The Continental Monthly, Vol. 2, No. 2, August, 1862: Devoted to Literature and National PolicyVarious
History
The Continental Monthly, Vol. 2, No. 2, August, 1862: Devoted to Literature and National Policy
Various
Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals; United States -- Politics and government -- 19th century -- Periodicals
'Oh! but these English are bursting with money,' thought the girl, and
thus thinking, she made great haste, only stopping to tell three or four
friends about the crazy man that was round at her place, who didn't want
salt fish to make him dry.
'Behold me back again!' said the girl, 'I flew.'
'Yes,' said Van Brick, 'and so did time; and he got ahead of you about
half an hour. Give me the towels.'
'Si, signore, behold them! See how fine they are! What an elegant fringe
on them; and only twenty-five baiocchi a piece, fringe and all
included.'
Van Brick, at last left in peace, plunged into the bath.
When he came out, he found he had half a scudo to pay for the water,
half a scudo for towels, quarter of a scudo for soap, and another
quarter scudo for a _buono mano_ to the bath-girl. Total, one dollar and
a half.
'Now,' soliloquized Van Brick, as he dressed himself, 'I have an
arithmetical question to solve. If a Roman, by hard scratching, can earn
twenty cents a day, and it costs him twenty-five cents for board and
lodging, how long will it be before he saves up a dollar and a half to
take a bath? But that intelligent maiden will tell me, I know.' He asked
her.
'Signore, the Romans never bathe.'
'You mean the Catholic Romans, for the Pagan Romans didn't do any thing
else.'
'They're all burning up in the _inferno, Seguro_!' said the maiden.
'But they had fifteen aqueducts to keep them cool when they were alive,'
spoke Van Brick.
'_Chi lo sa_. We have three aqueducts, we Romans, and we have more
water, yes, more water than we can--drink.'
'Yes, while there's wine about. _Adio, bella ninfa!_'
GLANCES FROM THE SENATE-GALLERY.
II.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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