The Press., 1912-01-10
His Italian
 Friend A Peculiar Experiences of an American In Rome By E. X. r1ITcHEL Copyright by American Press AsSO-
 ciation, 1911.
By E. X. MITcHEL

or the piazza, towers column ereCCeC
 in the days of the ancient Romans
 In the shadow of this column on,
 afternoon sat two gentlemen, Giovann
 Eforza and Albert Park, the former al
 Italian, the latter an American, as thu
 names indicate.
 Park purported to live in Chicago
 but had become fascinated with Rome and lived there most of the time. Th' Eternal City is not only attractive il itgelf, but from it's historic associa dOns, the ruins of it's ancient ediflce: and the abundant curiosities constant
 ly being deposited in it's museums Park had become interested in Roman archaeology and had no eyes or ears except for Rome.
 Bert" said Giovanni Sforza, "f friend of mine saw you when you
 were driving out on the Appian way the other day and has asked me tC bring you to see her."
 'I have no time to make visits" re piled the other, slipping glass of wine from table before him.
 ''One would think that you are fl your Chicago, where time is money, in stead of an Italian city, where time is pleasure. What have you to doT'
 Tomorrow go out with an archae ologist to be present at the opening oi some Tuscan graves 2,4OO years old Thursday I am to go down the TibeI to point where vessel some seven. teen centuries ago, loaded with am. phorae containing wine, was wrecked and expect to secure at least one amphora for myself. On Saturday.
 Never mind Saturday. am quite sure you will be free on Sunday, and l have made an appointment for you to visit the charmer who, am quite sure, will give you a new object to absorb you.''
 ''So be it, Giovanni. You have done so much for me since I have been in Rome that I cannot refuse you. It is true that time for you Italians is only for pleasure. wonder how you all live. have never seen you, my friend, do stroke of work. I do not believe you own any property from which to draw an income, and yet you always appear to be plentifully supplied with money"
 "Never mind how I live, my dear fellow. We Italians have a knack of getting what we need without break ing down our health as the Americans do. Before take you to call upon SignOrina Poli I wish to caution you against revealing to her that have told you of her request to bring you"
 "I would surely not be so maladroit as that" was the reply, and the two men, rising, turned into the COrso and sauntered toward the CapitOline hill. Meeting on the way an officer of the carabinieri. SfOrza exchanged a mean ing glance with him, which his com -panion did not notice
 A month after this meeting between the two friends they sat again over liter of wine in the shadow of the COlonna column.
 "Giovanni." said Park, "I am wor- ried about this woman to whom you have introduced me. can't make her out. Her name is Italian, and she speaks Italian beautifully with that melodious voice of hers, but doubt if any Italian blood runs in her veins."
 "What is that to your'
 There was no reply to this, only . nervous lingering of the stem of Parks glass, and SforZa continued:
 "When introduced you to Signorina Poli you had no time to make visits, spending it all in archaeology. Now you have no time for archaeology, spending it all in visits. Moreover, your visits are made exclusively upon Gignorina Poll"
 Park went on lingering his glass for a time without reply, then said:
 "She has bewitched me-"
 'Indeed. That means you think of marrying her. That I would advise you not to do without learning more about her."
 'fHow can I do that?'
 ''There is an adage, "A woman is known by her clothes If you could get sight of the Signorina Poli's ward robe you would know all about her."
 "But I can't go spying into her closets. Besides. what opportunity have to do so?''
 "As 10 any mans right to obtain a knowledge of one he suspects of deceiving him I have no doubt; as to spying on a woman one suspects and whom one thinks of making a partner for life he who is squeamish is a fool. There is plenty of oppor- tunity for you to gain access to your ladylove's wardrobe. You need only to call when she is not at home, tell the servant you will wait for her and when left alone make the inspection. If there is nothing to be learned the oOors will be left open to you; if there is much to be learned you will find them locked"
 "You speak as one of experience in such matters. If did not know you to be above such profession I would think you were detective"
 Sforza smiled and said that the Ital- ian race were used to chicanery. It had teen in the blood ever since the days of Julius Caesar and had bloom. ed in the Borgias. "You Americana" he added. i've consider very stupid at involving duplicity. You tell a person everything and are surprised that he tells you nothing. But I ad- init, my dear Bert, that this high stand, this delicate sense of honor, isl very fascinating to us whose ancestors were used to getting rid of those who stood in their way either by poison or by stab in the back. Nevertheless you would be fool to put yourself in the hands of Signorina Poli without a better knowledge of her than you have"
 "I will think the matter over," was Albert's reply, "and if I decide to act on your advice will let you know"
 Rather tell me if you discover any. thing remarkable"
 ''Why do you wish to know?"
 "I don't. Keep to yourself what you learn, if you like"
 There was not even an offended tone in the last remark. It simply .ex- .as