The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-16

witnessed an example of it. This time it
was the impertinence of a dressmaker.
An aristocratic looking woman was com
planning because her gown was not fin
ished. you always put us Italians off
for the English and Americans" she said
Countess" replied the dressmaker,
how do you suppose I could live without
my foreign customers? | must have the
American and English money in order to
shoulder the Italians bills"
How dare you reply to her in that
manner" said the American woman, af-
ter the Italian had gone out without at
tempting 70 resent the speech.
zone can afford to be lmpertinent TO a
person who owes 1000 francs" replied the
dressmaker Then she went on to relate
tales OF the pitful existence dragged out
by many of the nobility
DO you mean to say!" exclaimed her
American customer, that some of them
really live off the pantry shelf?' why,
madame, in many cases a mouse can't
live off their pantry shelves
And ii is actually so. One hears pathetic
stories on every side. Last week a count
applied for the position of "portiere" at
a convent here in Rome, and was found TO
have been Two whole days without food.
Outside the Porta del PopoIo on the road
that leads to the artist Vil!egas' Moorish
villa there sits an Old beggar differing in
no wise from the hundreds whose wretched
presence detracts from the tourists pleas
ure save that his face has a noticeable
refinement of feature This poor human
bears the title of count and is the only
survivor Of once respectable noble fam
lily.
UnspoLen Suffering.
Another case where the actual needs are
almost as urgent, but the evidence Is care
fully concealed, Is that of a young count
received in the best circles whose friends
supply him with all his little Injuries such
as gloves, ties calling cards, ETC. and oft
en- feel Obliged to invite him to dine Not
that he ever asks il or hints IN any way
that he is hungry ;on The contrary his pride
would bid him starve firsl-but that his
paflid countenance and hollow checks pro-
claim Enthusiastically his sufferlHgs. He is
an accomplished gentleman and OCCASION
ally earns a few dollars by transiating ar
ticles into French and English for the
magazines But this comes through a
friend and Is kept very quiet lest the dis
grace of his earning an honest penny
should become known. Besides he says
quite frankly what would be the use of
my working? The family debts are so ire
mendous that il would be quite Impossible
for one man to make any impression on
them"
Americans have little patience, Of course,
with the aversion he European noble show
towards earning his own living, but they
little realize how few doors are
open TO him IN a business way, or how
quickly he would lose caste should he en-
ter any of them.
II is no rare occurrence in society TO
meet with faded splendor in the person OF
countess, or a marchesa. Often the cos
tune is q velvet gown made In the fashion
Of a past decade, whose shabblness is but
poorly concealed by priceless cd lace and
family jewels. Or IL is for.orn combfna-
ton Of costly furs and a rusty silk gown.
The carriage and horses are retained untI
the last moment, for appearing sake, when
my lady may really need clothes for her
self. one well known family here lives bv
toadyine 20 rich and ambitious Ameri-
cans. Remuneratiye returns are made by