The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-07-30
THE IMPROVISATORE.
Italy the Fatherland of the Species-A
Peculiar Italian Product.

Peculiar Italian Product.
Nothing is more easy than to rhyme
in Italian-the difficulty is to abstain
from doing SO. The absence of the
apparently inevitable jingle is one of the
chief charms in the prose of such writer's,
as Dante, Boccaccio, and Machiavelli;
and its natural and easy recurrence was
probably one of the causes which rem
dered the earlier critics of the country
SO exacting with respect to the external
form of the verses they considered
worthy of their attention. But what the
critic loathes the amateur loves, and the
half-cultured will often listen agape
with admiration to declamationS that
are neither prose nor verse, and admire
the man who produces torrent of un-
reasoned and badlv-rhymed twaddle as
if il were a work OF art, though it has
neither the substance nor the form of
poetry. Thus Italy was for centuries
the fatherland of the imprOvisatOre. He
has fortunately fallen with other and
better things before the strong inflow OF
larger and healthier national life. and,
like Prince FlOriZel, been compelled to
shift for himself; but, being unfor-
tunately without the genius, the force
of character. and the most admirable
moral sentiments of that inimitable
prince, he has continued his old busi-
ness of intellectual princelet, though on
a sadly reduced scale.
Occasionally when YOU are seated III
the Villa before one of the cafes a man
will appear, and glance furtively round
to see if Germans are present His coat
is seedy and his air detected The
quick eve at once recognizes in him all
the tokens of a misunderstood and some
what damaged genius. He seems to be
passes his whole life in silently apollo
giZing for his own existence. The Ger
mans are supposed to be sentimental;
they have certainly a habit of being
kind to the man of talent whose ward
robe is less perfectly adjusted and fully
furnished than his mind, and it is to
them that the shabby genteel improvi-
satore makes his appeal. If he finds a
company likely to recognize his merits,
At least to the amount of tivepence, he
steps forward hurriedly. takes a fitting
place, and begins to declaim suitable
piece. He knows three or four of them
by heart. One treats of the greatness
of Germany, another of the unity of
Italy and the efforts by which it was ac
complished, generally with passage
referring to the speakers own real or
imaginary deeds. This is rather out of
date now in Naples, but it is still effect
i've in radical country towns, and often
with Germans who are enjoying
their honeymoon. and sometimes
look as if gall had been substi
tuted for the honey. The most
forcible of these introductions, however,
deals with the misfortunes of genius
and the want of liberality in our own
age. When his first part is finished he
moves round among the guests, and re-
ceiveS such soldi as NAV not be wanted
for better purposes. If no one gives
him a comparatively large sum he
moves off in the same sad, undecided
way in which he came; if he receives
more than twOpence from any table, he
informs the occupants of his trIe char
acter, and offers to rhyme on any sub
jcct they may suggest If they accept
his proposal. he expects lira for the
first piece, and half a one for each that
follows. If he gets more. he is pleased.
if less. he is apt to become disagreeabie
in his own shy, apologetic manner. He
thanks his patrons profusely for thei.
bounty, and then begs leave to add just
one more piece. not for any profit. but
merely to amuse them. Ii the request
is granted. he ridicules every one at the
table, and concludes by an ironieal
praise of their generosity. announcing
and showing the sum he has received;
If not. he moves to some table near. and
delivers the same address, after the
permission of its occupants has been
asked and granted. in a voice loud
enough to be heard by all The guests
London Saturday Rerieo0-