Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-10-28

return from Rome-a feast of welcome
and-farewell!
All the resources of the hotel at
which l stayed had been brought into
equisition. The chef, a famous COR
don bleu, had transferred the work of
the usual table d'hote to his under
inings, and had bent the powers of
his culinary intelligence solely on the
production of the magnificent dinner
| had ordered. The landlord, in spite
of himself, broke into EXPLANATIONS Of
wonder and awe as he listened to and
wrote down my commands for differ
ent wines of the rarest kinds and
choicest vintages. The sevants rushed
hither and thither to obey my various
behests, with looks of immense i'm
portance; the head waiter, a superb
official who prided himself on his
artistic taste, took the laying-Out of
the table under his entire superinten-
dence, and nothing was talked of or
thought of for the time but the gran
deur of my proposed entertainment.
down to tie railway station to meet
Ferrari as | had arranged; and then,
at my landlords invitation, I went to
survey the stage that was prepared for
one important scene of my dramatic
see if the scenery, side-lights, and
general effects were all in working
order To avoid disarranging my own
apartments, | had chosen for my din
ner-party room on the grOund-fioor
of the hotel, which was often let out
for marriage -breakfasts and other pur-
poses of the like kind; it was octago-
nal in shape, not too large, and I had
most exquisitely decorated for the oc-
casion. The walls were hung with dra-
peries of gold-colored silk and crimson
velvet, intercepted here and there
with long mirrors, which were orna-
mented with crystal candelabra, in
which twinhled hundreds of lights I'M
der rose-tinted glass shades. At the
back of the room, a miniature cOnser-
vatory was displayed to view, full of
ferns and suitable perfumed oxOtics
in the center of which a fountain rose
and fell with regular and melodiOus
murmur. Here, later on, a band of
stringed instruments and a, choir of
boys voices were to be stationed, SO
that sweet music might be heard and
felt without the performers being
visible. One, and one only, of the
long French windows of the room was
left uncurtained, it was simply draped
with velvet as one Grapes a choice
picture, and through it the eyes rested
on a perfect view of the Bay of Naples,
white with the WINERY moonlight.
The table, laid for fifteen per-
sons, glittered with sumptuous ap-
pointments of silver, Venetian glass,
and the rarest flowers; the floor was
carpeted with velvet pile, in which
some grains of ambergis had been
scattered, so that in walking the feet
sunk, as it were, into a bed of moss
rich with the odors Of a thousand
spring blossoms. The very chairs
wherein my guests were to seat them
selves were Of a luxurious shape and
softly stuffed, so that one could lean
back in them or recline at ease-in
short, evrything was arranged with a
lavish splendor almost BETTING the
banquet of an eastern monarch, and
yet with such accurate taste that there
was no detail one could have wished
omitted.
[ was thoroughly satisfied, but as
know what an unwise plan it is to
praise servants too highly for doing
we'll what they are expressly paid to
do, l intimated my satisfaction to my
landlord by a mere careless nod and
smile of approval He, who waited on
my every gesture with abject humility,
received this sign of condescension
with as much delight as though it had
come from the king himself, and l
could easily see that the very fact of
my showing no enthusiasm at the re-
suit of his labOrs, made him consider
me a greater man than ever. [ now
went to my own apartments to don my
evening attire; | found Vincenzo
brushing every speck Of dust from my
dress-coat with careful niCety-he had
already arranged the other articles of
costume neatly on my bed ready for
wear. l unlocked a dressing-case and
took from thence three studs, each one
formed of a single brilliant of rare
clearness and luster, and handed them
to him to fix in my shirt-front. While
he was polishing these admiringly on
his coat-sleeve I watched him ear
nestly-then [ suddenly addressed
him:
''Vincenzo!" He started.
"Eccellenza?"
Tonight you will stand behind my
chair and insist in serving the wine. .
Yes, eccellenZa."
You WILL" I continued, attend par
ticularly to Signor Ferrari, who will
sit at my right hand. Take care that
his glass is never empty"
Yes, eccellenza.
Whatever may be said or DONE" l
went on quietly, you will show no
sign of alarm or surprise. From the
commencement of dinner till tell you
to move. remember your place is fixed
by me-
The honest fellow looked little
puzzled, but replied as before:
Yes, eccellenza."
I smiled, and advancing, laid my
hand on his arm.
How about the pistols, Vincenzo?"
They are cleaned and ready for use,
eccellenza," he replid. Il have placed