Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1915-10-15

figure standing by a pillar in front OF
San Marco. 1t was night to linger
and listen, to expand and glow in the
moonlight. From the Grand canal
came quavery foreign cries, the soft
dip of oars, glints of lights, and wisps
of melody. 1t was a night to win one
from bed, a night dimming all day; a
Whistlerian nocturne.
The old San Marco clock doomed
ominously twenty-one times, proclaim
ing the hour of nine after the olden
fashion giving each hour of the twenty
four its rightfu1 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 a 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 chair before table in an outdoor
cafe.
Cafe noir!" he ordered from an
obseQuious waiter, ana 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 by the cut of his coat, his
cravat, smooth face. and keen eyes,"
That is the American eye for
money and business, / presume"
drawled an Englishman in the party
1--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 wbiskered Frenchman, an oily
Italian, stolid German, or a tight
trousered Englishman?"
"All this paCliStism because thls is
your Independence day, presume"
smiled the Englishman.
Fourth of July ought to make a
man think of his coul. try. You people
have tank holidays, Christmas and
New Years; that's all. Did you ever
sec regular Fourth Of July celebra-
tion?"
}, "Oh, l know; beastly vulgar, charm
ingly Chinese; fireworks. songs.
speeches"
wait! Well show you a Fourth of
July celebration" AS the band stopped,
the young American jumped to his
chair and waved his hat.
"Hurrah for Fourth of July!" he
cried. "AmericansI Americans! We're
about to jolt old Venice with a real
Fourth of July celebration. Anybody
who can sing Yankee Doodle or
Dixie come over here and helm. Unit
ed we stand: This is our day, gather
around, and we may even find some.
body who knows the words t;
America
He sat down amid reproving glances
from the conservative members of his
party and pardonable patriotic grirs
from the others.
'Hurrah for Fourth Of july We're
coming!" came a cry from the other
side of the square, and minute later
four young college fellows burst upon
the table of Americans.
Welcome to our city; my names
Bowen, Belasco Bowen Glad to see
you on this anspicious day; sit down
and quar- the sizzling fireworks drink
pyrotechnical champagne. Forward
Americana" He beckoned to the
crowd about the band. and a number
OF recruits came.
There's a New Yorker!" cried Be
lasco Bowen, spying the why little
man sitting at the next table slipping
his cafe noir a little excitGdiy. 81 can
tell him by his derby. Come on In i;
the waterei wine is file."
The lonely-looki1 man picked up
his cup, and Joined the party, introduc
ing himself as Mr. Fardy-none other
than Christopher Poe.
Nov all togetheri" cried Bowen
well 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 wave6 1t as a bIton In time to the
lively song led by the college men SUP.
ported by dozen others. Passing Eu.
ropeans smiled indulgently t the mad
Americans, and quite crowd gathered
to enjoy the refreshing novelty.
Come oD!" cried Bowen, as the
song came to an abrupt finish. Wen
make 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: of
the score of Americans only three
wished to drop out. and while the col.
legians rushed on to find a Chinese
store which might furnish fireworks.
Bowen banteringly persuaded Mr.. and
Mrs. Van Wentd. the chief dissenters,
that their daughter Constance would
enjoy the spectacle and that II was
their duty as Americans to go along.
BY the time the scouts had returned
loaded with Roman candles. niger.
chasers. good old-fashioned fre-crack.
era, candles and lanterns, the number
had swelled to thirty. A launch and a
polygot cafe orchestra were hired. and
amid shouts OF Three Cheers for
Uncle SAM" snRtches of Dixie" and
other evidences Of patriotism. the gay
party wound up the Grand canal, set
ting on fireworks. making speeches
singing and doing hundred mad