Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1901-03-14

youthful charms depart, Marietta be-
gan to worry. She realized only too
well that she would be no exception
to the rule, and feared that within
year she would no longer be able 10
stand on her corner and sing to the
passers-by without being ieered and
ho0ted.
How would she earn a livelihood
when she was crowded out of this call
ing? She had never attended school,
knew no trade and could not think
Of working in factory, for Naples
had but few, and those overlooked
with girls who received a mere pit
lance for their hard labor. Open Il
fruit. or vegetable, or lemonade stand?
No, for in almost every other doorway
these were Tor sale.
In the midst of her despair she sud
denly clapped her hands in joy as an
inspiration came to her. From a
friend who had recently travelled in
Switzerland. she learned that there
were women doctors, telegraph oper-
ators, mail carriers and railway ticket
sellers in the little republic who gave
complete satisfaction and were indie
pendent like the men. She had be-
come an ardent believer in the wisdom
of wOlnens emancipation, and here,
she argued, was an opportunity to
test it. If no cocher would propose
to her, why not become cocher
herself? No one could prevent her
from making an honest living, and
what a delightful avocation it would
be. First, one could have the pleasure
of riding the whole day long; second,
some one else would have to foot the
bill; and. last but not least, she could
win far more fame and fortune as the
first woman cocher of Naples than as
street-sirger dependent on the
whims of the tickle public. And if
her experiment proved success, she
could soon amass great wealth and
then retire from the business.
That was the scheme which Mari
eta concocted after an hour of deep
meditation. She had perfect conf
dence in herself, and the plan did not
seem strange, as she had practically
lived in the streets from infancy. No
sooner did her dreams begin to take
definite form than she decided to act
at once. fastening to her landlord,
the cobbler, she drew a little bank
book from her bosom, and bade him
count up the figures that she might
Anr no
that by this time at least nine hun
dred lire lay safely deposited to her
credit in the national bank.
For Marietta, in addition to be-
ing blessed with an artistic tempera-
ment, had the business instinct in her
developed to a large extent. She
went first to an aunt who had not
lost all her charms and still possessed
fair voice and some money, and.
for a consideration, offered to dis
( pose Of her precious table, bowl and
guitar. This opportunity was eagerly
! taken advantage of, and, on the fol-
lowing day, instead of the familiar
| form of the beautiful Marietta, one
saw a thin, yellow woman stationed
on the corner, VINO sang with much
effort in a shrill, metallic voice.
Marietta in the meantime was bar
gaining with a cocher's widow for n
thin scrawny little horse, a red
painted cab with new mating on the
floor and two large lanterns at either
side of the drivers seat, which, after
much pickering, she succeeded in pur-
chasing for seven hundred lire.
Marietta was in her seventh heaven
She hailed an omnibus which ran be-
tween Naples and little suburb, and
climbing to the side of the cocher
asked him to teach her to drive in re-
turn for her fare. Truly, he thought
she must be Joking, but when he saw
the look Of earnestness in her eyes, he
refrained from laughing, being only
TOO willing to earn the money. IL
and fro Marietta was conveyed SONG
2S times ia the course of four hours
and at length she felt fully compe
tent to handle the reins of any horse
A few days later Marietta drove hei
cab along the Chiaja, and, drawing vi
at busy corner, waited for passen
gers. As she looked down from hei
high seat at the long line of slowly
moving vehicles, she did feel bit
strange, and her heart thumped VIC
lentIy. But she was so happy. Will
natty little cap on her fluffy hair
and a whip in her hand, she made
such a striking picture that in less
than ten minutes she had attracted
the attention not only of the hun
dreds of passers-by, who stopped an;
admired the dainty little cocher, but
alas! also the more fatal attention o
two municipal guards, with great
three-cornered hats; two policemen
with long capes and gorgeous hel
NETS: and two detectives, who eyeC
her susplciously. Without delay, the!
surrounded her, and Selling her horse
one of them demanded, In harsl
tones:
"Have you lceuseW
: Marietta had none; in fact, sill
never heard of such thing before
| and, unable to understand what the
wanted, retorted equally CURLY:
; leave my cab alone. My cab
: numbered and my lamps are clean!"
| Eyes, yes" said the official, "bu
: have you license?
"No!"
, "Wen, then, follow us. to the Gel
l trail police station"
"To the police station?" repeatc
1 Marietta, growing pale. And, tren
Y bling with fright, she dropped he
;. whip on her horses back, causin
: him to start suddenly and jerk ava
D from her prosecutor.
eyes, come down from your seat in
t mediately, and let us take the hors
: and cab!" insisted the official, in a
i authoritative tone.
: Marietta began to Shrek all
y scream, and soon the street was file
: I'LL ~ ,,,o4leu oroxvd If oilers VIII