The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1888-12-05
TYPICAL DIAV0L0S.
LUXURIOUS RRleANDs WHO MAKE
EUROPE THEIR CAMPING GROUNDS.

LUXURIOUS BRlGANDS WHO MAKE
EUROPE THEIR CAMPING GROUNDS.
Picturesque Rogues of Eastern ROumelia.
Luxurious Rascals Who Are Not Content
with Common Things-The Real era
Diavolo"-Scribe's DeIusive Creation.
Brigandage-wh may happily be said to
be all but defunct in Spain and the Italian
peninsula, which is only heard of now and
again in feebly spasmodic outbursts in Sicily,
which has lost much OK its former virulenca
in the kingdom of Hellenes proper, and
which, thanks to railways and the mainte-
nance of something approaching a stable
government, is fading even out of Mexico
seems, by all accounts, TO be Furnishing in
the fullest luxurance in Eastern Roumelia.
The energy and impudence OF the gang of
bandits who recently captured two Austrian
subjects, NM, LANDER and Binder, at Bel
Iowa, and demanded no less sum than l 300
Turkish pounds for their ransom, are almost
Of a nature to vie with the late NJ. Edmund
About's delightfully."- picturesque but slightly
imaginative narrative of tho achievements
Of the Greek "Kleptr Hadji Stavros, liking
OF the Mountains"
1t cannot be denied that there is a slight
touch Of humor in the proceedings of these
ruffianly outlaws, and that they have con-
trived to cast new light ON the domestic
economy Of brigand life. There has been
hitherto tolerably general consensus
among travellers that the modern brigand
in Roumelia and on the Turko- Greek from
tier is, as rule, a deplorable ragamuffin,
usually meier do well peasant or an inso-
lent horse copper, who is in league with tho
dram shop keeper and sometimes with tho
priest of the village round about which he
prowls. His innermost garment is more fire.
quently goat skin than a shirt of textile
fabric; he rarely washes; his ideas touching
combs are indistinct and he never heard of a
tooth brush.
As for his diet, it is one in which salt fish
and sausages largely predominant over butch
ers meat and rancid Oh over both, and as
regards stimulants, he will drink as much as
he can get OF the commonest red wine the
most fiery corn brandy and the most malo-
dorous mastic or "raki." OF course. be
smokes, but usually his tobacco has been the
vilest Russian "mahorkan and his pipe n
rude chibouck of cherry wood. The Beilova
brigands seem, however, to have souls far
above such primitive garb and such simple
viands as we have glanced at
PERFECT sYBARITEs.
The rogues are perfect sybarites, and, in a
letter addressed to a rich merchant of Tartar
Bazardjik, they demanded that there should
be forthwith sent to them six Martini rifles
Of the pattern furnished to the Eastern Rou-
melian gendarmes together with large
supply Of ball cartridge, thirty-flye pairs Of
shoes, as many shirts, ornamented with the
finest Russian embroidery, thirty-five pairs
of stockings of the best quality, thirty.fiye
cakes Of scented soap, an equal quantity of
ivory combs, three dozen less one OF ivory
cigarette holders, large quantity of tobacco
and cigarettes, and a neatly assorted stock of
cognac, vermouth, bitters, cheese and other
creature comforts. 1t is only to be wondered
at that these dandy brigands did not add a
few dozen boxes of sardines, Paris kid gloves,
hand mirrors, birthday cards and TASKS OF
eau de Cologne to their list Their altar of
roses they probably prepare for themselves,
tho odoriferous manufacture being indigo
nous to the region they adorn with their pres
ence.
About the only tenabe hypothesis that can
be formed to account for the elegant luxury
in which the Bulgarian brigands have taken
to living may be that they have been read
ing n translation of the libretto of Scribe's
ERA Dinvolo," and that they have resolved
to Give up TO it,"
The real Ezra Diavolo," whose name was
Michele Pezza, was the most repulsive of
highway robbers. He had been a stocking
knitter in a small way of business In tho
kingdom of Naples, and, going bankrupt,
took naturally to the road. He became the
scourge and terror of tho two Calabrias and
n price was set on his head, but when in 1908
Cardinal Ruffo undertook to force the French
to evacuate the Neapolitan territory no par
doned Fra Diavolo," and even gave him
commission as lieutenant colonel of yolun-
teers.
EXECUTED AT LAST.
For eight years this uncomfortable black-
guard waged guerrilla warfare on the Gallo
invaders, robbing and numbering his own
countrymen when there were no foreignersto
fight, but in 1906 he was captured shot and
gibbeted, the officer who ordered his execu-
tion being, oddly enough, gallant French
general, the father OF the great master of the
romantic school In France-Victor Hugo.
There was in reality nothing more romantic
about Fra Diavolo than there was about our
Anglo-French highwayman, Claude Duval
who was simply an absconding PREDICATE
footman OF the Duchess OF Portsmouth, but
in tho early days of French romantcism
every incident and every parsonage that
could be perverted to picturesque use were
eagerly seized upon by the novelists and play
wrights They turned to Spain, and espe-
cially Italy; and, while Victor Hugo fabri-
Gated n wholly unhistorical Lucrezia Borgia
as the hero OF tragedy, Alexander Dumas
manufactured an equally unveracious Fra
Diavolo as the hero of a novel
The ready witted Scribe at once awaited
himself of tho latter amusing but delusiye
creation, and with the collaboration of the
composer Auber, he produced the always
charming comic opera of Era Diayolo.n
There can be but little doubt that, while the
lyric art benefited largely by the popularity
of Aubers sparkling and harmonious num-
bers, an appreciablc amount OF social harm
was done by the highly picturesque and his
trionic presentment given by Scribe of tho
sham Ezra Diayolo" and his gang Of MUIR
derous desperadoes. Society began to be-
lieve in the existence of marauder ele-
gantly and extensively attired In plum
colored velvet, with gilt sugar loaf buttons
70 his jacket, his lower limbs swathed with
cris-csoss thongs, and wearing a conical hat
profusely ornamented with ribbons
This ideal brigand was scrupulously polite
to ladies, and would bow over and reyeren.
italy salute the taper fingers from which he
gently removed the diamond rings, and only
under extreme pressure Of necessity would
this orthodox bandit, who was usually do
yaut son Of tho church, rob bishop.-Ncw
York Graphic.
Example of Australian .JoufDaIism