Omaha daily bee., 1896-10-25

religion, politics. a picture, a play book
or music which indeed. is sentiment.
Three people were there at the little table.
around which FlOrians oldest waiter hustled
obseduiously, a striking, black-eyed, black
haired gentleman. an old. white-haired wo-
man and younger lady, who was plainly
owner of the well-toned voice. She might
hayc been 20. or %, or 30. | saw only GER
tam distinction OF breeding and manner, and
for details that the face was thin noble
with delicious dark eyes, a broad. lew fore
head. framed by that yellow hair. L looked
twice, thrice. Decidedly these persons looked
somebodies out OF The ordinary; Italians
probably.
| ever am given to vivid Impressions Of
faces; so much so that when see the same
race again often am on the point of bowling
and carrying the recognition to the point OF
acquaintance. The ladys face / put away
most carefully in my memory, as biz OF
sympathy in perfect setting. | should
havo liked 1t better If had seen her In the
early morning, when the piazza is swept Of
tho night out of the spaces of the Adriatic
into quieiness, for l fancied she was the
sort OF woman who would add to the dis
| tnction Of even that distinguished spot in
It's most distinguished moment, when the
early morning has it to itself.
l will make no particular defense of this
point of view of the stranger | saw that
evening at Florians; nor at IS do think
have much sentmentality left. although
they say man who has been through many
experiences is the weakest.
That evening, on the Piazza San Marco
which occurred TO me- was far away; for
there had been so much In my life since that
oven year made those days a dream, or
recollection OF far-gone experience, which
takes in the mind the place OF dream. And
she | saw that evening became like a pic
turo in Venetian gallery-that | put away
when was again in London, where know
many people, and where | put up at the lit
tie, dark, Drowned house that stands at an
alleys blird end, near Pccadilly, with the
sign. The Earl of Duesdale."
Duesdale and ] have many discussions
You commercial Americans" he began
ono day.
MY father, who was poor Irishman, did
exactly as your ancestor"
Founded a family. l don't suppose the
first robber Dalton was much better"
Thanks" said I. "At least you English
men appreciate the same thing"
We'll, was thinking you might introduce
me, say-at Newport. You know / must
marry some money"
And our new rich don't carry their pasta
over here"
Bother your pasts, they make no differ
ence If you are agreeable"
"Humph," said l, 1--WE have some good
blood. My father may have been a poor
revolutionary Pembertons-as good blood,
say"
Say as the Daltons," said their present
head cynically.
We'll. yes, now that you mention it."
you Americans are so funny when you
get on the subject of family"
none"
He was an ancestor"
20, he was Sorcible."
l remember In time that there was a scan
dal about Robert Gerald. frsts. sense of
meum an tuum In certain railroad trans
actions, but then that is not altogether un-
usual in founder of an American family.
Ihose ancient gentlemen who were our
English cousins progenitors sometimes APP
propriate others possessions as nonchaI-
antly The only justification in either case
Is strength to maintain ones self in the
position taken. l am proud OF my father
VINO from a poor ancestorless- that Is to
say, he didn't know 'em-Irish emigrant
became one OF the first of American hnan,
ciers; nor did have any patience with my
sister when she tried to assume the arms of
the real Geralds. Nobody knows our grand
lather' Trey can't contradict our claim"
said my dear sister.
"Bosh." said |. was not our father
enough? Is II not greater to be great
mans child than his hundredth descend.
anti"
Now despite the world. I believe Il ia
And / think my sister did quite enough
when she married the sixth Baron Shaugh-
messy. My father was born a nobody on
the shaughnessy estate He died that some
body who controlled the markets OF the
world. and his daughter married the heir
OF his own mothers landlord. and 1t is
this that makes me prouder OF being Rob
ert Gerald's son than descendant OF the
Maryland Pembertons, although Americans
are rather proud OF long descent. In fact
| have often said we are race Of snobs
ana need our Thackersy or our Juyenal. He