Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1895-05-23

n destroying demon;
II under its whitening
touch scores of people young and old,
dropped down in the streets to die.
The fell disease born of dirt and
criminal neglect of sanitary pre-
cautions. gained on the city with
awful rapidity. and worse even than
the plague was the unreasoning but
universal panic. The never-to-bc-for-
gotten heroism of King Humbcrt had
its effect on the more educated classes.
but among the low Neapolitan popu-
lace, abject fear. vulgar superstition,
and utter seliishness rcgned supreme.
One case may serve as an example of
the many others. A fisherman. we'll
known i'll the place, a handsome and
popular young fellow, was seized While
working in his boat with the first
symptoms of cholera. He was carried
woman. Misunderstanding has,
watched the procession as ii approach
ed her dwelling. and taking in the sit
cadeu her door.
'Sautissima Madonna" she yelled
shrilly through a half-orened window.
Leave him in the street. the aban-
doncd. miserable one! The migrate
full pig, He would bring the plague to
his own Woodworking honest mother!
Holy Joseph. who would have chill
drcn? Leave him i'll the street. l tell
you!'
1t was useless TO eXpostulatc With
this feminine Scare-crow: her son was.
happily for himself. unoo1 scious. and
after some more wran2ling he was laid
down on her doorstep. where he short
ly afterwards expired. his body being
forwards carted away like so much
bhiSh by the beccamorti.
The heat in the city was intense.
The sky was burning dome of bril-
liancy, the bay was still as Il gittering
sheet of glass. a thin column of
smoke issuing from the crater of We
| suviuS increased the impression of an
all-pervading though imperceptible
| ring of fire that seemed to surround
the place. No birds sang save in the
late evening. when the nightingales in
my gardens broke out in q bubbling
torrent of melody, half joyous, half
melancholy. Up on that wooded
height where l dwelt it was COMPARE
lively cool. l took all precautions
necessary to prevent the contagion
from attacking our household: in fact
l would have left the neighborhood
altogether. had not known that hasty
flight from an infected district often
carries With it the possibility of closer
contact with the disease. My wife,
| besides. was not ncrvous--I think very
! beautiful women seldom are. Their
superb vanity is an excellent shield
To repel pestlence: it does away with
/ the principal element of danger-fcar.
AS for our Stella. n toddling mite of
! two years old. she was q healthy child
| for whom her mother nor myself enter
tanned the least anxiety.
Guido Ferrari came and stayed With
us. and While the cholera. like a shary
Scythe pu, into a field of ripe corn.
moved down the dirtloving Neapoli-
tans by hundreds. we three, with Il
small retinuc of scrvanth. none OF
whom were ever permitted to visit the
city. lived on farinaceous food and dis
titled water. lathed regularly rose and
retired early and enjoyed Il most per.
feet health.
Among her many other attractions
my wife was gifted With Il beautiful
and wcll-trainrd voice. She san. Will
exquisite expression. and many N
evening when Guido and myself Sa,
smoking in the garden after little
Stella had gone to bed. Nina wo,lld
ravish our ears With the music of hen
nightingale notes. singing song after
song. quaint storne!li and ritornelli-
songs of the people. full of Wild ant
passionate beauty. In these Guido
would often join her. his full BARTON,
Ginning in with her delicate and clc:r
soprano as dcliciously as the fall of :
fountain with the thrill of bird.
can hear these two voices now. )theil
united melody Still rings mockingly il
my ears; and heavy perfume of orang,
blossom mingled With myrtle floats to
wards me on the air: the yellow moor
burns round and full in the dense blu,
; sky like the King of Thule's goble
) of gold flung into deep sea, ant
~; a. 90!