The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-02
MYSTERY IN FLORENCE.
A Yelled Lady Leaves a hoy With 4
Gentleman ana Disappears.
From the Baltimore sun.

From the Baltimore Sun.
Florence Italy. Dec. 27.-Florenunes are
much excited over mysterious occurrenc4
which has happened in this city, and
which finds its echo in Rome where a Ger
tain well known lady is pointed to as be-
ing one Of the chief personages in the sup
posed drama. one evening recently a
Swiss gentleman was returning hons
about midnight, when he was met by a
lady dressed in black, with d thick vel
over her face This lady, in a voice
trembling with tears, begged Mr.. Sprecher
TO kindly keep her child, boy of about
years OF age while she ran to the Uffizi
10 look for purse she had dropped there
NJ. Sprecher waited and waited, but the
lady did not return, and at last he took
the boy who was shivering with cold to
his lodgings where the landlady warmed
him, gave him some hot coffee and put
him to bed. In the child's cloak pocket
this letter was found:
Man. whoever you be, do not refuse to
do a good work before God and man.
Take this innocent, unhappy child who
knows neither father nor mother, who
has no name and has never been baptized
take him. end may he be an angel of
blessing to you. Take him, he will bring
you fortune and happiness. I know not
who YOU may be. Perhaps you may be A
of this poor child. May God grant that
\ may place the child in kind hands. The
Achfld is years of age; seek not TO dis
cover who l am; all researches would be
i'm vain Farewell. forever"
I The yelled lady has not yet been found
though she is supposed to be in Rome.
she is described as about 40 years of age
and tall.
THE child is fair and strongly built. He
hiss a red face, fair hair and blue eyes; his
nose IS Grecian his mouth small, his fore
head spacious. He was dressed in a blue
cheek frock, with a wooden scarf round his
neck. He also wore brown ulster and a
blue navy cap. He speaks a few words Of
German that is all. Some people say
they Jaw the child month ago in a res
taurant with several men and women
Only then he had long hair, while now it
is cut SPORT. One of the ladies with him
was tall, slim and very fair. The child's
name is Herman. This he says himself
when asla3d. Many people has offered 10
adopt the child, and even the King OF
Siam, it rs said. has telegraphed to the
same effect.
Ali kinds Of rOmances are being woven
on this myYs ter3Ous case. 1t is generally
thought strange that the child who is de-
cdedly Swiss should have been consigned
to a Swiss. Strange also that the let
ter found ON the child should have appar-
entity been written over month before
the child was abandoned. All the walters
at the restaurant already alluded to have
recognized the child, who was with a lame
lady dressed in black. The same woman
and child were also seen in the waiting
room of the railway station, and that wo-
man left by the Sis a. m. train alone.
The police have been informed that the
day before the child was abandoned in
Florence a well-l,nown lady in Rome So
ciety left for Florence with Swiss maid
and a child about years of age. This
lady has been for some years separated
from her husband. She cannot be found.
however, and the mystery is as dark az
ever. The lady is now no doubt beyond
the Alps, and perhaps beyond the seas.
Her name is not given, she being of very
high standing in Roman society. The
Roman police are as busy about the mat
ter as the Florence police.
The child is very affectionate and cheer
full. He plays all day, and is very fond Of
the landlady who still keeps him. He
! speaks only a few words, and these in
! German. He does not know his name
being in a train long time, and speaks Of
the river Rhine and of mountains and
snow and says he made balls with it.
Seeing the portrait of King Humbert he
Kissed it, saying, "Kaiserv' He says that
hty used to be beaten and cruelty treated
bv y servant woman who burnt his hands.
which still bear the marks of burns. When
alone and not questioned he often repeats
the name Ida" to himself He has had
some leaden soldiers given TO him, and he
calls them E.Swiss soldiers. What tho
sequel to this GSystery will be it is diff
cult to say, but from the Inquiries which
the police are making it is evident that
they think the case Is worth following UP
and unraVelng