The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1878-09-17
. Mia.ellann.


4 !"
Tha Seven Heroincs Of Pisa.
.rSg sr.lii+2 -idi ;.ssas ~ ass
An Embassy to Tunis--Hf4h- Hand
ed Outrage on the Dey of Harued-
. tlin--A Terrible Demand--Marge-
. rhitta Pezzi's Devotion--Punish-
F.. ment of a LecherOus Tyrant--Tri.
ssumphant Return to Pisa. saa sa
.a-a:tsa3t2 Js,.t T,s-
In the year 1479 Pisa was one of the
most foutishing cities in Italy Not as
powerful as Venice or Genoa, nor as ia
NOUS for, its literary and artistic culture
as Florence, Pisa was noted for the
wealth Of its merchants and for the sur
passing beauty of its women. ~
In fact Pisan commerce extended all
over the Old World, and some OF its
mercantile firms counted their riches by
millions. As for the women Of Pisa,
their beauty was Of peculiar style
Their hair, as rule, was auburn; their
complexion very white. delicate and
transparent, and their forms tall, slender
and graceful. In short, it was then
common saving throughout Italy, s"As
pretty as a Pisan girl" tess. 'aa' .fse'
For years past, considerable mercan.
tile rivalry had existed between Florence
and Pisa, and when the merchants of the
latter city, In the above mentioned year,
learned that the Florentines were nego.
tiating a treaty of commerce with the
Dey of Tunis, they Immediately resolved
to enter into an active competition with
them. So they dispatched on the 1stof
June, 147S, small galleon to Tunis. = !,
The vessel was freighted With a great
many valuable presents for the Dey, and
the passengers were six prominent citi-
zens Of Pisa, who were, if possible, to
persuade the Dey to cut loose from the
Florentines and to conclude CONNER
cial treaty with their own city.
E The'galleon reached Tunis q few days
later, and the six Pisan ENJOYS, landed,
soliciting an early interview with the
Dey. The Dsy was Laman Ben Harued.
din. still young, but 81 NJ -al -.ss,-
SO VERY BAD MAN. sss &s'
He was pirate, remorselessly treach-
erous, cruel and greedy in the extreme.
When he heard of the arrival of the
Pisans be ordered them to be brought
before him without delay fhey were
ushefed by two Moorish attendants into
a small apartment, furnished after the
gorgeous Abht semi bar barous Saracen
fashion.
On a low throne sat sHarueddin, who
fixed his eyes with an inquisitive expires.
sion upon'the Pisan Enjoys. They knel,
down before him, for he was proud as
the Sultan himself.
"What do you want3' he asked a,
last. 4-0
"Most gracious Dey, powerful ruler
of Tunis," repliedsthe spokesman Of the
Enyogs, "we come with presents for you
from the city of Pisa to solicit from you
the conclusion of commercial treaty
with u.s." Sst age
7a.What is the valne OF the presents
yon bring TO mer'' demanded the Dey
aThey are worth, at least ifty thousand
gold ducats." i es..f.lsa e..,3 ~.
FasFifty, thousand gold ducats,' echoed
the Dey, ,scornfully. aWhy. the pres
ents I received from the Florentines
amounted to more than double that
sum" tf'snfs''s 8 y dts
"Gracious Dey.'@' 50 =.
"Sifence, infdel dogg!" .thundered the
irate Dey "you have come 10 insult me
You shall be punished for your inso.
llence! I shall take your presents, bu,
you, too. One OF you may 60 back to
Pisa and inform your citizens that, unless
they send me at once one hppdred thou
sand gold ducats and the seven mos,
Heentiful girls in yeurcity fof myha en
I shall cause you to be impaled!"
So saying he ordered them from his
presence. sy~-r- swg-r~rv q,
They selected Andrea Menogfto gc
back to Pisa.
The rest Of them we're qoaded with
chaiilnns Chang and thrown into loathesomel d dur T
geons.
Menosi was sent on board OF the gal
leon, the valuable cargo OF which wss
confscatsd by the greedy Dey. fc,,,,,,9
When Menod reached Pisa and tcI(
ssbo 4&i his Prf,fuG Story sikG
The people wete flied with the utmds
consternationI. 81 a n4Sq @.i ss 5000
5fOne hundred Thousand oold aucat,
waS AZ thst jimr An slmost 'fabnlous ann
sArd what girls could be induced L
surrender themselves 10 the foul embra
ees Of the ruuisian Sqq,, =. f9i1a 40
H.Yet ii was ont Of the question TO leav,
tf6en ncaatti,ye Euyoyls ia the clutches Of ID,
NV ~ snoni,lar meeting was caller, 8
T6ere ii6d under the Presidency Of the Pc
5athe whole nainfnI suhiect was IA
ian ;,,fo con sideratior, Init the meetin,
adiaurhed' without COMING to anv defi
mite und erstaDdirig. s sids7s 'ssloa
IN In. evening 9fha Poilesta was marin,
his room in 4 state of extreme denres
SION when suddenly beautiful maide,
was ushered into his presence. ,al'.s =
saaMaroberitaa Pezzir' he exclaimed
sWbat brings YOU here P''l5s si.za5
II am ready to 90 to Tunis,' she re
r,lied. with flushed cheeks. 10 s2is2
ITO Tunis r cried the Podesta in SUI
l.-- u - 49, Al