Curiosity
Held Me Listening For Ten Minutes; The Tumult Underwent No Change Of
Character, Nor Suffered The Least Abatement; The Mature Voice
Occasionally Heard Above It Struck A Cheery Note, By No Means One Of
Impatience Or Stern Command.
Had I been physically capable of any
effort, I should have tried to view that educational scene.
The
incident did me good, and I went on in a happier humour.
Which was not perturbed by something that fell under my eye soon
afterwards. At a shop door hung certain printed cards, bearing a
notice that "wood hay-makers," "wood binders," and "wood mowers"
were "sold here." Not in Italian this, but in plain, blunt English;
and to each announcement was added the name of an English
manufacturing firm, with an agency at Naples. I have often heard the
remark that Englishmen of business are at a disadvantage in their
export trade because they pay no heed to the special requirements of
foreign countries; but such a delightful illustration of their
ineptitude had never come under my notice. Doubtless these alluring
advertisements are widely scattered through agricultural Calabria.
Who knows? they my serve as an introduction to the study of the
English tongue.
Not without cordiality was my leave-taking. The hostess confided to
me that, in the first day of my illness, she had felt sure I should
die. Everybody had thought so, she added gaily; even Dr. Sculco had
shaken his head and shrugged his shoulders; much better, was it not,
to be paying my bill?
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