New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-09
GARIBALDFS KINDNESS.

From The 81 PetersbltrJ Obsrrrcr.
Zone day Menotti and Achilles faZzari saw on the
island of NADIA lena an unfortunate youth OF
eighteen years almost naked dirty, hungry and
trembling with cold. They had pity on him and
brought him to Caprera where the General gave
him food warmed him and offered hun home I'D
his house. Lucca, elighted, remained in the house
and was set 10 work To ash the plates and tend
the geese and goats. Lucca became very fond of the
goats. who stood on their hind legs to him. licked
his hands, and in winter lay around him as II to
keep him warm he was as 1t were one with them.
GariDaldi rather at a loss how to dress him. Tor
he had nothing but trousers and cloak, and his
children were not better oil than himself in this
respect. Garbaldl, however, had kept his military
costume as a souvenir of the glorious campaign OF
1883. He gave 1t 20 the poor idiot not because he
did not for it, but because III his great Kindness
he preferred rather to dress a poor Outcast with
what was OF real value 10 himself than to keep the
clothes as an object OF interest Thus Lucca washed
plates and kept the goats in the costume of gen.
eral in the Italian army. Though Lucca was a
CIetin, OF properly a coarse and obstinate
idiot GaIibaldi wished to educate him, feeling sure
that with patience and perseverance he could ac-
compllsh what was supposed to be impossible; and,
indeed. it became possible. At II o'clock Lucca
came to Garbaldis loom. where the General gave
him a lesson. No day passed without lesson but
every lesson torture TO Lucca. When the time
came to begin the lesson Lucca showed bad tenn
per, kissed his goats and took leave OF Them as II he
were gong 10 the guIllotlnc; caIesscd the geese,
and, pale and trembling, approached the room of
his teacher Garibaldi taught him reading and
writing for half an hour, and arithmetic for an
other half hour but poor Lucca understood nothing
of the latter. General" said the unfortunate
fellow often. if you do not open my head and put
that book into il. shall rever understand those
figures"
The war of 1866 was approaching, and the Cen
eral was preparing to go on board his ship when
suddenly his eyes fell upon the weeping face OF
Lucca. "What are you crying for, Lucca T. said
the General. " ] want to go with YOU he an
swered. avery well, out if you are killed. what
then ~ "All the better, General. Tor in Paradise
al all events, | shall not have TO learn those
blessed figures Garlbad smiled and said cry
well, come along" SO Lucca became soldier
They were now in the terrible mountains of the
Tyrol, where n few men might keep at bay whole
army. Carloads was advancing through the
gorges it was the eve of the day before the battle
of Monte-Suelo after a bloody conflict, that Lucca
Spano did not answer 10 the roll-call. The next
day Menott and Achilles, traversing the battle
field, saw two men lying dead, Garlbadean and
TyrOlean, who seemed to have attacked each other
and fallen in deadly combat The Garibaldean
was Lucca Spano his face had retained the bllssiul
smile so well known To those who saw him leave
the Generals ROOM his lessons being over When
Menott related these facts TO the General, Garbadi
hung his head and remained silent for a few
ments as Napoleon |. did when he saw Marshal
Desaix lying dead on the field OF Marengo When
the Government of the King asked Garibaldi for
the list of rewards to be distributed To the army, he
wrote at the head of the list, without saying
word, Lucca Spano." The medal awarded TO Lucca
for bravery sent 10 his sister. poor servant
and she has kept it till now. She asks herself now
and then, wonderingly, 4" Was il my own brother
Lucca Spano, who died fighting so Drayely for his
country n