The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1878-08-16

toilet, impressed her countryman rs ;
remarkably fne woman that morning
The fact is worthy of record, because
Mrs Ellison was destined never TO 81
) impress Mr. Culworthy again.
After the table dh0te dinner Mr. Cul-
worthy seated himself in the hotel gar
den, where a band of music was playing
Mrs Ellison appeared suddenly, ant
rushed past him, with rustic and hut-
ter Of draperies, toward a group of hel
friends seated at the table.
Il have secured it at last" she cried
gayly. "Oh, it is such ducl."
She placed on the tablethe pharainacy
jar, amid the laughter and exclamation:
of her companions.
Mr. Culworthy, spectator of The scene
bounded on his chair, and his cigar
rolled away on the gravel. He gained
the artists room with long strides.
"You told me the jIr was not for sale,
he said in a tone of Irritation.
The artist, surprised, shrugged his
shoulders.
Mrs Ellison insisted ON buying it,and
she has been a most generous patroness,1
he explained. "Idid rot wish TO sell, and
actually set The price at 80 francs, to
escape; but she paid the money, and
carried Of the Jug"
"Silly woman" exclaimed Mr. Cul.
worthy "Ier husband should not rer-
nit her to run about Europe throwing
money right and left. American men
are fools, let me tell you, sir; and if any
villain makes love to their wivesin these
cities, they have themselves to thank
Such folly!'
Next Mr. Culworthy invited the artist
to dine with him. Never was pharmacy
jar more valuable than the lost one,
especially now that it had become unat-
! tainable.
Mr. Culworthy had fumed for twenty
four hours over the disappointment and
ragged at the head strong perversity and
extravaganza of woman, which had led
Mrs Ellison to gain the advantage of
him. .... ........ ........
This pharmacy jar would have fur
nished missing link in the department
Of Italian majolIca of the museum at
home.
The artist, good natured man, per
ceived clearly what was expected Of him
by his host.
He lighted his cigar over the desert.
and explained that the jug came from
priests collection. He had indeed bought
it for mere song.
In Italy the clergy still retain some
articles Of value. amidst much rubbish
chiefly CLEANED from the sequestered
converts and collections seized by the
Government. To discover these treas
ure houses one must seek the by-ways Of
frequented hill cities, climb dilapidated
stone steps, ring at narrow, dark doors,
be first cautiously inspected through a
grating, and then admitted by the priests
mother, perhaps, or his sister in-law, a
reserved and taciturn woman, who may
display nothing, or take from the lumber
of great bare rooms; with their brick
floors, an ivory crucilix worthy Of John
Of Bologna, exquisite specimens of an
tique glass, rare coins. gold and silver
medals, the gorgeous fabrics CT church
vestments, a bit Of old lace, and aience.
Such collections exist at Perugia, Cor
tona, Siena and Orvie.o.
HBut where did your priest live?'
questioned Mr. Culworthy eagerly.
The artist leaned back in his chair and
laughed.
"He dwelt not a thousand miles from
Volterra," was his reply. ..-
In the ensuing month Of November
Mr. CuIworthy reached Volterra. Why
not? He had always intended to make
a final tour of the Italian cities. En- route
his rancor had not abated toward his fair
country-woman. He had often repeated
to himself "What does she know about
cerHmic ART?
In his portmanteau wasa large Volume
by Chaflers, a hand book of monOgrams,
in English, and another, containing ii
history Of pottery, in French. Thus
armed, Mr. Culworthy felt himself pre-
pared to meet the priest on his own
ground.
The setting sun famed across the cur
ious old city as he entered it By post
carriage. Here was Volterra, one Of the
twelve towns of the ancient Etruscan
League, claimed 10 have existed since
800 years after the flood, even as Fiesole
asserts itself 10 have been the first town
built by Noah on leaving the ark. ac
cording to venerable chroniclers That
setting sun revealed the ramparts, the
fearful ravine of the Balze, which yawns
ever wider to ingulf convent and wall;
and all those dark, narrow streets, which
where the gnomes fashion snow into
delicate shapes in the alabaster toys of
the dingy little shops. Beyond we're the
Etruscan tombs, and that wild expanse
of country, mounds Of cracked clay,
parched stubble fields, thin threads of
tiny rivers stretching to the distant
Mediterranean, bearing on its glistening
surface such gems as the Islands of Elbl
and Gorgona, crimson and purple in the
glorious atmosphere.
Mr. Culworthy stopped at the hotel,
read Cha1er's work with much profit all
the evening, went TO bed, and dreamed
that Volterra was sown thickly with
pharmacy jars ofall sizes and colors. The
voice of Mrs Ellison was even threaded
through his slumbers, exclaiming, "Oh,
what ducks" 81 ..
When one is in search of mine one
does not re cal the intention 10 every
casual observer. Mr. Culworthy wary
from experience and by nature, did not
show his hand Immediately TO Gaping,
idle Volterra- He went about with his
red guide book, visiting the Etruscan
tombs and convent before permitting
himself to search for the priests resi-
dence. Finally he sought the address
given by the artist at Geneva. What
should he discover?
The traveller familiar with Volterra
cannot fail to remember a crumbling
archway connecting several dark lanes
where a taper burns in lantern before
the shrine of a Madonna in terra Gotta,
protected by sort of glass window, and
a faded wreath of flowers is suspended
below Just beyond the arch large
house, once a palace, arrests attention by
a tsar+x;, 4 .v,o,,ldx- orarrerIr