Year: 1859

have given several incidents illustrating
the attachment of the Pope's foreign soldiers
to the memories of their homes. / will now
mention one of the many which occurred show
ing the contempt in which they hold the ma
tive soldiery. 1t is due to the real character
of Italian soldiers to say that the contempt is
to a great extent unmerited and results from
fattery on the part of those weak governments
compelled to rely on mercenaries.


Desiring to spend an entire day at the Vati
cap, depended for dinner upon some coffee
house in that neighborhood. The whole q Ri
one +" fname of the divisions of Rome, proba-
| bly, from the older Regiones) on that side the
| Tiber is, so far as my acquaintance goes, with
out one respectable eating house. The fine
street leading from the front of st. Peters to
the old Hadrian bridge at the castle of St.
Angelo is lined with small shops mostly selling
provisions and trinkets. In this Rione are the
| majority of the Pope's foreign soldiers who fill
the large barracks near the palace and hold
the castle.


l found all the coffee houses thronged at
noon with half drunk and braggart Frenchmen.
The general TRADE that day seemed to be against
the Italian recruits for some act of pusillanimi-
ty whose tener I did not fully understand
Finding cafe at length with but four or FIVE
of these unpleasant companions, / took my
seat on the opposite side near an intelligent
looking civilian. The same subject was agita-
ted. Wine and wrath added to the fierce as
pect Of these fiery French. One spoke with
great vehemenee for some time, but | could
scarce collect single sentence, yet the leading
fol
phrensy by his own words he at last sprung
from BIS scat and cried out The Italians are
rascals and towards, could chase half dozen
such felIesfs," ard continuing in the same strain
until the civilian at my side spoke to him.
Sir, such language as that is calculated to
produce difficulty if any italian soldier should
chance to hear it."


Do You say it is false, SIR said the angry
man, here is my hand and my sword to prove
it."


His companions also came forward, and en-
couraged by their presence he drew his sword
and waved the heavy weapon with ease
which she wed his ability, but nearer the gentle
mans head than should have thought agree
able. The latter rose to his feet with perfect
calmness and repeated what he had before said
which it seemed the soldier had misunderstood. |


q Are you an italian p" he asked


"No'


g y Gcrman?"


NO"


"What are you "


" 1t does not matter, have spoken for your
good and for the sake of peace


Such were the hasty words of anger and the
deliberate response of calmness. When was |
to see bloodshed. l saw the fiery |
Frank yield and extending his hand with ma
tive grace say =


" If you are no italian we have no quarrel,
but | said the TRUTH


"That may be- said the other cordially ia
king the offered hand, " but you know this is
no place to say such things"


When they had separated and the gentleman
resumed his reading, / f;ancied much more
intelligence in his face than was seen at the
first glance when / entered. 1t is strange how
gives assurance of mental power but
l felt it in this instance and l saw its effect
upon the soldier. was not deceived. Upon
personal acquaintance l found he was from
Belgium, and though a Roman Catholic he
had an ingenuity in explaining the peculiar
doctrines of his church which made both him
and it appear more consistent than l ever
thought such profession and practice could be
made. Yours. truly


P. c. WILSON.