Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-04-19

being a shrewd, clever man ne nDer-
ally feed an influential pasta. from
whom he received in return intelli'
Cslce of State matters. In this way
the unfortunate Battista learned IN
advance of the Porte's alleged griev-
ance against the Venetians, and cor
rectly estimating the incident he closed
his affairs here with as much secrecy
and despatch as he could, and, accom-
panied by his wife and his two sons.
embarked one night aboard vessei
he had purchased, taking with MIN
an immense treasure Of money and
Jewels. But his flight was noticed
almost at once, and his means OF IN
formation ascertained. His friend, the
pasta, was bowstrung, Battista's ship
oyertaken and sunk with all aboard
before It had got out of the Bosphorus,
and the treasure brought back and
placed in the imperial treasury, where
1t now is"
This horrible narrative dumbfounded
me, and I resolved to get without the
dominions of the Grand Turk as soon
as conveniently might be. Apprehend'
ing that should experience some
difficulty in reaching Venice for- !
designed to return to that city, ques-
toned Sir Thomas Roe as to the de-
gree of safety enjoyed by EnglishLlen
in Turkey, and in particular desired
him to tell me how 1t came about that
his representations were more regard
ed than the representations made by
ambassadors from other countries.
which appeared very plainly the case.
''The Turks" said Sir Thomas Roe,
"haye respected England since 1888.
In 1887 England Inundated herself
by asking these people to aid her In
repelllng invasion. The Turk, who Is
nothing If not selfish, Of course re-
fused, and Elizabeth's ENJOYS succeed
ed only in impressing the Porte with
an idea of England's impotency. But
when in 1888 England single-handed
scattered and destroyed the whole
might of Spain, it was noted here. as
indeed 1t was throughout the world,
that the islanders of Northern Europe
are not only keen in trade. but quick
to avenge and formidable in fight, &C.
customcd withal to speak the truth
and stand for their rights against
whatever odds. Your Turk, I say,
noted these things, and the benefit to
Englishmen has been that to this day
their ships ride in the Bosphorus as
securely as in their own narrow seas.
That. 1t is not SO With the ships of
weaker States you yourself ca1 wit
ness"
For many days continued to reside
in the house of Sir Thomas Roe, not
going abroad further than the bollnd-
aries Of the garden which encompassed
it. My host was delightful compan-
ion, as full of information as an egg Is
Of meat, yet withal singularly modest
in his manner Of imparting It. BY
his advice l not only delayed my de-
parture for Venice, but rcfrained from
walking about the city. and l was the
more content to follow his counsel
when l considered the pain which In
telligencc of the Inflated Orio Malipie-
tro and her passengers would infiict
on Signor Simona, and so l rested my
self, filling my mind from the rich
stores of knowledge possessed by my
host, and making under his able guild
ance rapid progress toward mastery
Of the Turkish tongue.
But the time soon came when
could no longer suppress my desire to
explore the streets Of ConstantinOple,
and observe the manners and customs
of the people, and intimated rs much
to my host in tie choicest Turkish
could command. My host no further
opposed my desire. but merely ADVISED
re to adopt the dress Of Turk. and
never to stir abroad unless accompa-
MED by Mt least two stout slaves;
suggestions which very willingly
adopted, though at first found the
loose flowing garments Of the Otto
mans excessively inconvenient, anu
could not then have believed that
should for twenty-eight years clothe
myself In no other way.
The health Of Sir Thomas Roe was
not robust, and 1t was always his GUS
torn after a spell of sickness to talk or
his return to England, change which
he contemplated with pleasure. lie
had no regular assistance in the du-
ties Of his Office, which at times
pressed heavily upon him, 80 that
when I volunteered to assist in the
preparation If his dispatches to King
James my offer was gratefully &C
cepted. And thus the winter OF l623
passed away. the spring Of 1923 adj
yanced and still my daily life remained
unaltered, but 1 had meanwhile ac-
uuired the language Of the Turks, and
that, too, with little trouble. for 1t pre-
sents but few difficulties to an earnest
student. In June. 1923, intelligence
reached Sir Thomas Roe, In answer 70
inquiries which he had Instituted at
my instigation, that Signor Pietro 81
mona was dead, that the good OLD
Venetian merchant had died In the
belief that all who sailed from Venice
in the Orio Malipietro had perished.
There remained nothing now to attract
me to that city. and abandoning my
intention to revisit 1t, l continued to
live with Sir Thomas Roe.
TO be continued.
rI,a Ind m strinua nauea.