The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1906-11-14
\ QUAINT CHARACTER
The EcCENTRlCITJEs CFTHE ITALIAN
MARQUIS De- 6RlLtO.


ton Of Justice In Rome-GiSinE TO
Cnesnr What belonged to Caesar.
The Marquis del Grille, husband OF
Abe famous actress, Adelaide Ristori,
was one of the best known characters
of his day. Rich bearing a title that
made him one of the most conspicuous
figures in Roman life, and absolutely
Indifferent to what others thought of
him lie INDUCED in all sorts of FRANKS.
Society called them cccentricities and
pronounced him slightly unbalanced,
but in reality he was possessed Of unu
snally bright faculties He had keen
sense Of humor loved excitement and
was thoroughly awake to the shortcom-
ings of his generation. His eccentrlci-
ties were 50 many object lessons,
which it pleased him To administer in
his OWL quaint way. aud they seldom
went wide Of the mark
Ills first attempt at Il practical Joke,
If such IT may be termed, badc fair to
rrvolntionizc the administration OF JUS
ticc IN Rome
Principally ut 10 one bright spring
morning every church bell in town be
gan II ring II mofto, long peculiar
toll used 10 announce It death. Hlus
TX was lhen rcigning pontiff and,
hearing the general tolling, asked who
the great parsonage was that all Rome
WIS mourning. None of his suit
knew. but inquiries ut st. Peters elicit
I'd the fact that the Marquis del Grillo
had sent the order without specifying
who was dead The pontif was even
more mystined, and when word had
come from other churches to the same
effect he sent for the marquis. who
promptly answered the summons.
Il hear" said Plus y. 10 the mar
quis. that it is at your bidding that
every bell in Rome IS tolling Who,
then. is dead"
Justice. your holiness" was the enig
matte reply.
"Iustce|
YES. your holiness Justice The
goddess Is no more in the pontifical
suites"
md thercupon he related to the as
tunished pontin how. becoming aware
Of the corruption existing In judiciary
circles. he Ind made an experiment.
claiming that the farm of poor neigh
Dor of his belonged TO him. he brought
the poor mnn TO court aud by liberal
bf.bing obtained possession of the
whole estate Ia which he had 10 right
Whatsoever
Ihr pope. after listening attentively
eensHred the marquis severely for the
method used, but history tells us that
the lesson bore fruit and that many
changes took place In important civic
positions
Al another time The marquis, who nj
ways dressed very modestly made his
way ON foot 70 the pnlace of Prince
Massimo where n big reception was
being held Is lie approached the ell
trance a pompous lackey looked him
over from head TO foot and then barred
the way
No admittancc tonight" he said In
soleutly. a reception is going on
The uohlcman stood amazed, for even
over princes he often took precedence,
hut then he saw the humor of the situa-
ton and. smiling to himself. walked
away
Half an hour later magnificent
coach drew up before the palace. and
out stepped the marquis, Respondent In
n gorgeous court uniform and scintlllat-
ing with decorations In a minute the
Whole house was astir, and the hostess
herself met him and led him in The
night was warm, and soon she invited
him 10 have an Ice, an offer which he
promptly accepted. Imagine her feel
iugs when, instead of enting II. he
cooli} aud deliberately proceeded to
spread spoonful after spoonful over the
front of his uniform and on his MI
merous decorations
why. marquis" she exclaimed In
alarm. what are You doingT
Giving Caesar what belongs to Gaze
sur. was the quiet reply Your serv-
auts refused to let me Ia In the garb
of a plain gentleman. hut promptly ad-
mitied my costume and decorations
when carried them in. Is II not they
that should be rcwardedr'
\ popularity of the marquis was his
refusing 10 have MS personal Wallets any
but the most quick witted of young
fellows. who could help him IN his lit
lie cScapndes without having to he
coached too much Many amusing
tales are told of his experiences In en-
gaging them. In one instance he was
sitting at tn, piano trying some church
music when new applicant was ush-
cred i'm. He didn't stop playing or even
glance around hut began to ask ques-
tians. the answers to which evidently
did not appeal II him, for he suddenly
struck Il loud chord and. following the
tune of tn music, chantcd IN loud
voice, YOU will never do for me"
Then he rose and without II look Mt the
man started To walk ont of the room.
Quirh as a flash the applicant stepped
t. the piano and striking the keys with
both FISTS ehanted back solemnly on
the sumo mir II III very glad of 1t, be
ctuSc dnH't Ike you Il bit"
Ary oHr else would have had the
man thrown out for his impudence, but
the ua"ouj pluS2d NJ the door and
smiled with appreciation.
~ SurS, ~ ,illll get on nicely after
all. be said PLEASANTLY See my
'maggiprdomn and speak t. him about
terus. New York FINES