Arizona republican., 1892-11-19
BRIGANDS IN SICILY.
OUIDA SAYS THE ROMANCE OF BRlG-
 ANDAGE STILL SURVIVES.


 by Picturesqueness.
 The irrepressible Ouida. from long residence in Italy feels herself responsi. ble for all things that happen on the peninsula. She also has a rod in pickle for the naturalistic novelist who scotfs at romance Apropos of brigandage in Sicily. she writes to the editor of the London Times:
 SIR-Such romantic and tragic incl dents have of late been common as daily bread in Sicily, and 1 think you may care to publish an account of the latest of these daring seizures by brigands. 1t is mistaken idea which prevails among English people that brigandage is no longer known in that lovely island. 1t is, alasl very frequent. and still takes 8 picturesque, operatic aspect in it's decor du scene, though horribly brutal and i hideous in its deeds It is not uncom- mon for the brigands to wear the uni form of the carabinieri, or gendarmes, so that in the friendly attire of a cooked hat and uniform they surround easily with their horses the unsuspecting trav- eler.
 Three days ego the Baron Antonino | Spitaleiri, d well known Catanian gen. | tleman, rode out to an estate of his called San Todoro, lying between the communes of Paterno and Centolupe. Not wishing to spend the night on his own lands. which are malarious, he, with his young son, asked the hospitality of neighbOr living at a villa called 1 Polera. the Baroness Ciancio The next morning at $ o'clock the baron mounted his horse to go again to his estates, ac- companied by four assistants. but leav- l ing his son with the lady of the house at ! Polera. Scarcely, however, had he gone a few yards when he was suddenly sur rounded by six brigands mounted on l fine horses and armed with Wetterli rifles, His four attendants were bound. seized and carried of. The baron him. self, having no money upon him, was taken back to Polera. His young son. seeing him from the window approach thus bound and captive. fired on the robbers, who replied with five shots, not ! one of which did more. happily. than to search the boys hair.
 Meantime Mime. Ciancio. running to the window, called to the men to know what they would take to leave the baron free. They repled 50,000 francs. and she threw the sum to them in bank notes, and on getting in they clainored for more, beat III the doors of the villa, or castle. menaced and bound the servants, and two held their daggers to the throats of the lady and the youth while others ransacked all the cabinets. cupboards and wardrobes in the house. succeeding in finding in all 10000 francs more. They staid altogether eight hours. drank champagne and smoked the cigars of their prisoners. AS comble d'honneur they kissed the baron's young sou, say ing graciously, You are so handsome it would have been pity to kill you" And then there are people who say that TO- nance is dead in ltalyl
 This is a more vividly colored and melodramatic episode, but it Is not so truly terrible and cruel as was the cap ture of another Sicilian gentleman last month-a landed proprietor of smaller means than the Baron Spitaleiri, who was borne off by brigands, and because his family could not send his ransom (2O,OOO francsl quickly enough was killed at the end of d fortnight, his body horribly mangled and burned being sent home.
 Surprise will be felt at so much money as was found at Polera being kept in country house, but Italians keep very large sums in their houses or their stewards houses, especially after harvest or vintage They distrust banks and use them comparatively little. The other day the uncle of friend of mine. an old gentleman, living alone. went to some baths for a month. He placed his servant and dogs and birds in small detached cottage on q terrace and locked up the rest of the building.
 When he came back he found hole had been made in the wall at the back and the house had been completely ran sacked; 4OO0 francs in modern money, a large and unique collection of gold coins of the old republics of Lucca Siena, Flor ence, etc., and a collection of postage stamps valued at 10000 francs for it's completeness and rarity were all gone, with his rich old wines and innumerable curios, On his plotting pad the thieves had written, Vino buonissimo The good old gentleman cannot see that he did anything unwise in leaving these treasures in an empty house.
 A certain literary school is very fond of asserting that romance is dead and its twin brother adventure dead with it. These gentlemen need only come and live in Italy to meet this pair, so dear to story tellers and their readers, alive and abroad in every thicket of broom and myrtle and under every deep shadowed archway haunted by the moon.