Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-07-29
Gales aud Sketthes.
THE CRosBY's COURIER.
Continued from yesterday

Continued from yesterday
| But on the other hand, he was capable,
ready and perfectly at home everywhere.
He spoke four languages fluently. he knew
all the galleries and museums, and was
an excellent guide.
| But few men of his class can withstand
the temptation of being unduly trusted
and deferred to by supplemented Amer
| lean family, who have no idea of distinc-
tions of rank, or the barriers which Euro
pean habits create between master and
servant. barriers which may be crossed by
any amount OF kindness and courtesy.
even friendlness. but never by familiarity,
| or the manner which does away with in
equality of station.
| This is rather long explanation, but
it seems worth while to make it, because
the position of domesiics is so widely diff
ferent in America and Europe. 1t is hard
! for an American who has seen his coach
man or errand- boy rise to be railroad
king or leading politician. to realise that
in Europe such rise is almost impossi-
| BILE.
Still harder is it tor him to find out that
an air of deprecating politehess addressed
W lIItsc WOItulcS CACitCS tdluCi liVlL VIII
tempt than their gratitude. Many good
courier has been spoiled, tempted to cheat.
allowed to take impertinent liberties by
the mistaken indulgence of an American
employer, and has needed series of sharp
lessons from his subsequent patrons to re-
store him again to usefulness.
1t was not till the Crosby family had
crossed the Channel that this process Of
deterioration began with Giuseppe. By
that time he had taken the measure of his
employers, and had found out that he
could do pretty much as he liked with
them.
Mr. Crosby, a shrewd business man on
his own familiar ground at home, was
suffering from overworked nerves, and
desired of all things to be saved trouble
and worry. Giuseppe purposely made
out all his accounts in French. His writ
ing was of that foreign perpendicular de-
scription which is so hard to read. 1t
was great deal easier to look at the sum
total and pay it. than to analyze the de-
tails, and Mr.. Crosby usually did the for
mer.
Expenses gradually increased. but none
of the party knew what expenses should
be. but though Mr.. Crosby scolded some
times over the cost Of the journey, neither
he nor anyone else guessed at the steady
system of peculation which was going on
or that they were paying half as much
again for everything as other travellers
did
Giuseppe did more than. defraud the
Crosbys Gradually he became their ty-
rant Emboldened by impunity, he
Irr, . f,,i h nt, bod
been so pleasant, and assumed tone of
lazy authority.
All the time the family were in Switzer-
land this grew worse and worse. He took
the best things and left them the second
best. Mrs. Crosby carried her own shawl
and bag now. She did not quite dare to
ask her lordly attendant to relieve her Of
them.
1t became so marked that the people
they met wondered at and pited them.
He made them always travel first class
and went first class himself; it was the
only thing to do, he said. If there was but
one seat in gallery or church, he would
often appropriate it, and rest himself COM
fortably, while his employers stood wear
lily and patiently by, unconscious of the
''nods and becks and wreathed smiles
with which the travelling public behind
their backs regarded them.
France and Madge still adOred him. but
Nelly began to feed the stings of insubor-
dination within her soul, though she was
still too much afraid of Giuseppe to give
her feelings voice.
well, never would stand that :" de-
clared Matte Allen. a pretty American
girl whom they had met on Lake Como,
when she heard Giuseppe ordering France
Crosby to return piece of silk which she
had bought at the shop in Bellaiio. and to
get another of different color "What
business has that man to interfere with
your sisters dress. should like to knowp'
"Oh. please don't speak so loud; he'll
hear YOU" replied Nelly, to whom she
said this. Hes our courier, you know
But that makes it all the more uppleas-
ant" persisted Matte.
Matte Allen was one of five girls, who
were "seeing Europe" under the care OF
their school-teacher, Miss Wise. The
Crosbys had seats next to them at the
table. and the girls had grown intimate in
a few days acquaintance, as girls can anG
do.
Nelly glanced apprehensively at Gui
seppe. and was relieved to find that he
did not seem to have heard what Matte
said. She put her arm round Mafte's
waist. and drew her to the farther end o
the long balcony. They were quite out OF
hearing now. but she still hushed her voice
to whisper, and kept looking apprehen-
sivelv over her shoulder.
''His feelings are so easily hurt" she
said. land when he's put out he's so eros:
sometimes, we can't make him do q
thing"
make him do A thing !" CRIED
Matte, Indignantly. why, Nelly Cros
by, never heard such talk He is youl
servant. isn't he P"
81 think it's rather the other way" con
fessed Nelly, encouraged by Mattie's bold
ness, land that we are his servants. He
used to be so nice and so attentive, and
now he never lifts finger unless pa tell.
him to, and we have to do Just what he
says in everything.
Mas afraid of him. and so is Aunt Sc
lima, and pa doesn't seem to notice. ant
France and Madge are completely under
his influence. Oh dear, You can't think
how I've enyied you girls since we came
here. You seem to have so much better
times than WE do. l wanted dreadfully
7