Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1895-10-17

The next thing to alter was my
voice. I had naturally a peculiarly
soft voice and rapid yet clear enun-
citation, and it was my habit, as it is
the habit of almost every Italian, to
accompany my words with the cx-
pressive pantomime of gesture. l took
myself in training as an actor studies
for particular part. cultivated
harsh accent and spoke with delibera-
tion and GOODNESS. occasionally With
sort of sarcastic brusquerie, carefully
avoiding the least movement of hands
or head during converse. This was ex-
ceedingly difficult Of attainment to me,
and took me an indefinite deal OF time
and trouble; but had for my model
middle-aged Englishman who was
staying at the same hotel as myself,
and whose starched stolidity never re-
Taxed for a single instant. He was a
human iceberg, perfectly respectable,
with an air of decent gloom about
him which is generally worn by all
the sons of Britain while sojourning
in a foreign cline. 1 copied his man
ners as closely as possible; kept my
mouth shut with the same precise air
of not-to-be enlightened obstinacy; I
walked with the same upright drill
demeanor, and surveyed the scenery
with the same superior contempt.
knew I had succeeded at last, for
overheard waiter speaking of me to
his companion as 1.-The white bear"
One other thing did. / wrote a.
courteous note to the editor of the
principal newspaper published in Ma
%hof I
found it's way to the villa Romani-
and enclosing so francs, requested
him to insert a paragraph for me In
his next issue. This paragraph was
worded somewhat as follows: -
"The Signore Conte Cesare Olivia, a
nob1eman who has been for many
years absent from his native country,
has. we understand. just returned, pos
sessed of almost fabulous wealth, and
is about to arrive in Naples, where he
will make his future home. The lead
ers of society will no doubt vel
come with enthusiasm so distinguish
ed an addition to the brilliant circles
commanded by their influence"
The editor obeyed my wishes, and
inserted what I sent him, word for
word as it was written. He sent me
the paper containing it with million
compliments" but was discreetly 81
lent concerning the fifty francs,
though am certain he pOcketed them
with unaffected Joy. Had / sent him
double the money he might have been
induced to announce me as king or
emperor in disguise. Editors of news
papers lay claim to be honorable men;
they may be so in England, but in
Italy most of them would do anything
for money. Poor devils! who can
blame them, considering how little
they get by their limited dealings IN
pen and ink. In fact, am not at all
certain but that few English news
paper editors might be found capable
Of accepting bride. if large enough,
and if offered with due delicacy.
There are surely one or two maya
zines, for instance in London. that
would not altogether refuse to insert
an indiferently, even badly written
article. if paid thousand pounds
down for doing it!
On the last day but one of my So
journ in Palermo, was reclining in
an easy chair at the window of the
hotel smoking room. looking out on
the shimmering waters of the Gulf.
1t was nearly o'clock, and though
the gorgeous colors of the sunset still
fingered in the sky, the breeze blew in
from the sea somewhat coldly, giving
warning of an approaching chilly
night. The character had adopted,
namely, that Of somewhat harsh and
cynical man who had seen life and did
not like it, had, by constant hourly
practice, become with me almost sec
ond nature,-indced, should have had
some difficulty in returning to the
easy and thoughtless abandon of my
former self. I had studied the art Of
being churlish till really was churl-
ish:-I had to act the chief character
In drama. and knew my part thor
oughly we'll. l sat quietly putting at
my cigar and thinking of nothing In
particular = for as far as my plans
went. had done with thought. and all
my energies were strung up to action
when l was startled by loud and
increasing clamor, as of the shouting
of n large crowd coming onward like
an overtiowing tide. ! leaned out Of
the window but could see nothing, and
was wondering what the noise could
| mean. when an excited waiter threw
open the door of the smoking-r room
and cried breathlessly:
"Carmelo Neri, Signeri Carmelo Nerf!
They have him, poverino. they have
him at lastv'
Though almost as strongly interest
ed in this news as the waiter himself,
l did not permit my interest to be-
come manifest. l never forgot for a
moment the character l had assumed.
and drawing the cigar slowly from.
my lips, l merely said:
"They have caught great rascal.
| congratulate the government! Where
is the fellow?"
I'm the great square" returned the
garcon, eagerly. If the signor would
walk round the corner he would see
Carmelo, bound and fettered. The
(, saints have mercy upon him! The
crowds there are as thick as fles
round honeycomb! must 20 thlther
myself,-I would not miss the sight
for thousand francs!
And he ran or, as full of the anticl
pated delight Of looking at a brigand
as q child going to Its first fair. put
ON my hat and strolled leisurely round
to the scene OF excitement 1t was a
picturesque sight enough the square
was black with n sea Of I'm var I,oodu