The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1912-12-10

lhlnS or ms history, but he would in
stantly have noticed his fine, slnewy
figure, and his features, clean-cut and
regular like those OF an Italian
bronze.
1t is well to remember that every
country maintains n kingdom lying
within the boundaries of this repub-
lie. l do not mean the fiction of SOW
ereignty attaching to the legations at
Washington, but a phantom state
rather, keeping the customs, the tradi-
lions. even the very laws, Of the moth
er country.
1t was only In this kingdom OF Italy
that Signore Mazaccra was O mar
quis. Uptown in New York, he was
merely star OF heavy opera, one
Hicardo Robini with n voice like that
Of many sirens. and yet the man.
plying this emasculated trade. was
I'm fact n ruthless, calculating steel
nerved sentinel, presenting himself,
thus singing. in the worlds most
public places, and reporting each
night to that phantom kingdom OF
Italy, set down like violating
shadow over the streets and buildings
OF New York.
The Marquis Mazaccra lived openly,
lodged in suite at the Dresden. And
yet for weeks the district attorney OF
New York had known that this man
ought TO be in the electric chair; his
assistants knew it, the police officers Of
the city knew It. On memorandum in
a pigeonhole OF the district attorneys
desk he was written down as guilty
OF murder In the first degree-willful,
premeaitated murder. Tie district at
torney neglected, nay, It should be
written. refused, to apprehend him on
q criminal warrant.
Let us not too hastily denounce this
district attorney of New York. He was
an incorruptible public servant, able.
persistent, fearless. Why. then, this i'm.
munity TO the Marquis Ma2accra, as
OF one heaven born, amenable to no
law? Why was he not sent promptly
TO the electric chair, and after to dim
mer audiences? To know this It is
necessary to know first a chapter Of
Italian history.
If, when one is dropping his copper
tribute into the dish OF the collector
at Sorrento, he will look to his left
hand along the Bay or Naples. he will
observe villa built Of ancient Sicil-
ian marble clinging like bit OF flung
up sea foam to little promontory Of
the shore, having for background a
lemon grove, the thick branches sup
ported by a lath rellls, like that com
monty built for vines.
Wien the singing marquis camo
into his inheritance there remained
only this villa, the half-acre OF lemon
grove and the steps to the sea, out OF
what was once tho finest estate in
Salerno. Even the treasures of the
villa had, for the most part, gone else
where in exchange for Ira, that the
dissolute father of the marquis might
maintain to the last day his midnight
court OF revels for the ballet of the
Neapolitan opera, coming up the stone
stairway, laughing, shouting, singing
bits OF dissolute songs, as though
escaped by some enchantment from
the halls of Morgana the Fay, under
the sea.
One night, crowned with a wreath
Of wilted roses, brought by the first
arrivals from their dancing floor, the
old marquis, running forward to well
come Lauretta Matteo-tho white
devil OF Naples--stumbled, and was
himself welcomed by the master Of all
devils.
The young marquis, arriving swiftly
from a military school at Milan,
found himself TO have inherited q
corpse, and little else. Every item Of
his Inheritance had gone down the
stone stairway. except this patch OF
garden, this house, this dead body OF
the marquis and an ancient painting
OF the Virgin hanging in It's heavy
frame IN the hall. This painting the
old marquis had not dared to sell, hav-
ing care for the welfare Of his body
into the bargain. II was painted from
some roundfaced Tuscan model OF
middle age and was wholly without
beauty except its coloring, which was
wonderfully fresh and bright. Never
theless. IL was the most adored Virgin
in the south OF Europe. with a miracle
TO its credit beyond that OF any Vir-
gin OF the Cathedrals-nOt a mere
strengthening Of legs or n healing OF
afflicted infants, but the saving Of the
whole village OF Tore del Greco. its
meadows. It's crops, It's villas, its
churches, It's gardens, as well, also, as
It's cripples and its babies.
The manner OF 10 was that on a
certain good Tuesday, with scarce n
rumble OF warning, Vesuyius began 20
pour forth ashes. sulphurous fumes
and lava. The alarmed but pious
people OF Tore del Greco began at
once TO carry I'm procession every holy
relic to DO found in any OF the
churches, but without effect. The sui.
phurous cloud remained, the ashes
continued TO fall, the black, viscOus
streams OF lava drew always a little
nearer, scanfying the meadows like
hell-yomit. When the list OF these
holy objects had been exhausted, a
certain padre OF Sorrento remembered
the Virgin OF the Marquis MazaccTa,
and went instantly in boat To- Dor
row &C. II was carried through tho
streets OF Tore del Greco behind
lighted candles. That night the erup.
uon OF Yesuvlus ceased. and the mar.
quis's Virgin was ON the instant "a
nous. She was called now the Virgin
OF tho Mountain.
There ie thfq vfrtuo Ira o. y,tr,,f,