Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1914-07-12
THE SUNDAY STORY
The impatient
American
By WALTER bartlett


own country to the free use OF eleva-
tors. lavatories and such like, when
he goes to Italy is somewhat taken
aback at being charged every time he
is lifted to an upper story or washes
his hands. J had paid a couple of sol
di when | used the elevator in the Vic
toria galleries at Naples, though l as
cended for the purpose of buying
something from shop facing on one
of the galleries. had also paid a
soldi and was banded slip to sign for
riding to the upper floors in apart
ment buildings. When. therefore.
reached Rome and was about to take
the elevator at my hotel to go to my
room and was given a printed slip
was not surprised, But there was a
detail in this case that broke down
my American patience. was asked
to give my age, the place of my birth.
nationality OF my parents. my profess
sion and other matters of a similar
character
See herew said indignantly
Take that thing away. II I've got
to pay and sign such a paper as that
for the purpose OF riding on an eleva
TORN any city in America | can ride
to the thirty fifth story for nothing
and no questions asked-Pll sail for
home on the FIRST ship that goes"
The hotel official. who had handed
me the paper and who did not under
stand word | said. bowed and with.
drew with a simple Isl, signore."
was elevated to my room and went to
bed
l was awakened In the middle of
the night by a sharp rap. Tumbling
out of bed Il feared the house was on
fire and was being aroused to go down
an escapeI | threw open the door
There stood two men in military claw
hammer coats. cooked hats and big
swords by their sides. | knew them
at once for gendarnes in the national
service. They stepped into the room,
turned on an electric light and began
to examine my personal appearance
critically, noting my height, hair. eyes.
etc, and comparing them with some
thing written on a paper one of them
held in his hands. Then they jabber-
ed Italian to each other and at me till
said Non capisco" q don't under
standy. when they pointed to my
clothes. pantomiming for me to put
them on.
Satisfied by this time that / was in
d scrape ! tried to bribe them. but 1t
was no go
Well, was taken downstairs in the
elevator by the gendarmes. | was very
mad. why don't you sign descrip
ton of yourselves" | said tartly to my
guards. land hand out couple of
cents each for the ride? A people small
enough to divide II cent into five parts
are capable of charging a man for an
elevator trip and making him sign q
description of himself To see that he
doesn't ride twice on the same fare"
The gendarmes simply raised their
bats, took me out of the hotel. called
cab and. lighting long thin cigars,
told the cabman to drive somewhere
We alighted in front of big building
| entered 1t between my guards (after
| had paid for the ride, and the next
thing knew ! was behind bars. !
never was so mad In my life. Say"
| called to the gendarmes, you p0pin
jays! You've forgotten to collect for
letting me stay In here. I've solid
for the privilege, and I'm ready to give
you a passport to prevent my stay
ing here twice on the same ticket"
They turned, took uff their hats and
went away. 1t is needless to say thai
my broken slumber was not renewed
In the morning l called an official and
said to him:
Americana consulate AIlez wife
Tell him un Americana has got into
scrape. to venito and get him out"
| showed a two Ira piece into the
mans hand. He went away and
brought an official who spoke English
Through hun l secured writing ma
terials and sent a note to the Ameri-
can consul, and before noon he came
to see me. | had little difficulty In
convincing him that l was an inoffen.
slye American citizen 0raveling for
pleasurel and he went of to lind out
what was the matter. When he came
back be asked:
why didn't you give your landlord
a description of yourself?"
''He didn't ask for one"
'He says you were handed the print
ed slip he must turn into the police
describing every person who comes to
his house and You refused to fill it out,
He then reported your arrival, a de
scription of you and your refusal TO
give him the required information
They are looking for an anarchist
about your size and thought perhaps
you might be their man. They ar
rested You partly on account OF your
refusal to give information of yourself
and partly on suspicion. Yon should
have accommodated them"
We'll. I'll be jinged!" exclaimed
a. AT, II