The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-01-11
HumOrs of Italian Begging.

Iris fair to observe that the Italian beg
gar usually renders tribute to an abstract
idea of manhood by assuming that he
has done you some sort of service. This
service is not generally visible to the un-
aided eye, and | fancy that the magnify
g-glass of sufficient power to enable
you always to detect it has yet to be in
vented. But it is to his everlasting praise
that he often does try to throw vail OF
decency over the naked injustice of his
demand, though he is too apt to be content
with the thinnest of fabrics. l have paid
a Ncapolitan gentleman ten sous for lean
ing against dcad-wall in front of no.
tel window. The unexpectedness and the
insinuating audacity of the appeals fire.
qucntly take away your presence 6f mind
and leave you limp. There was an old
son of Naples who dwelt ON q curb-stone
near the Castcll DELI Ovo. Stumbling
on his private public residence quite UNI
Intentionally one forenoon, was immcdi-
ately assessed. Ever after he claimed me,
and finally brought hisson-in.law to me and
introduced him as person combining
many of the most desirable qualities of a
pensioner. One of isstrong points was that
he had been accidentally carried off to
America, having fallen asleep one day in
the hold of a fruit vessel.
"But, sir" 1 said, why should l give
you anything? don't know you"
"That is the reason, signOr."
At bottom it was an excellent reason.
If paid the father in-law for the pleas
ure of knowing him, was it not logical
and just that should pay the son-in- law
for the much greater pleasure had had
in not knowing him? The slightest thing
will serve, in Italy, for a lien upon your
cxchequer. An urchin who turns him.
self into Catherine-w wheel at your car
rage side, or stands on his head under
the very hoofs of your horses, approaches
you with the confidence of prodigal
son. A three-day old nOsegay thrown
into your lap gives asmall italian maiden
in one garment the right to cling to the
fOotboard of y3ur retturG until you reim-
burse her. In driving from POmpcii to
Sorrento, no fewer than fifty of these floral
tributes will be shOwered upon you. The
little witches who throw the flowers are
very often pretty enough to be caught
and sculptured. An inadvertent glance
toward fellow sleeping by the
roadside places you at once in a
false position. 1 have known an
even less compromising thing than q
turn of the cyclid to establish financial re.
lations between the stranger and the ma
tive. l have known q sneeze to do it
One morning, on the Mole at Venice, al
unassuming effort of my own in this line
was attended by amost unexpected result
Eight or ten young ragamutfins, who had
been summing themselves at a gondola.
landing, instantly started up from a re-
cumbent posture and advanced upon me
in scmi-circle, with "Salute, signor, sa
luter" One of these youths disturbed q
preconceived idea Of mine by suddenly
exclaiming, with an oath:
II am boy, Americana"
As had not come so far from home tC
relieve the necessities of my own country
men, and as reelected that possibly this
rogue's companions were also profant
Americanos, I gave them nothing but ;
genial smile, which they divided among
them with the resignation that seems to bt
a national trait.-Thomas Bailey AIdrich
| in Atlantic for January.