Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1898-02-11

It was in the italian Theater In the
Bowery. There was long, easy wait
before the curtain went up on the droll
comedy. Then it CHANGED that two
men became familiar enough for one
to tell the other the romance Of his
life. Perhaps it was the glow OF SYM
pathy induced by the Americans APP
probation of things Italian that led
the handsome, dark-eyed young Italian
poet to tell the story of his heart, says
the New York Commercial Advertiser.
Il was born" he said, "in Florence,
and lived there the first eighteen years
of my life. I am all emotion, and I
wanted to do everything. I wrote poet
ry and plays-I write for this company
here In New York-and entered the
army when I was very young. Then
went to the navy, where l stayed five
years, and went all around the world.
Much I liked. Many beautiful places
/ have seen, but grew restless, not
that 1 worked very hard, for was ed
ucated. l belonged to the aristocracy-
the son Of knight-and the work l
did on the ship was light, secretary
work. But it was monotonous, and l
was ready to change. Like most of my
countrymen, do not like work when
it is not pleasant. Pleasure first and
work afterward is my motto. You
Americans think differently, but bust
ness is stupid bore; there is no heart
in it. One day We were anchored IN
New York harbor. A beautiful girl,
a countrywoman of mine, but who had
lived many years in New York, came
on board with her father to see our
ship. showed her all that she wanted
to see, and knew straightway that I
loved her and always should. Love
came into my soul in q great wave. and
I wanted her with every part OF me.
I spilled bucket Of paint on her dress
and imagine my happiness in the long
time it took to remove it with my
handkerchief. She was very beautiful
to look at. You cannot understand
my friend. She went away with her
father, but left her address on a small
piece Of paper. Then l asked to 50
ashore for a day. No, was needed.
The next day I asked again. The same
answer. I repeated it five times with
the same result. Then one night
wrapped my shore clothes In a small
bundle, dropped into a small boat
alongside, and left that ship forever,
When l landed l changed my clothes
and sent the ships suit back. When
1 looked for the note l found that 1t
had gone back to the ship with my
clothes. I was in despair. You can
imagine. I was alone in New York, q
deserter, and did not know where my
angel lived. AS am scholar, / spoke
English. That helped me to make a
wretched, sorrowful existence for three
months. Oh, the dreariness Of that
tines 1 had no decent companions.
Most of the Italians who come here
come because they have to. They are
criminals or something akin to 1t.
knew no congenial people for weary
months I nearly starved, I nearly
killed myself. looked everywhere for
the girl, bnt l could not find her. One
happy day l received a note. She had
seen my name and address in one OF
the Bowery newspapers. My name was
there because ! was a deserter. 1t was
in list with others. She wrote me
that she played the organ in the 1tal-
ian Episcopal Church. went the next
Sunday; spent my last quarter for a
necktie that should be sunny and bril-
liant. 1t WAS ravishingly pretty. l
saw her at the organ. could not
speak to her, but it was enough hap
piness. I knew l could come again.
1 did, and I went many times. got
to know her, her father and her friends.
Her father liked me, and liked the
poems that 1 wrote to her and the
plays that write for the theater. My
friend, she will marry me. She is very
good and fair. I could not take her to
this theater, with all these men there.
1 do not shake hands with those men.
I nod, but l am Of good family. We
shall marry soon, for am working and
earning a salary, and an Italian knows
how to live cheaply and save money.
That is not necessary. The good God
will provide. Besides, it is good to be
unhappy in small things. When the
heart is satisfied the stomach does not
matter"