The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-10-13

British eccentricity chosen that season CT the
year to make the sea trip thither from the
Tyne.
The carnival was at its height, and OF
course was a frequent spectator thereof.
Every evening of the week of its duration
we regularly landed, as the gun from the
arsenal in front of San Giorgio Maggiore
doomed the hour of eight and made our
way to the center of festivily, the Place of
st. Mark which was well nigh impossible
from the lounging, chattering, gesticulating
trick-playing crowd which surrounded the
dancing stage erected under the very shad-
ow of the gaunt, grave old Campanile.
We we're not very much impressed with
the character of the fun. Upper-class Ven
ice certainly did not condescend TO play the
fool in costume, either because it was too
chilly for such exercise, or because it was
more dignifed to patronize comfortably
from the warm and brilliantly lighted rooms
of Florian's or the Quadri But lowerclass
Venice entered into the affair with zest, and
like lower class anywhere else marked their
enthusiasm and delight at the temporary es-
cape from order and decorum by horse-play
and practical joking of a substantial rather
than a refined nature.
The best feature of the whole affair to our
minds was the anticking of a company OF
Pierrots, who we were told, were young gen.
tlemen of position. Wherever they went
there was fun and merriment of the genuine
carnival type, although similar exhibition
on the part, say of Oxford or Cambridge I'M
dergraduates would, according TO our ideas,
be deemed childish and an anachronism.
An hour or so, however, of pushing and
squeezing amid hot tobacco -and-g arlic-im-
pregnated crowd was enough for US, so we
adjourned to German restaurant famous
for its beer. The place was crowded. and
was dense with smoke, so that we only
gained the beer by our exchange but we
were assured that there would be some fun
presently, so we waited.
Presently the Pierrots came in, tipping off
hats grimacing at old ladies, smiling and
protesting ardent love to young and comely
ones; swilling any beer that came handy,
screeching horribly through tin horns, I'M
der the guidance of gorgeously dressed in
dividual who carried a silk banner. This
man attracted general attention from his
absurd antics and his admirable burlesque
acting; but he rivted mine in particular be-
cause under the mask of rouge and whiten-
ing recognized a rejuvenated edition Of
Jackson.
They visited every table in succession. Of
fering crackers and confetti jabbering the
most absurd nonsense, until they reached
ours. One of the Pierrots coming to me, |
beseeched him, in the best Italian [ could
muster, to drop Momus for minute, and to
tell me who the leader was.
oh" said he, hes an American who
lives at the Hotel Danieli-very rich, very
rich"
Thanks" 1 replied.
Jackson came prancing and pirouettlng up
to our table, and, apparently not observing
me, commenced volley of utter nonsense
in most viliainous Italian in the ears of my
friend.
''He's not an italian, or Pm Dutchman,"
said my friend to me in a whisper
mo" said |. aloud, "his names Jackson,
and he lives at Brixton. Look out, or he'll
ask you for the loan of EGO to carry him back
to his starving wife and children"
Jackson started, and dropped his bag of
confetti in his utter amazement.
YES" l continued, rising and holding
him by the lapel of his embroidered coat,
you're a regular swindler, and 1 dare say
you little expected to find anyone who
would recognize you in such a guise at such
a time and place, and I'm going to be even
with YOU"
BY this time he had recovered his self
possession, and calling his troupe, pointed
me out as an English lunatic, who was call
ing him swindler. The effrontery stirred
my blood up, and l repeated my accusation
III louder tones and with additional epithets
This seemed to rouse the Pierrots who re-
sented such an attack upon one whO for the
time being, at least, was one of them; and by
their threatened geSticulations and fierce jab
behring's l saw row was imminent The peo-
pie in the restaurant, too, who had hitherto
imagined that the whole affair was part of
the evenings entertainment, when they
learned the real state of affairs, that gen
tleman Pierrot had been called swindler
and BLACKBOARD by an English stranger
came crowding around and l believe in an
other minute we should have been turned
neck and crop out of the room, if not other
wise maltreated, had 1 not called out at the
top of my voice: us there any Englishman
here who can speak Italan?' There was ST.
lence for moment, then a gruff voice from
a distant corner said:
eyes, can speak the lingo amt been
here for ten years without larnin' it. What
is it, sr?'
1 explained to the speaker, who was big
burly fellow, attired as sailor, how matters
stood.
well, I'm bowed" he said, when had
finished, chats the very same chap that
did me t'other day-just the same story
every bit ont. YOU'RE right sir, and con-
found the mounseers, says l, Jes let me get
a hold on him, and Ill"
What he would have done did not tran
spire, for he jumped up from his seat
elbowed his way through the crowd, and
made to where Jackson had been standing
But Jackson had gone.
The next day 1 went to the Hotel Danieli
"Does any one of the name of Jackson, an
Englishman, live here?" 1 asked of the
landlord.
No, sir" he replied; 1--WE have but one
guest in the house and his name is Vincent,
and he is an American-very rich, sir, very
rich"
SIS he in the house now?' 1 asked "for 1
have some particular business with him."
"Pll see, SIR" replied the landlord, ring
ing the bell rs the American gentleman
at homer he asked of the waiter.
mo sir" replied the man; she came IN
about midnight from the carnival, changed
his dress and went away again, saying he
would return"
l called two or three times during the
week, but Jackson, alias Vincent, had not
turned up, and the landlord was in despair,
as his visitor had not paid his bill for fort
night.
We left shortly after, but 1 very much
doubt if Jackson was seen in Venice again.
Quite eight years afterward [ took my
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