The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-03-24
CECIL DACRE.
Z Stories From the Life of London
Artist.

Cecil Dacre was an artist He was des-
perately poor, undeniably good looking, and
he stood six feet in his stockings. Young
Dacre was an Englishman and he lived with
another artist, young American, as poor as
himself, just behind the Church of San
MARITIME, in one of the Oldest houses of old
Naples. So poor were they that they could
hardly ever afford a model, so they used to
take it in turn to sit to each other. Cecil
Dacre and his friend, Orlando P. Jones, were
both rival artists, but Dacre had an addition
al talent-he was farceu of the first water.
He hadn't been six months in Naples before
he attended before the Committee of Monte
di Misericordia and suggested that they
should pay his debts. II am poor" he said,
81 am deserving, and am deeply in debt
30 deeply that can get no more credit. Pay
my debts, give me a little cash to go on with,
and you, gentlemen, will be doing your duty.
That is your raison d'etre"
But the committee laughed and bowed Mr..
Dacre out, declining to accede to this very
modest proposition. On another occasion
Dacre, becoming indignant at the pertina-
cious way in which his movements were
watched by one of his neighbors who were
accustomed to stare at him from his balcony
opposite, drove up to his door late one even
ing in street cab. The cabman got down
from his box, and female figure wrapped
in a cloak was carried carefully into the
house by the artist and cabman; the two
men reappeared in the street, the artist
mysteriously placed his fingers to his lips,
paid the cab-driver, and the man drove off.
The little drama was well lighted by the
solitary gas lamp that stood in front of the
artists lodgings. The inquisitive neighbor
was at his post and carefully noted all the
details OF this mysterious affair.
At noon the next day four officers, accom-
panied by the neighbOr, presented them
selves at Dacre's room door and knocked
loudly for admission in the name of the law.
Only at the third and very Imperative sum-
mons was the door opened by Orlando p.
Jones. The supposed criminal was dis
covered seated at his little table, upon which
lay blood-stained dagger; his face was
buried in his hands.
''Signor Dacre," said the chief of police,
~ call upon you to surrender and demand
to search your apartments. This gentle
man," said he, pointing to the informer
detected you last night conveying the body
of dead or insensible female into the
house." The informer, being an Italian
Immediately struck an attitude.
81 YIELD" said Dacre, in q broken voice
''the proofs of my crime you will find in the
next room"
). Two of the agents advanced and seized
the supposed murderer by either arm.
; = ''Ishould recognize her at once" cried the
informer ''The poor creature wore dress
of a bright blue color; saw the edge Of II
from under tho cloak in which she was en-
veloped."
The bedroom door was flung open by thu
leader of the little party. In the center Of
the room was lay figure in bright blut
dress; it was standing on its head.
Tho police instantly released their pris
oncr.
''Let this be lesson to you, sir" said Da
ere to his too curious victim, in voice O
thunder, 'when you next dare to intrud
upon the privacy Of gentlemen and men O.
honor"
And then Messrs. Dacre and Jones execu
ted ferocious pas de triomphs.
A less sublime but equally ridiculous jok
was perpetrated by Dacre upon an unfortu
nate old lady who had the misfortune t.
dwell upon the second floor Of the grea
mouse of which the comrades occupied tn
sky parlors.
She was devOtee-her one harmless
amusement being the keeping of two i'm
mense goldfish in big glass globe upo
her balcony With diabolical ingenuit
Dacre, by means Of piece of string, q ben
pin and u small piece of meat, angled for tn
two finny monsters who formed the Joy @
the old lady's life, caught them, fried theI
In egg and bread crumbs, and then restore
: them to their once happy and Transparent
home
In the Cafe Verdi, Cecil Dacre ono
calmly declared, after rather hilariou
breakfast, that he would cause twenty innt
cent citizens of Naples to be arrested With
the hour. The Cafe Verdi is, as we know
situated in the Piazza del Martiri. Dacr
went out and purchased large ball {
string; he made a loop in the end Of it, an
then he took mean advantage Of tn
urbane politeness of the Italians Produ,
ing huge note book, he courteously raise
his hat to the first respectable bystander.
"Signor," said he, twill you greatly oblie
me by holding this piece OF string while
take few measurements Thank you 4
much'
And then with great strides he con
menced TO pace the plaza. OF course q lit
crowd collected at dece. Dacre selecte
another victim with the same result.
"Keep 1t quite taut, II you please" IN
he bowed politely. Within five minut,
thirty individuals were holding the tight
stretched string, an immense crowd had I
sembled and Dacre had finished his pacing
his string and the careful notes he had "
pearod to be making.
''Be patient, gentlemen" he said;
shall not detain you long" Then he disa
peared, only to re-enter the Cafe Verdi /
the back door to watch the result. He hi