The state herald., 1892-10-21
BRIGANDS OF EUROPE.
THEY ARE BOLD AND FAsci-
MATING GENTLEMEN.
How Robber Chief Desecn,ls on "a VII.
lage and Carries ora Brido-Ban-
dts Who Bccomp tho Fa-
vorite Heroes.

Tho brignnds of Italy Spain and
other foreign countries are not rep
resented in America by any pictur.
osque class writes Nj. /. Payne In
the Detroit Free Press. Tho outlaws
of this hemisphere are more properly
classed us bandits carrying off tho
booty instead of the person. The
jaunty brigands OF history ran
down their native mountains like
goats had eyes like cats being able
to SEQ as well by night us by day and
whose hearing was us that of II fox,
so that rustic nf the leaves however
slight served them us warning.
Added TO this was n trained intelli-
gence OF distinguishing people ut long
distances OF knowing the gentry and
their movements by II system OF COM
munication as complete rs that of the
telegraph. and cunning that baflod
detection. These are tho brgunds of
Italy OF Spain. OF Cuba or OF any
country whoro brigandage is tho or
shoot OF despotic power tho trained
army OF outlawry.
There is always leader 20 those
bands OF mountain robbers who live
by despoiling the rich and stop at no
crime to achieve their ends believing
that personal violence indiclies true
prowess. The leader is usS~ily IN
educated criminal who surprised in
some deed of crime, hastens to the
mo intains and calls around him II
horde OF desperate men. They ut
once assume dress that is n display
of hravado. tho gaudy colors of the
pLasant combined with part of the
costume OF the noble. with gypsyish
lot OF jewelry and II desperate hardi-
hood OF demeanor A rakish hat or
sombrcro completes this burbarous
costume.
The women-for there arc always
women found to wed these mountain
rullians-are often handsome and FIRE.
quently interfere to save captive
for whom no ransom is offered from n
cruel death. They live idly. wearing
rich clothes wrcsted from travellers.
and their hands are covered with
rings twenty.four being no unusual
number. besides variety OF gold
chains some AS thick rs their fingers.
1t is SAID that the captain OF rob.
Der band who desires wife does his
counting after this style: Casting
his evil ego on some fair village
maiden. he doscends upon tho oeca-
sion OF a dance on the green, and.
mingling with the dancers. manages
TO dance with tho fair one himself
Then ho charms hor with his grace
and the beauty OF his dancing. wills.
pers love messages in hor terrified
ears-for she well knows with whom
she is dancing and circling nearer
and nearer TO the outer edge OF tho
company. he suddenly gives whis.
tic. and his men appear In moment
and dash OIL with tho prize. the
leader covering their retreat with n
fusillade OF firearms which tho vii.
lagos dare not return. being too much
cowod by the bandits during.
Honorable marriage by captured
priest who is held in readiness Is
offered to tho girl who daro not re.
fuse 10 become tho brigand' bride.
knowing sho can never return TO her
| homo below tho mountain. II Is said
these marriages nre exceptionally
happy. and that the men love their
abducted prize with constan, affection
and tho villages from which they are
stolen are forever after snfc from fire
and rapine mt tho hands OF tho band
Tho capture OF II rich victim puts
tho whole band into high Spirits
There Is really n certain codo OF
honoE observed in this high handed
project The captive is treated fairly
well II no does not make too much
trouble. lie is allowed to communl.
cate with his family through membors
OF the band and rs no knows that
ircachory will cost him his lilo no is
careful to observe the laws set before
him. Tho utmost caution Is used by
the bandits whilo they are negotiating
tho ransom. and when the money Is
pnid over receipt in duo form Is
given. II happens often that the cap.
tive and tho captors part like tho best
OF friends even exchanging memen.
toos of the occasion; this Is due to
grateful feeling on tho part of the
captive that no has escaped long
confinement In mountain caves or u
cruel death. and to u lively npprcci.
ntion OF the ducats on tho part OF the
captor.