Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-04-21

ing. and there was red coating OF rust
over every bit OF exposed metal. With an
alacritv that would have done justice 70
Yankees, however. the dark skinned
sons OF Italy were already at work
scrubbng the paint and washing the
sidos, and polishing up the handles
ot tho big front door" On the after-deck
the A,tna's band was playing With oil the
ardor of thor music-lovng souls. The
band PLAYS wcll,N said the correspondent.
Aha. no. SAID the courteous Italian
officer, with q dcprocatlnR wave of the
hand. Ihey are practeesing for ~ first
time IN ~ many DAYS. You cannot play ze
Tnuseek wheu 70 ship ees like 10 cradle"
CONSERVATORY AND AUT-GAILTRY.
Fvory ship that has como into tho har-
hor from o foreign country has had some
interesting pecuharltv. The Italian mau-
of-wag IA no exception 70 the rule. IL was
q conservatory ahOat. The hatchwav tina.
led down 10 the Admirais Quarters was
bOrdered by a miniature garden, in which
was an attractive array OF foliage plants
and which seemed 20 have survived the
| heavy seas. Tho Admirars CABIN was fra
grant with the perfume OF enormous
! buuches OF Bermuda lilies. tall and white.
and as sweet a9 on tho day when they were
| gathered upon the lovely l}crMudaS. Other
| flowers of unfamiliar form aud brightest
| coloTrg decorated The pretty apartment.
| I hc walls a. the suite OF rooms which the
| Admiral occupies were like an art gallery.
| 4 brilliant ol-pa,utng of St. Marks
! Square ~ Venice. = charming blt OF Italian
J landscape. a sanity Madonna, and u
! picture of tho Almuais wife and
| children were some o. the BITS OF
art wh,cE found "A rcstluG-pla against
! the steel sides of the man-of-war. Nor was
| tins touch OF poetry. so characteristic OF
| the Italians. noticeable alone IN the Ad-
4 mrals private apartments. Away for
! ward underneath tho deck. by the side OF
"a port-hu,o. wa, .auary-bird IN a wicker
! cc-e. tuuou~ly enough, directly under
| meath the ilttio yellow e0ngster were TWO
/ crQriu0us torpedoes. waiting for tae Sig-
mai 10 Ice launched upon their mission oi
destruction.
THE TLUsIvE RUSSIAN.
or course. the Italian captain was asked
n he had seen Or heard ~ tLc kusslan al
| Wlrai. Yes, ho had. IHc Dimitu Dom
| sk13. with that officer On board, he sad.
/ left 81. Thomas. IN the West Iudlcs. last
| ludur IL ala the reports that come on
I Tins Russian arc true he must be maSlnG
half circuit OF the globe IN his cudoavor
! % find tho narrow cutraI between Cape
! Charles and Cape Henry. Everybody has
! heard of L.m. but NOBODY has seen
/ him lie Was here today ana De was at
some other place The day before. tie must
I
! style That pUt1 our own cruisers. Which
| have never set bsCc charged with bong
| IN two places at the sam" tune, to absJ-
! lUtc shame Some of these DAYS. II he
| really nppcars here IN tho flesh, ne VIII Oe
! worth describing. Tie must be gh0stly
and mysterious s"rt of leHoW ana a.
| hard t. Iut your hand upon as the Fly
! uc Gufeuuau himself. When ho does
| arrive there VIII be au unusual gathering
%, almral~ here. The Eu-slau Vice
| Admiral. Admiral Hopkins, ot England :
| Admiral lllran, Of France: Admiral
| Maehagm, of Italy, and Admlrals Che
| raraI. BeuhIm. and Walker. ot our own
! feet, VIII make no Jess than seven Oh the
! highest naval officers IN the World. ihis
iu itself makes tnc rendezvous here q
notable gathering, ant IN the midst oi
/ such greatness even t0p-lotty lieutenant
feels himself abashcd.
NOBODY 10 1rIL TALES TO.
Another characteristic Of the Italian
! ship ls its lack OF marines. There are
No. marines IN the Italian navy. When
] occa-lou arises 20 do honor 20 q
! visiting officer the boaiswaiu, with hls
! -hriil hut not unmUslcal whistle, pipes to
,he side 2 dozen soaMen. who carry car
! 0lucs so delightfully."- unique that ihel
would bc worth their WIGHT III gold
for h,c-G-j~Gc corner. To-day these
men we've clothed ~ rough, dirty
overcl0thes OF canvas, "a brown and
dull as their own faces The band, too, at
10 practIccl ola the atter-deck, was not ar
raycl iu tho r0vnl scarlet and gold with
, which the average tooter on IN" norm 7 j.
I walls the eulpulur Of the l:lllos q. the held.
The men were bundled up IL tber brown
canvas coats and trousers, and H. they had
| only been httic more genial IN theii
Looks might have been taken for COM
| rauy oi browne, dri;tcd IN from sea.