The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1878-07-10

4nc LouuOu UcFtu Vi MAY ~
says:
Caprera is a small narrow island
great rock in fact, with q few
patches of soil here and thereof
about twenty-five miles in circuit
and three or four in width, separa-
ted from the northernmost part OF
Sardiuia-as Yalentia is from the
coast of Kerry-by a strip Of sea
some two and o bali miles across. 1t
was once well known to the British
sailor, for it lies close to the NADIA
lena, n of Nelson's stations in the
Mediterranean. The only habita-
tons are a few shepherds huts and
Garibaldi's house, situated on the
western side, about three-quarters of
a mile on the higher ground. 1t is
a one-storied building, 1. e., q ground
floor only, divided into seven plain,
unadorned rooms; a kitchen, with
appliances which a small farmer'swife
10 England would consider very
insufficient; a dining-room with a
plain deal table, large enough, how
ever, to accommodate twenty-five; q
little s~tore-room; three bedrooms for
his children and any friends who may
land upon the island; and his own
bed-chamber and study combined-a
good-sized room with two windows,
zone to the east, the other to the
south,) a carpetless boarded floor
like the deck of a ship, and white
washed walls. Its chief articles of
furniture are @ plain, rocmy, iron
bedstead, four common chairs, a SIM
pie Writing-table, and old-fashioned
chest of drawers, and a shower-bath.
Everything is of the most ordinary
Kind, but there is no affectation of
Spartan simplicity, and in striking
contrast to the modest aspect of the
place are a number of things scat
tered about. On the bed is a splen-
did counterpart of white cashmere,
most exquisitely embroidered for him
in silk by the ladies of Milan /; and
standing in u corner, as ~carelessly
placed as if they were q bundle OF
sticks, are several swords Of honor,
with Damascus blades and hits Of
gold set with gems, presented to him
by his fellow countrymen of Nice,
Rome, and other cities; but what be
prizes far more is a box of tools fol
cultivating and migrating vines
sent him by some friend in England
Flung over the back of n Of the
chairs is a handsome poncho Of q
rich white material lined with red
the gift Of a distinguished Milanest
lady. Hung against the wall are 6
telescope and a binocular, both pres
ents from England. These wer'
used by him in the campaign of 1860
and on his wriling-table, together
with a volume of Piutdrch and SOM
works on mathematics, lies q book o
harbor plans given to him years agC
at a moment of need, by the captain
of an English ship, in the Port o
Canton. One the floor by his bed
side there is a tiger skin to step upon
above the head of the bed hangs hi
mothers portrait, and at the side il
a stand on which lie a revolver and
dagger. This dagger is another re
cord of his wife. She always wor'
it hanging from her waist and ate
her death, during the retreat from
Rome in lS49, Garibaldi continued
to carry it in remembrance Of her
until be lost it from his side during
the fight at Caserta on the LIST o
October, 1860. Ii was found, how
ever, by a Calabrese, who restored j
to the General, and since that it!
place has been by his bed side. Tn
less the General rings lis bell 70 ort
is permitted to enter his room, will
the exception only Of mis- son Menotti
On the walls of the dining room hang
some water colors representing cpl
sodes in the Montevidean wal of in
dependence, a photograph of an Incl
dent in the seige Of Venice in 1919
and in one corner a Brazilian lance
carried by enc of his favorite trooper:
in South America. Outside the dool
of his room is a Mexican saddle, with
stirrups Of silver made in the form Of
reversed crowns. This YVES a present
from a MEXICAN friend. and is q re
cord of the battle Of Aelazzo. 1t was
when be used it there that part o.
one of the stirrups was shot away BY
q cannon ball. 4 little to the north
Of the cottage stands one Of those
portable iron habitations for colonial
use sent to Garibaldi from England
It's four little rooms and kitchen are
occupied by Bassi, his secretary, and
opposite to it is the mill where the
-four for the Generals family and
household is ground. The household,
however, ia net numerous. II mum
bers but three persops-,an old sol
dieF. a Venetian ~emigrapt, WHO act;
as the Generals Orderly, and serves
for love, not for money aRotber man
who cooks, aud a woman to do the
washing and tidying-up. The guests
at Caprera are required to make their
oar beds.