The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-07-25
Yhe aaaiehita ailY Eagle guesday 7loruno gully 2 1898

the streets and MIXED as necessity re-
quires, 1t it were not for this custom
or probably law, l imagine the milk
would be very freely diluted. rs the
Italians are tricky lot. They are also
keen ON bargain and delight 10 take
the stranger in. For instance, you are
charged 90 cents for drive across the
city, just double the price paid " a
native. The best way is to strike bar
gain. Tell the driver that you Will give
him ~ cents for the trip. At this. he
usually throws up his hands III astonish-
ment and begins to rattle off Italian, re-
| gardless of cost; but just as you turn
away. he mods, cracks his long whip,
and away you go.
Naples is the home of tortoise shell
ornaments of all descriptions. When
we arrived in the city we did not know
anything about tortoise shell, but before
We left we could gauge the quality and
cost like experts. When you go into Il
shop the proprietor immediately spots
you as an unprotected tourist and tries
to DO you. We learned that the shop
man had no respect for person WHO
gave hun his price, cheap as 1t appeared.
and as we wished TO make good I'M
preston, brought our western training
! to bear upon the unsuspecting Italian.
When we found an ornament that
pleased US the battle began: "Weii, how
much would you like to charge for
THAT: "Well, sir, you may have 1t for
ten francs Ooh! but it isn't worth
half of that sum, it's only a medium
quality" "Wel!, sir, business has been
good today, so take it fer seven francs
and half mo, | see you want to
cheat US, it is dear at five francs So
we turn away. Half way down the
street the clerk ruSfes after us and we
turn back and complete the bargain at
tive francs, and probably got cheated at
that.
Naples also produces the finest mando-
Inns in the world and Vinaccia is the
prince of makers. For some unknown
reason the mandolins laade in the United
States and England are thin and twangy
and in great contrast to the clear. silvery
tone of the Italian make. The Ninaccia
mandolins are beautiful instruments in
laid with pearl, tortoise shell and silver
Even in London, where YOU can usually
buy everything, it is difficult TO get u
genuine Nlnaccia without paving a
fabulous price for it. AS | am very fond
of mandoiins thought | would call on
Slgnor Vinaccia at his place OF business.
53 Rua Catalina, and look at his instru-
ments. After some inquiry and search
l found Rua Catalina to be small side
street, whice seemed to be used as
vegetable market. No. % was Il small
shop with sign, Signor Vinaccia, man
dollns. above the door. Surely this
could not be the shop of
the celebrated maker? But | entered
and inquired of a small, old gentleman,
with white hair, who sat in chair
smoking cigarette. Eyes, said he, Il
am Signor Vinaccia." In a mixture OF
Italian, Spanish and English | told him
that had crossed the seas to buy one
Of his mandoiins. He seemed much
pleased and brought down for my in
spection, several little beauties. AL
though knew it would be quite an un-
dertaking to carry one about Europe
with me, yet the temptation was too
strong and after some bargaining l left |
the store, the proud po5sessor OF
Vinaccia Mandolin.
The beautiful promenade and drive !
along the shore of the bay is a very
popular resort between the hours of five |
and we'll to do Neapolitans have a pas |
sion for fine equipages and are not con-
tent unless driving behind spirited pair, |
with clanking silver harness and an |
English coachman on the box.
An idea has gone abroad that the Ital-
an mobiles subsist on their titles and a |
bit of macaroni. This is ridiculous, as |
haveit, on the authority of the Ameri-
IAN consul at Naples, that many of them
ire immensely wealthy; and indeed, one
las only to look at their splendid villas,
vast estates and priceless pictures to
,ealize the absurdity of the report.
And now let me conclude this letter
with a description of our visit TO the |
omb of the immortal poet, Virgil, The
Jun had set and the twilight was rapidly
AIDING as we made our way up the steep
md stony path which led to the tomb.
At the top of the cliff we descended by
/ flight of stone steps to a small cave
which had been cut out of the solid
Ock. This was the tomb of Virgil We
entered and struck match to enable us
o read the inscription on the small
marble slab. The place locked very bare
md neglected by the dim light of the
match. We looked out of the small
tone window and saw in the distance
he innumerable twinkling lights OF
Naples; far below us. we caught the
CLEAN Of the waves as
hey dashed against the base of the cliff
nd Sang a gentle, never ending lullaby
o the sleeping bard above. 1t was
Wild, desolate spot, and yet, what a fit
ing tomb for the author of the .Eneid.
lip r F'TIIS JENNINGS |