The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1894-08-02
CURES PROMPTLY cMesl lM@o
/ HMtMfVV * II BACK-ACHE,
10lvlhlulOO1 SORENESS.
LOOKED LIKE A BORN DUKE.
A Nobleman by Purchase, Who Made His
Money in Chewing Gum.

The amateur traveller, as his friends
call him. was III a meditative frame of
mind, and everyone knew that over the
second cup of black coffee which fol-
lowed his dinner he was thinking of
some foreign land. By that mysterious
principle Of thought transference which
everybody knows nothing about, \.
I. Tribune man asked. Did you ever
see live duke at home?"
Yes, he said. Il was just thinking
about one duke | saw. | had driven
out from Palermo to the races at La
Favorita, where in an amphitheater of
great mountains the Sicilian nobility
had gathered to see some bad racing.
1t was one of the most beautiful spots
on earth. The great mountains henimed
about a level plane and it seemed too
grand for horse racing. But then, it
was not real racing, You know. only &
weak imitation, which really did not
detract from the subhmity of the place,
but gave people an excuse for being
there. We were driving back after the
races through the COTSo, where up and
down the Sicilian great men passed one
another, when, swinging up the broad
way, | saw a carriage, the panels of
which blaZed with armorial bearings.
1t was of an ancient and most respecta-
bic make and was drawn by four white
horses, on two Of which were positions
in liyeries of blue and silver. On the
box, with folded arms, sat two foomeu
III the same livery. and on the footboard
behind were two more, all four with
cooked hats and white, curling wigs.
80 . L.. I Il
carriage reclined an old man with
snow-white imperial and mustache. He
| was heavy of face and figure, and from
beneath dropping eyelids lusterless eyes
looked out, as if upon a world in which
he had seen nothing except safety. His
forehead was high. his nose aquiline
and his whole air one of aristocratic re-
pose. 1t was strong face and one to
be remembered. | can see it now rising
! through the mists of memory above
| those of kings and princes. As the
| carriage swept by and was lost in the
throng OF the crowded CoTsO | asked
my driver, Who was that?' The
Duke de la - he answered. 1t was
an ancient name, long known in Italy.
and | speculated as | drove up and
! down what that man might have accom-
plished had he not been born a duke.
That night at the Hotel de France,
remarked that | had seen the duke that
day in the Corso, for his strong face
was in my mind. The company, two
or three Of the old SiciEans and an Eng
lishman long resident, laughed, and
one said: oh, yes; as clever a man as
you would want to meet, except for his
! dukedem.
"'How Is that?'
"Why, he was a poor peasant boy
who worked like fits, and finally made
a fortune by inventing new Kind of
| chewing gum. He put his money in
railroad contracts and made more.
Then he bought the De Ia - estate,
and in those days the title went with
the estate, so he is a duke. as you see
him. The last Of the De las have
long since slept in their family sepul-
chre, but for energy and ability | will
match this chewing gum man against
any one of them that ever lived"