Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-05-04

ready to disembark a break was made in the
procession of steerage passengers crowding the
water stairs that had been let down alongside
the ship, and wife or children, helped or carried
down, were got safely aboard our tossing boat.
A light shower had come up suddenly and our
spread umbrellas had to dodge the bows of ships
and the stretched cables as we passed under
them on our way to the custom house. We
found it thronged with our Italians, who had
of trunks to be examined before ours could take
their turn, and we re adily handed over our keys
to the faithful Beppo, who promised to attend to
the inspection after putting us and our hand
baggage into hack
The primary advantage of having a faithful
Beppo to take charge of us and pay ebbytlng'
may as well be stated here. We found that it
cost us twice as much to reach the hotel from
the steamer as it would II we had managed Tor
ourselves. But then fidelity is rare article in
Naples and deserves to be paid for. This, how
ever, wasn't all. Beppo also put in claim of
three trunks through the custom house. As we
had absolutely nothing in them which we
thought dutiable, we regarded him with some
s'You got newtIngs, you got newtings,'' he
''NewtingsY' we queried, not yet enlight-
New shirt, new Shoes he went on ex-
II pay 1--WE francs for does, And give ten
francs more to buy de officer. -
ITO buy the officer? How was that9''
$50 he will look no fudder. If he go tru dem
trunk, it cost you one hundet dollar. give
him two to STOP"
Now, the shoes were not new ''tings,'' as I
could have shown the inspector if had at
tended to my own business instead Of employing
tine faithful Beppo; they had been worn, though
not much. as house shoes. There was a little
undertaking, which was new. Granted-the
1--WE francs-the Italian government is poor, and
we did not begrudee the trifing tax. But would
we have had the faithful Beppo so faithful that
he thought it necessary to corrupt the fidelity OF
a public officer? Well, no, considering that
there was no thing else in the trunks on which
any duty could be levied, the 500 it would have
cost us had the officer done his duty being all in
the Imagination of the too ardent. too faithful
Beppo.
81 am one poor man. but I am honest" he
protested. with the highest sort OF shrug and
the lowest sort of bow. After which, what
more was there 10 be said9 There might have
been much 70 say before paid his claim (he,
OF course, expected besides reward Tor his own
services) IL he had. not been sent to US by q
friend. For his sake we forbore; 1t was, under
the circumstances, too triaing matter 70 be
carried further. That we had not misludged the
nature OF Bsppo's fidelity subsequent ooserve-
ton proved. Though we never again INDUCED
in that expensive luxury, we noticed that other
travellers who trusted him to conduct them 70 ms
hotel we're charged douole what II would have
cost them to get there in their own way.
Yet would not be misunderstood beppo, as
Beppos go, may perhaps be called faithful. He
can be trusted-as far as You can see him. Our
friend had never trusted him any further, and.
IL the little commissions with whlcn ne mad
charged him he had found him capable. He acts
as porter OF runner for his hotel manage