The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-06-29

which Christopher never paid, neither did
the bank protest it. The directors of the
said bank never called upon him for pay
ment. They considered it glory enough
to furnish the money which ended in such
glorious results. This old guide would
not let us touch it, but held it aloof, and
was not satisfied until he had safely depos-
tied it in its receptacle and turned the key,
tried the door to see if it was securely
locked, and put the key in his pocket. l
have been told that our government at one
time offered the Italian government the
sum of $50, 600 for this very identical note,
but the offer was refused. Poor Columbus
died in prison and in chains. Jealousy.
hatred and malice combined, crushed out
his noble life. | saw also the table at
which he sat with the wise men of Genoa,
discoursing about his discoveries, and
where one thought that it was not such a
| nonderful thing to discover America, Co
lumbus, picking up hard boiled egg, re-
quested him to set it on end, and soon he
had the whole table trying the experiment.
They tried, and tried, and tried, but with
out accomplishing the feat. At last, when
they had all given it up, Columbus quietly
cracked the egg down upon the table, broke
the she'll, and the egg stood alone. This
little incident was a sufficient rebuke to
them, and it told them how easy it was to
do anything, ''f you only know how
In this same palace is the violin of Pa
ganini. 1t is inclosed in glass case, and
is said to have been removed once, and that
was to permit famous Italian performer
and his former pupil have forgotten his
name-to perform upon it. Paganini was
very wealthy. He was peculiar in his dis
position, and many strange stories are told
about his strange freaks. Over his violin
is placed his portrait. Paganini also died
in prison. He was imprisoned for debt;
not because he could not pay, but would
not This violin accompanied him in his
solitary confinement, and it is said that he
composed "The Carnival of Venice !" while
in prison. Although Paganini may have
had his faults, yet he had his good quail
ties. He would perform for charitable OBJ
iects when gently approached and would
contribute cheerfully to their support. He
died worth about $4,000. Like List, the
great French composer, he had a very mo
rose, peculiar disposition. He was in fact
called The Devil" While speaking of
List | am reminded of pleasant little
chapter in his life, which l will here relate
A young lady at one time proposed to give
concert in the interior of Germany. She
advertised that she had a pupil of List.
She did this because she thought it would
add prestige to her name. She had never
been u pupil of List and had never seen
him. She thought that she would practice
this little piece of fraud upon the people,
and thereby reap golden harvest. The
evening for the performance came round,
when behold there appeared a strange look
ing, gray headed old gentleman at the
hotel and registered his name as Franz
List The young girl saw that she was
in trouble, for here was the very man in
town-the man of ali men she did not want
to be about. So thinking the matter over,
she concluded that her best plan would be
10 see List and make clean breast of it.
She did see him, and told him what she
had done, how very poor she was, how she
supported her aged mother, and made such
pitiful story that poor old Liszt COM
menced to cry and requested her to take a
seat at the piano and to play over the pieces
cba i,fa ja2 RI perforp, b.f Sbo
did so, List suggesting improvements here
and there. After she had played for an
hour or so, List asked her if she had yet
posted her bills announcing the evenings
performance. She said she had not. He
then suggested to her to add postscript,
stating that her teacher, Franz Liszt, would
appear in the last piece and perform with
her a duet, and to advertise that he had
been her teacher, for had he not just given
her lesson? The hall was crowded. The
poor girl was well recompensed, and List
went on his way glad in heart. List lives
in royal magnificence in Paris. He is a
very odd, peculiar man, but l think the
foregoing story will show that he has 4 ten
der heart.
The old bank of Genoa is now used as
sort of custom house. 1t is two and a
half stories in height, grey in color, and
has heavy iron bars at the windows. The
chief banking room is large and airy; the
steps, which are of stone, are half worn
through by the tread of centuries. The !
books of the bank are still there. and no
doubt would be interesting to any person |
who can understand them; the same desks, |
the same wooden Chairs the same books |
are all there, but the same money hath |
taken unto itself wings and flown away.
Many, many years age, this bank did the
largest business of any banking institution
in the world, but like many of our modern
banks, commenced to dabble in things not |
legitimately belonging to the banking bust
ness, became involved and busted up" |
When the old bank of Genoa failed, many |
of the old Italians thought the world was
coming to an end, for they reasoned "what |
was the use in world, if we have not got |
the Bank of Geuoa?" But the old lady |
had to succumb to the pressure of the times,
and all that she has left behind her is an
old white square building, any quantity of
ledgers half dozen of chairs, and pro-
mssory note given by Christopher Column
bus. Genoa is called "La lSuperJa," the
hldpulICeuG. IL is Truly Il Deautllul Guy. |
After staying for three days, got on board |
the steamer India and went to Naples, in |
order to get on steamer. You must be
rowed out to them in a row boat, as the |
steamers cannot approach the shore or
wharf In the Gulf of Genoa the flag of |
every nation was floating from the mast
head of their respective vessels, with the
exception Of the Sta S and Stripes did |
not see our country's flag among the num-
Der. The captain Of the vessel and a bosom
crony parted with each other when we ar
rived at Naples; they kissed each other as |
aiiectionately as two young school girls. |
could not help thinking to myself, there is
one kiss wasted. 1t seems strange Gus
tom to see two men deliberately kiss each |
other, but it is custom of the country, |
Il I RI INT |