The Journal of Negro History, Volume 4, 1919Various
History
The Journal of Negro History, Volume 4, 1919
Various
African Americans -- Periodicals
His master died. By his will he left Angelo to the Prince
Wenceslas de Lichtenstein, who for a long time, had desired to
have him. This man asked Angelo if he were satisfied with this
arrangement and if he were willing to come to his home. To this
Angelo agreed, and made the preparations for the change necessary
in his manner of living. In the meanwhile, Emperor Francis I
called him to him, and made the same offer, with very flattering
terms. But the word of Angelo was sacred. He remained at the home
of Prince Lichtenstein. Here, as at the home of General
Lobkowitz, the tutelar genius of unhappy persons, he was
accustomed to convey to the prince the requests of those who
wished to obtain some favor. His pockets were always filled with
notes and petitions. Never being able or willing to ask favors
for himself, he fulfilled with equal zeal and success this duty
in favor of others.
Angelo followed his master on his journeys, and to Frankfort, at
the time of the coronation of Emperor Joseph, as king of the
Romans. One day, at the instigation of his prince, he tried his
luck at chance and won twenty thousand florins. He played another
game with his opponents, who again lost twenty-four thousand
florins; in playing the second game, Angelo knew how to arrange
the play so finely that the loser regained the last amount. This
fine trait of Angelo won for him admiration, and gained for him
numerous congratulations. The transient favor of chance did not
dazzle him; on the contrary, apprehending his fickleness, he
never again ventured any big sum. He amused himself with chess
and had the reputation of being one of the best players of this
game of his time.
At the age of ---- he married a widow, Madame de Christiani, nee
Kellerman, of Belgium origin. The prince did not know of this
marriage. Perhaps Angelo had reasons for concealing it. A later
event has justified his silence. The Emperor Joseph II, who had a
lively interest in everything concerning Angelo and who, as a
mark of distinction, even walked arm in arm with him, made known
to Prince Lichtenstein one day, without foreseeing the
consequences, Angelo's secret. The latter called Angelo, and
questioned him. Angelo admitted his marriage. The prince
announced that he would banish him from his house, and erase his
name from his will. He had intended to give him some diamonds of
considerable value, with which Angelo was accustomed to being
decked when he followed his master on festive days.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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