The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1904-04-15

own lingo Neither knows what the
other says. we get along perfectly and |
greatly respect each others converse.
ton
a few evenings after this an anna
teur performance Of Cousin Kate,
the play that has had such vogue at
the London Haymarket was given for
| the benefit or the local British relief
| fund. After the proceedings had open
ed with an overture played by an anna
teur band, to the delight and surprise
Of the audience Mark Twain stepped
Oh the platform. introduced BY Mr.
Gregory smith. We were told that
the great hum0mst had consented to
furnish an extra number and was
about to give us lesson in Italian
grammar
| Speaking with the curious drawl
that distinguishes him, but which, by
the way, is less aeeentuated in his
home and home relations be began by
stating it as his opinion that the
i Italian grammar was susceptible of
vast Improvement, and that Ia fact,
he was about to write rational gram
mar ana to sell it to the Italian gov
eminent
10 begin with the verbs, they bad
for them too many ways of express
/ ing themselves. even the regular verbs
were irregular no take the simple
verb II love" there were ffty-seven
ways Of eonjugating this word and not
one il able ID convince d girl who
| wanted to marry Il title The verb
nessere" (ssto be''l too, might be inn
proved beyond recognition That IN.
natural way of saying .'e' state ('has
been9, which IS literally is been"
wouldn't do. anyhow. AS for him
self. be got on very well. When con.
versing with stranger he Yves 81
ways taken for an italian, but not 50
when he spoke with friends, for the
friends were jealous. Members Of hlS
household had studied Italian ct tie
Berlitz school, and he got the language.
ont Of them 1T no expense whatever
Woe to them If they should try TO mis-
lead him. one can't be betrayed by
ones own family.
re always aired Ills italian when
ever d chance occurred. Thus he had
met an italian d few days before ID
the big square where tile Neeehio
tower is and the statues. Ii was rain
ing hard, aud he had his umbrella UP,
but the Italian, who was wearing one
Of those unimaginable. intiamed over
coats. had no umbrella. However, ia
the polite Italian way he listened to
the remarks Mark Twain addressed e
him Id order to air his Italian and also
in the polite Italian way tried e agree
, with him.
The conversation began by MARI
saying to the stranger, 10 apro j
libro.n which he had been taught Il
believe meant None but the brave de
serve the fair He then went 0n +
remark, "Noi ehiudiamo ie nostrl
! finestren owe close our windows'1
which Of course means, He temper
the wind to the shorn lamb" Thl
! italian listened with quiet courtesy q
these phrases were poured over him
! but at the next remark, .Quale diner
enza iii e fra questi due libriy t'Wha
! difference il there between these tW'
booksg'1. which, according 20 Mark
|. meant. Whom the gods would dc
stroy they first make mad" the stran
!. GER began to look puzzled. However
be wis eornered between two cart
ana could not break away. SO the raj
1 continued to pour down and the g
/, pressions to pour out. Mark then bs
!; thought him to show some interest I
. The strangers family, and SO aske
him how his mother was, o. in ItallaI
"Questro libro e rosso" esThis book
/ red'9 The bewildered expression Q
the strangers fnce, his look Of admire
4. tion. plainly showed that he took Mar
for an Italian. Then suddenly b
asked him what was the matter wit
him, AChe ha IeigH esWhat has shei
j literally. Now, coming from a dunn
4 sloppy, disagreeable stranger, he q
81 not like this He objected TO haYm
II his sex reversed, Well he was peae
a. able man, largely pacific as largely Z