The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1885-11-17
Selfff Stom.
TIE IRON CAGE.

It was at the time when all sorts OF
plots and conspiracies we're being hatch
ed ut Venice, that Ger sin private indi.
vidual, Luca o ioli ny name. lived 10 the
town along with his sister B. Rida, who
kept house for him and looked alter his
wants Brigida wss altogether devoted
to ner brother and set med to live but for
him, 10 attend TO his comfor's, and TOR.
ward In all thing, whatever objects be
had in view. There are some w"men
like this, who devote themselves to 9TH
ers and seem to lose eight OF themselves
altogether. There are not too many OF
them. hut they exist.
Orioli was by calling . miesal painter.
an illumina,or OF ancient manuscripts
but the copeerns. in which. at the time ]
speak of, be was entirely absorbed we're
neither literary nor artistic. He was al.
together occupied with politics, machins
tions sgsirst the existing government.
plans for over,browing il, and setting up
in it's place g commonwealth in which
equal righ's we're 70 be accorded to oil,
In which the highest noble In Venice was
to enjpv no privileges whatever beyond
those which we're 10 he accorded to the
mesn o. cit z In the town.
II was q most hazardous plot agains,
the state in which this Orioli IVES engag.
ed-he, and know not how many 9th.
ere; some living at Venice, some else
where, at Chiosgeia,st verona,at Raven.
na, even, who knows2 At all events
they we're scattered hither and thither,
and had to be communicated with. when
any intelligence Was to be made known
to the fraternity, by letter. Altogether
there wss deal OF writing to be got
throueh-not letters only, but reports,
statements. projects drawn up on paper
to be circulated among the different con
spirstors. And it was in copying such
writings out, or taking down the matter
Of which they we're to consist from her
brothers. lips, that Brigida made herself
more useful than In almost any other
way. The girl was an excellent writer
and could copy out document 30 that
1t should be ss readable as print. This
was rare accomplishment in those days
and Briqida was kept hard at it,you may
be assured, writing from dictation, copy
ing papers Of which duplicates were wan.
ted, and 90 on through the day and part
OF the night ss veil
But for allshe was so bard worked the
young lady found time to do little writ
ing, on her own account. The fact 10 that
the signoria bad q lover, one Fillipp-
ordinarily called Lippo-Rinaldi, living
at Padus, and With him she would cor.
respond whenever she got d chance OF
sending Q letter; she would write to him
OF everything that was gong on, both OF
her brothers doines and her own, and
very pretty letters thev we're. no doubt,
and such as any young gentleman ae
much 10 love as Lippo was would be
very glad TO get. ...-s.a
This brother and sister lived, as have
heard the story told. 10 little piszstts
at the back of the Riva del Schisvoni,
and. not far from the church OF San Gil
orgio de Grsci. 1t was an out-oi the
say k nd OF place. for It was very i'm
portant for Orioli that be should live as
retired as possible and be as much as
possible unohserved by any anybody.
Here then it was. that for the most part.
all those plots and N mschinstions in which
Orioli was so deeply implicated we're
concocted. and here one or more OF the
conspirators would come to confahulate
with him al times when there seemed 10
be the least chance Of discovery.
One autumn afternoon the brother and
sister were engaged in preparing docu-
ment to be sent 10 Verona by special
messenger that night. As often happen.
ed Luca was debating and his sister was
writing, The light was fading and Bri-
eida had established herself close to the
window to take advantage OF all that was
to be had Oriofi was st the window,
too. hut he was sanding ieaniue his fore
hesd against one Of the cross mulllons