Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-08-30
COMEDY IN A CEMETERY

Old Chestnut Seller Of Genoa and Her
Fortune Hunting Spouse.
| It does not seem possible that one
could run across d comedy in such
solemn place as cemetery, vet there
| is, SO the optimist assures us, d little
comedy in every situation Surely In
| the romance of the old chestnut seller
lof Genoa and the chagrin of her for
tune hunting spouse, both of whom
figure in. the local gossip and one of
whom is immortalized in marble in
the Campo Santo, one must admit that
the situation is not without It's lighter
side The most serious minded smile
as they read the inscription which the
shrewd old lady commanded the sculp-
tor to chisel on her tomb.
Not so many years ago, Sc the story
runs, one of the best known figures in
the streets of Genoa was that of an old
woman who made a living selling
tchestnuts She was without beauty,
but was gifted with quality which no
doubt stood her in better stead-a ma
j tive shrewdness which enabled her to
buy her wares prudentiy and to sell
| them with profit. 1t does not require
| q large income to live in Genoa. espe-
cially when one has not acquired ex-
travagant tastes, so gradually the for
tune of the worthy toiler grew and
finally became large enough to be talk
/ ed about. A lad more noted for his
good looks than for principle or intel
lect caught the rumor of the fortune,
sought the chestnut merchant and
made straight for her heart, which was
not long In responding. The subse-
quent marriage of the pair caused the
knowing ones to smile.
| After short honeymoon it was
brought to the notice Of Interested
neighbors that the young husband was
in search of work. His elderly bride
discIaimed all knowledge of the rumor-
ed fortune and said that, as she was
almost without penny, she expected
that he, too, would put his shoulder to
the wheel. Between them comforta-
BILE home might be supported and an
occasional evening at the theater might
be enjoyed. Not even vet having given
up hope that the fortune would one
day appear, the young husband led for
| a time an exemplary life, but finally
! patience gave place to announcement
and loves young dream was shattered.
Several years later the deserted wife
/ died and, like a mushroom in the
night, sprang up In conspicuous place
in the Campo Santo q handsome monu-
| ment representing, aside from the plot
which It occupied, snug fortune. The
marble statue, Of life size, represents
the old lady. dressed in full gathered
skirt, silk apron, fringed shawl and a
rosary wound around her fingers. Lest
there should be q doubt about the his,
| tory Of the original and her romance
the entire story is set upon the pedes-.
1 tai OF the statue, explaining how the
4 lady had been wooed, not, as she knew
/ at the time, for her beauty or her vir-
tue, but for her fortune, and how she
had thwarted her mercenary lover by
the purchase OF this lasting memorial,
which not only represented her hus-
bands disappointment, but might also
serve as a warning to others. The
statue is one Of the most striking In
the entire place Leslie's Weekly.
No Mail For Him.
Yes remarked the driver, as his
a leaders swept round the turn into a
j lightly timbered stretch Of level road
In the Australian Flush, !" you may
not believe it, but those kangaroos are
4 as clever as people Then, in response
4 to the Inquiry of a passenger who con-
. tributes the story to Casselrs Maya
zine, he proceeded to tell why.
Nov, there's MoIoney," he contin-
ued, '.who owns the section on the 9TH
er side of the creek. He trained one
Of them TO meet the coach every week
and get the letters for him.
The kangaroo's pouch comes In real
& handy, We see,' he added, with the hui
NOR that belongs to the stage driver
the world over.
a Presently, as often happens on q
& quiet country road, fine kangaroo,
disturbed by the approach OF his maj
esfy's royal mail, came into View, as
he raised himself from the grass whers
he had been feeding and looked toward
the coach with an innocent inquirins
d air
The driver glanced at him and shook
his head.
Nothing for you today, old manl'' hs
called genially.
The kangaroo, as IL that was all he
had been waiting for, hoped quickly
out Of view among the trees, to the
amazement OF the box seat traveller
and intense enjoyment Of the other oc
cupants OF the coach
The Money Making Game.
The first Of all English games Ii
making money That is an all absorb
ing game, and we knock each Other
down. oftener In playing at that thar
Z n