New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-18
THE BLUE GROTTO.
A DAY IN THE BAY OF NAPLES.

Well, you must know that the evening before our
| trip 1t had been our good fortune to meet IN the
salon of the hotel at Capri an English clergy man.
the Rev. -, rector Of ST. -. lie was one
Of those very nice English GerSymen, you Know
his coat very smooth and black, his choAer very
white, and his collar very high, and his nat WIN
lust the right clerical curl But, he was gentle
man all through. Oh! there's no doubt about that !
lie heard us speak Of going TO the Blue Grotto'
ard no said
"H your party IS a small one, sir, and 1t VIII
be no intrusion, should like to Join you presenting
his card With that I whipped cat my cardcase
and handing him mine said any dear sir, 1t
will give me the greatest possible pleasure to have
your company" SO 1t was settled that we were to
60 together and agreed that should hire the
boatmen, and make all OF the arrangements. In
the evening, when had al things fixed up to my
mind, / went TO hunt up our clergyman, and FOUND
him quito disposed to be pleased with everything
had done and he promised to BIO on hand at the
boat-andng next morning at the appointed hour
went down there bright and early, and there was
our boat with the six rowers great stawart, bare
footed fellows. all ready to start. There was a
fresh wind blowing and the waves were Just
dancing, but had never been to the Blue Grotto
before and thought 1t was oil nice. Pretty soon
cur clergyman comes along his face one beamins
smile, and his clothes mole prm and clerical than
ever. l PUT my wife In. the clergyman gets In
| take my seat IN the stern, and Off we go, the
SIX rowers standing up to row, and shouting with
each stroke OF the Oh. my soul! how glad we were
TO think were all going to the Blue Gro'to! ana
1t was just lovely-so far.
We talked q good deal, at first, but by and by
I noticed that we smiled moro than We talked, and
gradually the clergyman's smile became rather
faint and ghastS smile, and he made a quick motion
10 the slde OF the boat l got between him ana
my wife. and said at Is rather tresome sitting
so long, wouldn't you like to lie dowpi" MY
dear Mr.. F. he said, "you very good; think
| would like TO lie down." and With that he drops
into the bottom OF the boat My wife was laughing
to herself. and it was funny to see 50 much
dignity collapse all In SECOND, but IL took only
few more dances Of the boat TO bring her into the
same condition, and without word down she goes
into tho boat Ny soul thought I, and We not half
way 70 the White Grotto yet! The waves got
higher and higher. and tie men pulled away for
dear life Pretty soon, hear q voice from the
other end Of the boat. My dear Mr.. F., don't
you think we had better turn aroundi' Well, II
could have laughed at anything. should have
laughed TO think OF turning around In that sea,
oven II we could have made the boatmen understand
US. and bless you. they had no idea OF going back,
they going to take way around the island,
ard get their foufteeh francs. l had stipulated for
that In the morning IF l give you fourteen
francs you 10 take us way around the Island,
md show us all OF the grottos,' and they were
bound 10 do IL. Oh! how grQaned as thought
~ that, for by that time l. but no matter,
didn't go into the bottom of the boat. With my
wife's skirts, and six feet and a-hnf OF clergyman
couldn't. Perhaps l didn't want 70. kept
saying to myself IL am going to the Blue Grotto-
all going TO tho Blue Grotto-that was a
comfort.
Pretty soon. one OF the boatmen pointed his and
said: "white Grottol" With that choked down my
emotions and made an effort to rouse the party. Mr..
b." said /, ave are now approaching the White
Groto not 50 beautiful as the Blue, but, am told
we'll worth seeing. II you could rouse yourself a
moment and" "My dear Mr.. F." he replied in a
faint but very decided voice. "you will lay me under
tho greatest possible obligation II you Will only let me
alone.r Then | tried my wife, Come. my dear
make effort, Just give look" "lphonsel" she
shrieked, don't you dare to speak to me!' The
men were waiting to back water into the groto. but
shook my head and pointed ahead. " Blue Grotto!"
] shouted, ~ we must co. tho sooner the better"
SO, went. up and down, up and down, over that
dreadful water for half hour moro. and by and by
the men point ahead TO small opening in the
rocks with water dnshng over 1t. and say Blue
Grottol" II looked about half wide the boat,
and every wave broke above the top of the opening
ana said to him no SIR don't 60 in there 80
Blue Grotto In mine, you understand" WIN that
they all stopped rowing and began TO shout "Maca
ronl macaron !" They afraid, when we got
the srotto MY de dear friends" said l. You shall
have whole box Of macaronl, 5ou shall have two
boxes II you will only get us home without showing
us an thing more" At last what with French and a
few italian words and plenty OF gestures, | made
them understand. and went by the Blue Gr0to.
But We had been there. that a comfort; and now
there was the Green Grotto left. Pretty hear
my wife's voice. "Aphonse " Yes, my dear" Have
We come 10 the Blue Groto yeti" MY dear" re
piled. ~ am very happy to tell you We have left 1t
several miles behind u.s. Thank Heavenp' she ee
claimed, and subsidies once more. Well, at last we
left the Green GrottO behind us, and tell you,
Of all the beautiful sights I'm this Bay OF Naples. NO
thing ever looked SO beautiful to me as that boat
landing ut Capri. We had been TO the Blue Grotto.
the white Groto and tho Green Grotto, and had come
home alive. The men had earned their fourteen
francs. had kept their agreement and taken us way
around the island and | was pleased with the trip,
and especially getting home that added two francs
more. We helped the clergyman out from the bottom
OF the boat, brushed Off his coat and gave him his
umbrella lie made IN effort to smile. Ny dear
Mr.. - he began. Not word. my dear SIR" |
said, =" know how you have enjoyed It. ana all you
wish to say. ! Will see you later
/ called at his room and found him sitting mp in
bed, taking u cup OF tea lie delighted 20 sec
me and wished to insist paying half OF the ex-
pcnses Of the excursion Instead of third which
his share. No. my dear SIR" said. can't allow
IT, My wife got her full proportion Of the benefit OF the
trip and can't consent 10 have her considered In the
light Of n dead-head' Then told him about the
ira two francs given as thank Offering for getting
home whereat he rolled up his eyes and said Oh
my dear Mr.. F.! Why didn't you give them five 2,