
iron feet Of time for Thousand years
The secretary was indeed very lsoor.
therefore he tried 20 be very agreeable
Again he loaded his mouth with pa
per. touched match 20 the fuse. and
turning round towards NJ. Mr. Secre
rary fred the contents of his dcu BILE
harreled nasal shot gun right into hl'
breast. NJ. too had loaded up. and
elevssing his noss. gave the secretary
as good as he sent. Then they ooit
loaded up again. and the innocent due
wen, on ,ili the dusty old clock b-gar
10 ,~,int towards ,hs time when his ex
ceilency would allow q card TO re sem
into his presence.
Rome Is tllling up rapidly" observ
oil the secretary.
"Ah."
Yes, YES. Rome. you see j. grea
Ehswl-great basin. Rome is ST. Gu
here like tub under the great hesv
ems. Well. it rains. and Rome Ellis up
Nog You do no; catch my figure
We'll, look here. Rene has grea
walls grca, round WALL that wal
suggests the rim IT basin or BOWL
Good. Now IL rains: that i, yen peo
PIE, you travellers. YOU pour into Rome
Yoa rain down upon as Hs : Ia fc'
ill us up like food HA. ha' Nov
you understand. Yoa see-and her
the secretary bowed over towards IL
~ il about ,o tell = great secres--yo'
see have written novels. l owe--i
FAC. and in oonkdenc.-l owe my posi-
{ ton here. As secretary of legation Of III
--of sse-of-of Spain'--to the fact tna
! WAS once novelist swell, men ~h