The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-03-24
CECIL DACRE.
stories From the Life Of a London
Artist.

Coed Dacre was an artist. He was des-
perately poor, undeniably good looking, and
he stood six feet in his stockings. Young
DacTe was an Englishman, andh he lived with
another artist, a 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
DHcre and his friend, Orlando p JONES' were
both rival artists, but Dacre had an addition
al talent-he was fGrce'tI 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
so deeply that | can get no more credit. PAY
my debts, give me little cash to go on with
and YOU gentlemen, will be doing your duty
That is your raison detre"
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 neghbors who were
accustomed to stare at him from his balcony
opposite, drove up to his door late one even
ing in a 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 neighbour 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 Il bloOd-stained dagger; his face was
buried in his hands.
''Signor Dacre," said the chief of police
Il call upon you to surrender and demand
80 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.
II yield" said Dacre, in broken voice :;
E'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 a dress
of bright blue color; saw the edge of it
from under the cloak in which she was en-
reioped."
n haIroOY,1 door h,r+ bn
header of the little party. In the center of
the room was lay figure in bright blue
dress; it was standing on its head.
The police instantly released their pris-
Oner.
-'Let this be lesson to you, SIR" said Da-
ere to his too curious victim, in voice of
thunGAr, 'when you next dare to intrude
upon the privacy of gentlemen and men of
honor"
And then Messrs. Dacre and Jones eXecu-
ted ferocious pas de triomphe.
A less sublime but equally ridiculous joke
was perpetrated by Dacre upon an unfortu-
nate old lady who had the misfortune to
dwell upon the second floor of the great
house of which the comrades occupied the
sky parlors.
She was devotee-her one harmless
amusement being the keeping of two inn
mense goldfish in big glass globe upon
her balcony. With diabolical ingenuity
Dacre, by means of piece of string, bent
pin and a small piece of meat, angled for the
two finny monsters who formed the joy of
Lhe old lady's life, caught them, fried them
in egg and bread crumbs, and then restored
them to their once happy and transparent
home.
In the Cafe Verdi, Cecil Dacre once