Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-09-01

~ ONE, Aug. 9O.-It may be roughly
- said that to the half OF intelli-
IN gent Italy Ciosue Carduccia is a
hero, a god being who can do
no wrong. while to the other half he Is
a bear who shows his claws when not
lett alone,
Carducci under all aspects stands at
the head Of the Italian poets. His
prose while marked by strength and
good sense, is quite inferior 10 his po-
etiC work: he is par excellence a poet,
Small in stature. with a broad hgure,
rough beard, short and square like its
owner, a shock Of white hair he looks
more like a philosopher than a weaver
Of rhymes.
Carducoi does not lend himself TO
light anecdote and description. He is
poet Of high ideals and lofty form.
with a past which does him credit for
its patriotism and sobriety, and an old
age Of modest competency and peace.
The great man began life on July q, 1885,
al Val Of CASTILLO ia the Pisa district,
and therefore On Tuscany His father
was a physician of modest means, half
revolutionary. half-student. who gave
his sons a good education and then
expected them 10 fend for themselves.
Giosue was Scarcely out Of college
when he married. al the age Of q, FL
yira Menlcucci, a distant relative.
After instructing the youth of Flor
ence, ne went as professor to Bologna.
whore he has been ever since. There Is
an interesting description Of his first
appearance before his pupils there.
The ages of the boys ranged anywhere
from II years 10 II. and they. knowing
that one professor had refused 10 go
90 Bologna because he feared that he
would be whistled down by them were
ready for any mischief and considered
themselves the arbitors Of the fate Of
their professors. To them one day
came little man with abundant black
hair standing up all over his head, and
a hrusque manner. The contrast be
tween the master 10 whom they had
been accustomed for years. tall ele-
CANT man between military officer
and a troubsdour. was so striking that
It produced a smile. That smile was
fatal.
The little man carried a theater hat
in his hand, one Of the old-fashioned
kind which closed and opened with
spring and this he nourished as he
began his lecture The smiles broad
ened, IN proportion 10 the smile the
fourshes grew more pronounced until
there was confused vision Of a face
red with indignation. circles made by
big hat. from the midst Of which
came a small and trembling voice, due
10 what the students took 20 be timid-
ity. but which was In reality rage. A
loud laugh was not 10 he suppressed.
and the day was won for the students.
Carducci stopped suddenly. gathered
up his papers, opened the absurd hat
with a click. clapped II on hi, head,
and rushed from the hall, swearing hs
would leave Bologna.
However. the rector Of the uniyersi-
~ interfered. explained who the new
professor was. and the students, much
Impressed asked for forgiveness for
their rudeuess, and peace was patched
up. Now, f0riy-two years later the
great man enters the lecture room i'm
the midst Of awe-inspired silence. be-
loved and revered by his pupils to tho
verge Of alteration. His lectures are
listened 70 as though dropping from
the mouth Of god, and taken as the
laws ~ the Medes and Persisns
Carducci's chief characteristics are
his bursts Of rage and his love ~ being
left alone. which latter amounts TO
Churlishness. These outbursts usually
take place In the lecture room rs out
side he Is rarely crossed or given oc-
casion for anger. except when he finds
himself being Eszed AT cur1ously. or
someone taking n snapshot 81 him, then
his indignation knows no bounds. II
must however, be said that the storm
once over he is incapable of bearing
malice. aud Is absolutely childike IN his
generosity and forgiveness.
n there IL one thing above all others
which h. cannot endure and never
permits. u Is strangers coming to his
lectures not 10 listen but TO look at him.
This ne cannot entirely avoid, as the
lectures AZ the university are public.
but woe 10 the person who comes late
or does not attend TO what IL being
said. on one occasion q certain deputy
dropped in almost at the last mo-
ment Carducc stopped I'm the middle
Of a sentence and invited him 10 leave.
as he was disturbing the students This
the deputy. somewhat nettled. refused
n do. but on being asked for the third
time and finding himself thus unpleas-
antly conspicuous he went out and
later wrote a letter 20 the poet In which
he qualified him as an "unmannerly
person. The case got into the papers
and became a cause celehre. the whole
Of the country being divided into two
camps, the only serene person being
Carducci himself.
] remember a snowy wintry day not
long ago when ! happened 90 be pass
ing the professors house Just as he was
leaving n. He slipped and fell and as 1
helped him 10 rise ! heard some strong
language. His mental equilibrium was
also upset. and hy the time ne reached
the university. he was in the worst o.
humors. However, h. began his lee
tute which was on petrarch when att
or Few words he picked Up the book
and threw . With all his might into
the midst ~ the astOuiFhed students
damned his broad hrImmed gray fsi,
bat on 20 his abundant locks. and len
saying TO me devil with petrarrb
and All TIE poets. 80 more lectures
while this weather lasts. and derartsd
MOI showing his race again for over \
month
'aiauccis reputation may be said IA
have begun with BIS celebrated code IN
satan The title was suggestive the