The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1878-07-02
GARIBALDI ON HIS ISLAND.

From the London World.

From the London World.
Caprera is a small, narrow island
great rock, in fact, with few patches OF
soil here and thereof about twenty
two miles in circuit and three to four in
width, separated from the northernmost
point of Sardinia by strip of sea some
two and half miles across. The only
habitations are a few shepherds huts and
Garibaldis house situated on the west
ern side, about three quarters OF mile
on the higher ground. 1t is one-storied
building, I. e., ground floor only, divld-
ed into seven plain, unadorned rooms: a
kitchen, with appliances any small farm
er's wife in England would consider very
! ns.ticien. a lining room with plain
deal table, large enough, however, SSS'~si;;'
commodate a party of twenty.fve; a
little storeroom; three bedrooms for his
children and any friends who may land
upon the island and his own bed.cham.
Der and study combined-a good sized
room with two windows, carpetless
boarded floor like the deck of ship and
| whitewashed walls. Its chief articles OF
furniture are a plain roomy iron bed
stead, four common chairs, simple writ
ing table, an old-fashioned chest CT draw
ers, and a shower bath.
On the bed is splendid Counterpart
of white cashmere, most exquisitely en-
broidered for him in silk by the ladies of
Milan; and standing in one corner, as
carelessly placed as if they were bun
die 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 heprizes far mere
is box of tools for cultivating and en-
grating vines sent him by some friend
in England. Flung over the back of
one of the chairs is handsome poncho
of rich white material lined with red ,
the gift of distinguished Milanese
lady. Hung against the wall are tele-
scope and a binocular, both presents from
England. These were used by him III
the campaign Of 1850, and on his writing
table, together with volume of Plu-
tarch and some works on mathematics,
lies book Of harbor plans given to hin
years ago at moment of need by the
captain of an English ship in the port
of Canton. On the floor by his bedside
there is q tiger skin to step upon; above
the head of the bed hangs his mother s
portrait, and at the side is stand on
which lie a revolver and dagger.
This dagger is another record Of his
wife. She always wore it hanging from
her waist; and after her death, during
the retreat from Rome in 1849, Garibal-
di continued to carry it in remembrance
of her until he lost it from his side dur
ing the fight at Caserta, October |, 1860.
1t was found, however, by Calabrese,
who restored it to Garibaldi, and since
then its place has been by his bedside.
Unless the general rings his bell, no one
is permitted to enter his room, with the
exception only of his son Menotti. On
the walls of the dining room hang some
water colors representing episodes in the
Montevidean war of independence, a
photograph of an incident in the siege
of Venice in 1S49, and in one corner a
Brazilian lance carried by one of his ia
vorite troopers in South America. Out
side of the door of his room is Mexican
saddle, with stirrups of silver made in
the form of reversed crowns. This was
present from Mexican friend, and is
record of the battle of Melazzo. It
was when he used it there that part of
one of the stirrups was shot away by a
cannon ball.
The first on foot in the morning is the
general himself. He rises at o'clock,
and, without taking anything to eat,
goes off to look after some pets who in
habit the border and surface of small
pond not far from the house-a flock Of
geese. On the alert for his coming, they
waddle, cackle and clap their wings
to meet him. He feeds them, and then,
having gone back to the house for few
moments to get his cup of black coffee,
he sets to work in his fields until about
an hour before midday, when he returns
home, looks over and signs letters Bassi,
his secretary, has written according to
his instructions, and attends to other
matters until dinner time at noon. Some
twelve or thirteen years ago he used to
employ this hour before dinner in teach
ing little shepherd lad named Luca
Spano. The boy was little more than q
cretin; but by dint of steady, quiet per-
severance and kindness Garibaldi sue
ceeded in making something of him.
He had learned to read well, write a
good hand, and was progressing well
when, on the Gath of July, 1866, he fell
by the generals side, fighting like hero,
at Monte Suello, in the Tyrol.
After clothes were paid for, Garidal-
dis means would not, until very recent
ly, 60 far toward providing food for even
SO simple table as his; fish must be
caught and game SHARED or shot. When
fish are wanted the whole of the little
population Of Caprera rise at midnight.
The signal is given by a trumpet call
blown by the generals orderly; the
boats are launched, and the party, going
well ont to sea, cast the nets for haul,
and return soon after daybreak with
sufficient to feed the inhabitants Of the
island for couple of days, and leave a
quantity to be smoked or dried for fu-
ture provision.
Once week, every Sunday morning,
one of the Rubattino line Of steamers
touches at the Maddalena, and lands
the Caprera mail bag. 1t generally con-
tains some six hundred letters and as
many newspapers from all parts of the
world. Of these at least sixty will be
form England, Australia, and other parts
of the British dominions. containing
advice of presents sents sent to him, or
expressions of admiration for what he
has done for liberty and his country;
while he complains that too many of
those FROM Italy are filled with petulant
complaints of the government.
1t not infrequently happened that the
mail brought registered letters from
anonymous correspondents containing
five and ten pound Bank of England
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