The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-04-21

and taking horse set out on my travels
| unaccompanied by servant. In eight
days I reached Dover, having jour-
neyed by way Of London, quite safely
and without adventure. At Dover /
sold my horse to an innkeeper. who at
| first offered me Il tenth of his value,
| and when I refused it threatened to
carry me before q justice Of the peace
and accuse me of having stolen the
| horse. told him he was an impudent
| rogue. and that if l had the pleasure
! Of appearing before a justice in his
| company had influence in my pocket
sufficient to hang him on the nearest
gallows for so insolently aSpersing the
character of an honorable gentleman.
whereon 1 pulled out of q satchcl
which depended from my girdle a
passport signed by King James, with
His MajeSty's seal attached. When
he looked on this document the inn
keeper turned pale and trembled. and
without further ado told out from a
long purse as much money as l had
asked for the horse, ard withal shared
! with ME quart of choice canary at
his own expense.
After diligent inquiry 1 obtained an
introduction to the captain of 4
barGue. who designed to presently
proceed to Calais. and he contracted
to transport me to France for twenty
shillings. 1t was two days before We
set sail, and the barQue was no sooner
at sea than the wind proved contrary,
and we beat about the coast Of Tha-
net in imminent peril for a day and
night. I was sore sick from the tur-
bulence of the sea. and almost starved;
for my inclination for food was but
small. and the only victual aboard
mustv biscuit and soar wine. After
two days of dire misery / w;:S carried
ashore. more dead than alive. At Dun
kiroue, where recovered my wonted
health very speedily, though l soon
came near to losing it again by sur
felt of oysters and onions prepared for
me by iishwife of that town. My
clothes were torn and spoiled by the
buffetinss 1 had sustained in the
hacoue. so l bought me others OF
French make. which served excellently
for long time. being exceeding
strong. though such as would denote
French mariner rather than an Eng
lish gentleman making the grand tour.
When l was perfectly recovered from
the i'll effects of my voyage bought
horse and set out for Paris. spending
my money with great economy on the
way. and carefully avoiding such COM
pany rs I judged might be dangerous
for the safety of M thousand pounds.
into which l had dipped but sparinGly
as YET. and | doubI not my security
had IN additional warrant in the fact
that was tall and muscular. ar any
time prepared fo- combat with the
b2S1 man ia Franco. IN this manner
did | Journey across the continent OF
Europe. staying many days in the fine
cities OF Rouen. Paris. Dion. Geneva,
Turin, Milan. Verona and Padua. OBJ
serving all that is remarkable therein;
and so at last came to Venice, fair city
OF the waters. Inasmuch as Venice is
beautiful beyond the power of words
20 depict, and | had been travelling
with but brief rests for seven months.
I purposed living among the fenetians
one whole summer at least. and so in
deed il fell cut, as shall presently ap-
pear.
had always heard that Venice was
the most beautiful city of Italy. quite
fascinating the stranger. who reveled
in q constant succession Of delightful
surprises rs he paced her stately
squares and colonades or luxuriously
Silded over the surface Of her wonder
full canals, with sky OF unbroken
azure above and historic palaces
around and so indeed l found it.
Here, therefore. I resolved to stay un-
til I had mastered the Italian tongue,
Of which at present l knew only in
considerable fragments. picked up
haphazard since l had come to Italy.
and 1 rightl' appreciated my want
when 1 presented my letters to Signor
Simona. who spake no English. French
/ could speak tolerably we'll before l
left England. thanks to Monsieur Fe-
liX Lamonte. who. when l was pupil
at King Edwards Grammar School.
! Bury St. EdmurdS, impressed upon
me the Irregularities OF French verbs
by the regularity OF his floggings.
which We're frequent and severe.
Touching this Monsieur Lamonte. l
retain to this day :: vivid recollection
| OF his skill in tying up birch rods for
lie would use none but those he had
made himself. o. the graceful curves
| described by his right arm When he
fiogged any OF his pupils. ard of his
i boast that he coald produce by six
! strokes 4 poSter:oral agony as eIGui-
site as an English master could pro-
Guce by dozen. Though in bitterness
o. spirit l had often cursed Monsieur
Lamonte, l had o. laye had cause 10
| think more cnari;ah:y of him. for he
was . good teacher, and ! nov: eXDc-