Tombstone epitaph., 1915-10-03

saA MSiCc. II was nlSDl lO liuStI and listen, to expand and glow in the moonlight From the Grand canal came Quavery foreign cries. the soft dip of oars, giints of lights, and wisps O; melody. It was night to win one from bed. a night dimming all day; a Whistlerian nocturne.
 The old San Marco clock boomed omiuously twenty-one times, proclaim ing the hour Of nine after the o!den fashion giving each hour of the twenty four its rightful count. And with the last re-echoing boom the piazzi band burst into a rousing military strain. standing in the center of the square. surrounded by throng of night-pleas- urers; for the Venice season was on. and the city thronged.
 The lonely-looking figure in front of San Marco stirred. stepped out. and strolled toward the music, slipping in to a chair before a table in an outdoor cafe
 Cafe noir," he ordered from ar obseQuious waiter, and sat musing be tween the music and a hilarious party Of Americans drinking champagne at the next table
 You can tell an American wherever he is" cried the modishly dressed young fellow who was buying the bot ties, flushed with excitement and wine. And a man from Manhattan you can recognize b: the cut of his coat. his crayat, smooth face. and keen eyes
 That is the American eye for money and business, l presume, drawled an Englishman in the party.
 We have to earn ours" answered the flushed youth. The majority of our families aren't old enough to in herit from. The aggressive American spirit leaves its print on all of us. Do you think you could mistake one of us for a Thiskered Frenchman, an oily Italian. a stolid German, or a tight trousered Englishman?
 An this patriotism because this is your Independence day, presume, ' smiled the Englishman.
 Fourth of July ought to make a man ihink of his country. You people have hank holidays, Christmas and New Years; that's all Did you ever sec a regular Fourth Of July celebra- tion?"
 Oh. know; beastly ruigar. charm ingly Chinese; fireworks, songs, speeches"
 Wait Wen show you Fourth Of July celebration" As the band storred, the young American jumped 10 his chair 3nd waved his hat.
 "IurTah for Fourth of July" he cried. Americans, Americans, We're about to jolt old Venice with a real Fourth of July celebration. Anybody who can sing Yankee Doodle or Dixie come ever here and help. Unit- ed we stand. This is our day, gather around, and We may even find some body who knows the words tc America
 He sat down amid reproving glance2 from the conservative members of h.s party and pardonable patriotic grir $ from the others.
 "fiurrah for Fourth Of July, We're coming!" came cry from the other side of tLe square, and minute later four young college fellows burst upon the table of Americans.
 Welcome 10 our city; my names Bowen. Belasco Bowen. Glad to see you on this suspicious day; sit down snd quar the sizzling fireworks drink, pyrote,hnicai champagne. Forward. Americans" He beckoned to the crowd about the band, and a number of recruits came.
 There's New Yorker!" cried Be lasco Bowen, spying the wiry little man sitting at the next table sipping his cafe noir little excitedly. q can tell him by his derby. Come on in; the watered wine is fine"
 The lonely looking man picked up his cup, and joined the party, introtuc- ing himself as MT. Hardy-none other than Christopher Poe.
 Now all together" cried Bowen, we'll sing Yankee Doodle and sur prise the natives. One, two, three! Yankee Doodle came to town, a rid ing" He picked up an empty bottle and waved 1t as a baton in time to the lively song led by the college men sup ported by a dozen others. Passing Flu ropeans smiled indulgently at the mad Americans, and quite a crowd gathered Co enjoy the refreshing novelty.
 Come on," cried Bowen, as the cong came to an abrupt finish. We'll make a raid on all the stores around here, and see what we can scrape up in the way of fireworks. Then we'll hire a launch and take a trip on the canal
 His enthusiasm was contagious: O! the score Of Americans only three wished to drop out. and while the col Iegians rushed of to find Chinese store which might furnish fireworks, Bowen banteringiy persuaded Mir. and Mrs. Van wentd, the chief dissenters, that their daughter Constance would enjoy the spectacle and that it was their duty as Americans to go along.
 By the time the scouts had returned loaded with Roman candles, niger ehasers. good oldfashioned fire-crack- erz. candles and lanterns. the number had swelled to thirty. A launch and a polyeot cafe orchestra were hired, and
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