San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-05-28

gesture. L took myself in training as an
actor studies for particular part.
cultivated harsh accent, and spoke with
elaboration and coldness-occasionally
with a sort of sarcastic brusquerie, care
fully avoiding the least movement of
hands or head during converse. This
was exceedingly difficult of attainment to
me, and took me an infinite deal OF time
and trouble; but l had for my model a
mddle-aged Englishman who was stay
ing in the same hotel as myself, and
whose starched stOliditY never relaxed for
a single instant He saw human ice
unexpectedly respectable, with an air
of decent gloom about him which is gen.
orally worn by all the sons of Britain
while sojourning in a foreign cline. /
copied his manners as closely as posi-
ble;-I kept my mouth shut with the
same precise air of nOt-tO-be enlightened
obstinacy,-I walked with the same up
right drill-demeanour,-and | surveyed
the scenery with the same superior
contempt. l knew l had succeeded
at last, for l overheard a waiter speak
ing of me to his companion as ''the
white bear!'
One other thing | did. wrote a
courteous note to the editor of the prin-
cipal newspaper published in Naples-a
newspaper that knew always found its
way to the Villa Romani-and enclosing
fifty frances, | requested him to insert
paragraph for me in his next issue.
This paragraph was worried some what
as follows
1.-THE Signore Conte Cesare Olivia, a
noblemsn who has been for many years
absent from his native country, has, we
understand, just returned, possessed of
almost fabulous wealth, and is about to
arrive in Naples, where he purposes
making his home for the future. The
leaders of society here will no doubt well
come with enthusiasm so distinguished
an addition to the brilliant circles COM
manded by their influence"
The editor obeyed my wishes, and in
serted what | sent him, word for word as
it was written. He sent me the paper
containing it "with a million compli-
ments," but was discreetly silent con-
cerniug the fifty francs, though l am
certain he pocketed them with unaf-
fected joy. Had l sent him double the
money, he might have been induced 20
announce me as king or emperor in
disguise. Editors of newspapers lay
claim to be honorable men;-they may be
so in England, but in Italy most
of theml would do anything for
money. Poor devils! who can blame
them, considering how little they get
by their limited dealings in pen
and ink In fact | am not at all
certain but that few English newspaper
editors might be found capable of accept
ing bride, If large enough, and If
offerad with due delicacy. There are
surely one or two magazines, for in
stance in London, that would not alto
gether refuse to insert and inditierently,
even badiy-w written article, if paid thou
sand pounds down for doing it!
On the last day but one of my sojourn
in Palermo l was reclining in an easy
chair at the window OF the hotel smok-
ing-room, looking out on the simmer
ing waters OF the Gulf. 1t was nearly
eight o'clock, and though the gorgeous
colours of the sunset still fingered in the
sky. the breeze blew in from the sea
somewhat coldly, giving warning of an
approaching chilly night The charac-
ter had adopted, namely, that of o
somewhat harsh and cynical man who
had seen life and did not like it, had by
constant hourly practice become with me
almost second nature,-indeed, | should
have had some difficulty in returning to
the easy and thoughtleSs abandon of my
former self. / had studied tho art Of
being churlish till l really was Churlish;
i had to act the chief character in a
drama, and knew my part thorough
ly well. | sat quietly putting at
my cigar and thinking of nothing in
particular-fOr as far as my plans went,
had done with thought, and all my ener-
gies were strung up to aCtion-when |
was startled by loud aud increasing
clamor, as of of the shouting of large
crowd coming onward like an overflow
ing tide. leaned out of the window
but could see nothing, and l was won
dering what the noise could mean, wRHn
an excited waiter threw open the door of
the smOking-rOOm and cried breaehleSs-
ly:
"Carmelo Neri, Signeri Carmelo Neri!
They have him, pOverinO! they have
him at laSt!'
Though almost as strongly interested
in this news as the waiter himself, |
did not permit my interest to become
manifest | never forgot for a second
the character had assumed, and draw
ing the cigar slowly from my lips |
merely said:
"Then they have caught great raS-
cal. l congratulate the government!
Where is the tellow?"
SIN the great square," returned the
garcon eagerly. ''If the Signor would
walk round the corner he would see
Carmelo, bound and fettered. The
Saints have mercy upon him! The
crowds there are thick as flies round
honeycomb! l must go thither myself,
Il would not miss the sight for thou
sand francsr'
And he ran off, as full Of the anticipat-
ed delight of looking at a brigand, as a