Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1907-01-27
a QUAINTCHARACTER
TIE EccENTRIcITies or THE ITALIAN
MARQUIS DEL ealLLo.
F<fa Jske ny whiek he Attemptea
60 neveiutionize the Adnainistra-
risn OF Justice In Rsme--tiiving 60
fsessr what Belonged to Caesar.

<#@88H W bua hNhon8r8 ~ NaeA8Fs
The Marquis del Grillo. husband Of
1e famous actress. Adelaide Rlstori.
Ma one Of the best known characters
{ bis day. Rich. bearing a title that
teGa him one OF the most conspicuous
rurcs In Roman life. and absolutely
3different 20 what others thought OF
~. he INDUCED In all sorts Of pranks.
ocIety called them eccentricities aud
announced him slightly unbalanced.
.uf sn reality he was possessed OF unu-
rally bright faculties. He had keen
1<zse OF hunor. loved excitement and
Fns thoroughly awake TO the shortcom.
1<rs Of his generation. His eccentrici.
<Its were so many object lessons.
ebich II pleased him 10 administer in
~ own quaint way. aud they seldom
rent wide OF the mark.
His FIRST attempt al a practical Joke,
III such II may be termed. babe fair to
f<ScIutionize the administration Of Jus.
1lce In Rome.
Punctually at 10 one bright spring
Z 3orning every church bell in town be-
3n 20 ring IA morto." long. peculiar
1toIl used 90 announce a death. Plus
Tx. was then reIgning pontiff and,
bearing the general toIling. asked who
11be great parsonage was that all Rome
74vas mourning. None OF his ''sult''
new. but inquiries ut ST. Peters elicit.
Nd the fact that the Marquis del Grille
bad sent the order without specifying
xsho was dead. The pontiff was even
zrore mystified. and when word had
come from other churches 20 the same
eject he sent for the marquis who
promptly answered the summons.
II hear" said Plus IX. TO the mar
qnis. that IL Is at your bidding that
every bell In Rome Is tolling. Who.
then. Is deadf"
Justice. your holiness" was the enlg.
matte reply.
~Justicer"
Yes. your boliness-justice. The !
|<0ddess Is no more In the pontlfical |
Mates"
And thereupon he related TO the as
|fpnished pontiir how, becoming aware |
|rf the corruption existing In judiciary |
Circles, he had made an experiment |
Claiming that the farm OF poor neigh |
'por Of his belonged TO him. he brought |
sac poor man to court and by liberal |
'bribing obtained possession OF the
whole estate. TO which he had no right |
Whatsoever.
The pope. after listening attentively. |
censured the marquis severely for the
method used. but history tells us that
the lesson bore fruit and that many
tssnges took place In important civic
positions.
At another time the marquis, who al
ways dressed very modestly. made his
way on foot 20 the palace OF Prince
'ffassimo. where a big reception was
being held. As he approached the en-
rance a pompous lackey looked him
ever from head 20 foot and then barred
fbe way.
NO admlttance tonight" he said IN.
SILENTLY. "A reception Is going on"
The nobleman stood amazed. for even
over princes he often took precedence.
but then he saw the huinor Of the sltua-
ton and. smiling TO himself, walked
away.
Half an hour later a magnificent
roach drew up before the palace. and
out stepped the marquis. respondent I'm
. gorgeous court uniform and scintiilat-
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
MIN to have an Ice. an offer which he
promptly accepted Imagine her feel.
lngs when. instead OF eating Il. he
roolly and deliberately proceeded 10
,pread spoonful after spoonful over the
'front.' or his uniform aud on his nu-
nervous decorations
why. marquis" she exclaimed In s
lfarm. what are you doIngy'
"Giving Caesar what belongs % Cae-
ar was tls quiet reply Your serv.
Infs refused 10 let me IN In the garb
q plain gentleman. but promptly ad-
nitted my costume aud decorations
men carried them in. Is IL not they
bat should be- rewarded?"
A pecullarlty Of the marquis was his
efusing 90 have as personal Wallets any
'nt the most quick witted OF young ,
'e''o~A who could help him In his III.
~ sseapades without having 10 be- I
'ose'en TOO much. Many amusing I
49, are told Of his experiences In IN ,
u'1,r In one Instance he was ,
Ieno trying some church I