Arizona republican., 1909-05-25

| Merrihew saw all the beautiful villas,
took tea with the Russian princess.
made a martyr of himself trying to
acquire a taste for the sour astringent
wines of the county, and bought in
laid wood paper cutters and silk
socks and neckties and hat bands,
enough, in truth, to last him for
several generations; another week in
Capri where, at the Zum Kater Hidi-
| geigei, he exchanged compliments
with the green parrot, drank good
| beer, played batseka a game of
billards) with the exiles Qor Capri
has as many as CalroD and beat
! them out of sundry lire, toiled up.
to the ledge where the playful Tibe-
| RUS (see guide books tipped over
his whilorn favorites, caught a ma
| rine daub; and then back to Naples
and the friendly smells. His con-
| slant enthusiasm and refreshing OBJ
| servations were a tonic to Hillard.
| At the hotel in Naples they found
1 a batch of mail There was a letter
which held particular interest to
Merrihew. 1t was from the consul
| at Rome, reply to Hillard's in
quiries regarding the American Comic
| Opera company
We'll find out where your charm
ing Kitty is" Hillard said. breaking
the seal.
| But they didn't. On the contrary,
the writer hadn't the slightest idea
where the play actors were or had
| gone. They had opened a two weeks
engagement at the Thetro Quirino.
1 haA nn
opening night; the remainder of the
week did not show the sale of
hundred tickets. 1t was a fallacy that
| travelling Americans had any desire
TO witness American productions in
Italy So, then, the managers of the
theater had abruptly Cancelled the
| engagement. The American manager
had shown neither foresight nor
| common sense. He had, in the first
place, come with his own scenery
| and costumes, upon which he had
to pay large duties. and would have
| to pay further duties each time he
entered a large city His hacker
| withdrew his support; and the per-
centage demanded by the managers
in Florence, Genoa, Milan and Venice
| was so exOrbitant (although they had
| agreed to a moderate term in the
beginning) that it would have been
nothing short of foolhardiness to
| try to fill the bookings. The singing
of the prima donna, however, had
| created a highly favorable impress
| sion among the critics; but She was
| unknown, and to be unknown was
! next to positive failure, financially
! This information, the writer explain
| ed. had been obtained by personal in
yestigation The costumes and see
| merry had been confiscated; and the
manager and his hacker had sailed
| for America, leaving the members of
!, the company TO get back the best
| way they could. AS none of the
players had come to the consulate for
| assistance. their Whereabouts We're
| unknown. The writer also advised
Mr.. Hillard not to put his money in!
| any like adventure. Italy was strong
ly against any foreign invasion, aside
from the American trolley car.
That's hard luck" growled Merri-
| hew, who saw his hopes so down
| the horizon.
But it makes me out a pretty
good prophet" was Hillard's re-
| joinder. THE Angels money gave
| out. Too many obstacles. To con-
quer people and a government by
| light opera-it can't be done here.
! And so the American Comic Opera
company at the present moment is
negotiating in some little pensione,
waiting for money from home"
Merrihew gnawed the end of his
cane. All his pleasant dreams had
! burst like soap-bubbles. Had they
not always done so? There would
/ be no jaunts with Kitty, no pleasant
! little excursions, no little suppers
after the performance. And what's
a Michelangelo or Titan when
mans in love?"
may be on the high seas, that is,
! If she has taken my advice and got
/ return ticket. I'll give you a din
ner at the Bertolini tonight and
! you may have the magnum of any
vintage you like. Well have To-
/ mass drive us down the Via Carac-
/ colo. 1t will take some of the dis
! appointment out of your system"
ANY old place." was the joyless
] response. Seems to me that Italy
! has all the cards when II comes to
graft"
i America, my boy, is only in the
! primary department. Kitty's manager
forgot the most important thing of
| the whole outfit"
Whats that?"
THE Itching Palm Evidently it