Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1897-08-05

it was my habit, as it is the habit of
almost every Italian, to accompany my
words with the expressive pantomime
of gesture. | took myself in training
rs an actor studies for a particular
part | cultivated harsh accent, and
spoke with deliberaticu and GOODNESS
occasionally with a sort of sarcastic
brusquerie, carefully avoiding the
least movement of hands or head dur
ing converse. This was exceedingly
difficult of attainment to me, and took
me an infinite deal of time and trouble;
but | had for my model a middle
aged Englishman who was staying in
the same hotel as myself, and whose
starched stolidity never relaxed for a
single instant. He was human ice
berg-perfectly respectable, with that
air of decent gloom about him which
is generally worn by ell the sons OF
Britain while sol burning in foreign
cline. | copied his manners as closely
as possible; | kept my mouth shut with
the same precise air of MOTTO
be-enlightened obstinacy-I walked
with the same upright drill demeanor
and | surveyed the scenery with the
same superior contempt. | knew
had succeeded at last, for | overheard
a waiter speaking of me to his com
panion as the white bear!"
One other thing | did. | wrote a
courteous note to the editor of the
principal newspaper published in Naples
"a newspaper that | knew always
found its way to the Villa Roman
and inclosing fifty francs, | requested
him to insert paragraph for me in
his next issue. This paragraph was
worded somewhat as follows:
THE Signor Conte Cesare Olivia, a
Eobleman who has been for many
years absent from his native country
has, we understand, just returned
possessed of almost fabulous wealth
and is about to arrive in Naples, where
he purposes making his home for the
future The leaders of society here
will no doubt welcome with enthusiasm
so distinguished an addition to the
brilliant circles commanded by their
influence"
The editor obeyed my wishes, and
inserted what | sent him, word for
word as it was written. He sent me the
paper containing it with million
compliments" but was discreetly
silent concerning the fifty francs
though | am certain he pocketed them
with unaffected joy. Had | sent him
double the money, he might have beer
induced to announce me as king OF
emperor in disguise. Editors OF
newspapers lay claim to be honorable
men; they may be SO in England, but
in Italy most of them would do any
thing for money. Poor devils, who
can blame them, considering how lit
tie they get by their limited dealings
il pen and ink! In fact, | am rot al
all certain but that a few English
newspaper editors might be found capa-
lie of accepting a bride, if large
enough, and if offered with due deli
cacy. There are surely one or two
magazines, for instance, in London
that would not altogether refuse TO in
sert an indifferently, even badly writ
ten article. if paid a thousand pounds
down for doing it!
On the last day but one of my So
jcurn in Palermo | was reclining in an
easy-chair at the window of the hotel
smoking-room, looking out on tbs
shimmering waters of the gulf II
was nearly eight o'clock, and though
the gorgeous colors of the sunset still
fingered in the sky, the breeze blew
in from the sea somewhat coldly. Civ
ing warning of an approaching chilly
night. The character | had adopted
namely. that of a somewhat harsh and
cynical man who had seen life and did
not like it. had by constant hourly
practice become with me almost
second nature-indeed, | should have
had some difficulty in returning to the
easy and thoughtless abandon of my
former self. | had studied the art OF
being churlish till | really was chur-
lish; | bad to act the chief character in
a drama, and | knew my part
thoroughly well. l sat quietly putting
at my cigar and thinking of nothing
in particular-for, as lar as my plans
went, / had done with thought, and
all my energies We're strung up to &C
tion-when | was startled by a loud
and increasing clamor, as of the shout
ing of large crowd coming onward
like an overfowing 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
room and cried, breathlessly:
"Carmelo Neri, signor. Carmelo
Neri, They have him. poyerino! they
have him at last,-
Though almost as strongly interest
ed in this news as the waiter himself
did not permit my interest to become
manifest. / never forgot for a second
the character had assumed. and
brewing the cigar slowly from my lips,
| merely said:
Then they have caught q great
. .