Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1890-08-16
The aged Ferucci continued his bitter

Indictment
"You, too" he concluded, looking at
Orlando-"you have lost all interest in
everything. Art? You mock at it, and
you take your walks, well dressed, with
fiorid face, smiling at the beautiful la
dies in the row of passing carriages"
He stopped few moments. Rienzi
listened to him sadly. Ferucci contin-
ued, with sigh:
my children, art is dying round about
us-art is dead! | am left, the last pom
tiff--no, the last servant-of the ideal.
Fortunately, for the servants of the ideal
die of poverty and hunger amid the well
dressed bourgeois!"
"Ah" he exclaimed, bitterly, ito eat
every day when one is hungry, to sleep
in good bed, TO change ones linen fire.
quently, to wear stockings that have no
holes in them, knit by woman's hands
that is happiness, and the height of wis
dom, and ta.ent, and glory, and all!
i speak of what l know" he con-
tinued, gloomily. II do not see how
it is that | succeed in eating every day"
Now he forgot himself, going SO far as
TO impart secrets that he had never
before confided to any one.
Il am only too glad" he exclaimed,
"when Masto Pepe, that miserable deal
er, orders of me an authentic picture
by some well known painter, to which
the scoundrel adds the signaturer
"Feruccir' cried Rienzi, severely.
"Whyi' said the old artist, zone must
eat, my dear boy. | see, then, prospect
of white linen, anchovy biscuits and
trips in Padre Antonio's boat. For sums
varying from five to twenty-five francs
they supply me with colors, canvas
and brushes-I produce Fortunys, De-
tailles, Meissoniers-anyth thing that peo-
pie will buy"
Rienzi could not restrain an angry
growl; he opened his mouth to speak,
but the old artist gently raised his hand,
again interrupting him, and continued,
in fatigued voice;
IL even produce-although | revere
and love you-I produce Rienzis most of
all. Do not be angry, my great Peppino;
this does not affect your glory. 1t de-
ceives only the imbeciies and contempt
ible fellows who would like to get for
few hundred francs whole years toll
of painter of genius. Those who under
stand art lose no time over our paltry
limitations"
"But, thep," Rienzi violently broke in
The old man, without looking at him,
without hearing him, kept on:
"You see, my dear boy, the very illu-
sion of a name like yours suiiices 20 give
food, even frNr'' afar, with no trouble on
your part. ! . vl.e disinherited like me-"
Rienzi was dsarmed. What anger
could withstand this confession of an
unconscious cynicism, so full of sorrows
endured?
Ferucci told the bitter experiences of
days, the inhospitality of men and
things. And all this simply, as the
progress of life, in supreme lassitude.
Rienzi looked at him with growing
sadness. The vision of old age and pos
sible decrepitude rose before the young
masters eyes. And, speaking in his
turn, impelled by the influence of his
surroundings. he murmured;
81 feel myself robust and strong
enough for the expenditure of several
lives. can look at the sun for hours,
walk over dusty and burning roads, en-
dure cold, hunger, thirst, without ever
feeling lassitude, without pains and with
out exhaustion"
He turned to his wife.
81 love-" said he; "and am loved as l
wish to be. to the exclusion of every
thing, without a thought, without an en-
thusiasm, without even comprehension
outside of myself!'
Then his brow wriukled.
"When think that some day perhaps
my faculties will decline, that my bare
head will have only few white hairs
upon 1t, and that my legs will sustain me
no longer-h!' he exclaimed, with
shudder, Il would like to believe in an
endless future; desire an immortal love!
Youth, beauty, grace, all our infinity of
love; her voice, OIL that voice which
others scarcely know, her voice which
pours forth tenderness and marvellous
dreams-an this may change, diminish,
or disappear some day in deathl That is
what often makes me shudder with
sadness which you do not know"
These words came to the souls of all
as the translation of certain shadows
which they had seen pass over Rienzi's
face.
Ferucci let them fall, as heavy and
sorrowful vibrations, into the immensity
of the sea.
Then he answered.:
"Grow old! You! My Rienzi! Nature
has given you manly beauty and grace,
charm and genius, the crown of all
things, woinan's love corresponding
to the most ambitious aspirations of YOUR