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About A Friend of the family. (Savannah, Ga.) 1849-1??? | View Entire Issue (Aug. 23, 1849)
ftcuoteft to literature, Science, anft Art, tl)e oono of temperance, Ohh JTUorosljip, ittasonrn, ani> (General intelligence. lIJ'ME I. Ifli 9 & 8 f iT R THE deacon for me. it >ther ’ said Dencon ■’ young son,- ’ \ most precocious wight;] , i „ ,i rp!l m ; and a f unny dream. Was the dream I dreamed last night. Wfi n son, what was the funny dream, That has put yo‘"such glee? • . ‘ Ito truess from your laughing phiz, I should say that you dreamed of me, „.„„ T dreamed— you will think it strauge, still it is true I’m sure ; t Jreamed that the King of the country below I Walked into your grocery store! Tim devil’ yes, f" Ilor ’ t>,B ,levil! and y ou Wer e drawing a glass of gin For Ambrose Jones—who drowns his wits, Vnd broke his babe’s arm in one of his fits, The ugly °ld imp of sin. I dreamed that the devil walked boldly in, ■ And swung his long tail on a chair, \ D f] asked if you were not a deacon, he did : And [without looking] you said that you were. The devil he laughed and he switched his long tail, And he grinned ns he nodded to see : Savs he with a wink, [and the sparks flew like hail] ” That ’ ere is tlie Deacon for me! --. ww-rar-a. ■ —■ mmmmmmmmm ■ % From Ulackwootl’a Magazine. THE ISLAND OF SARDINIA. BY JOHN WARRE TYNDALE. To return, however. We will not dismiss the ect of the Giudici without the mention of two E ons whose romantic histories are intimately iocted with Sardinian affairs. The celebra- Enzio, illegitimate son of the Emperor Fed k 11., amfthe Giudicessa Eleonora. More ti a century elnpsed between these two extra mary characters ; the benefits conferred on dinia by the latter may be said to still live in e of the excellent laws which she established. I Et izie.not a Sarde by birth, by his marriage Ltl, Adelasia, a widow, Giudicessa of Torres, RdGallura, and a part of Cagliari, came into ■session of those provinces, and soon, by treaty Id force of arms, became powerful over the Role Island. The favorite son of Federick 11., Ra nritter of course, he obtained the enmity of RegorvlX., who had, by this marriage,, been Rletl in his schemes upon Sardinia, through a tirriage he contemplated between Adelasia and eof his own relatives. Enzio bore an illustri npart in the warfare of those times, between R Pope and the Emperor; and such was his Rcess that, after his celebrated engagement of Rfleets near Leghorn, and the capture of the ■dates who had been summoned from the Ern- Rreto the Pope—to prevent whose arrival this Rnament was undertaken —Pope Gregory died Hhis hundredth year, his disease having been ■neatly aggravated by this disastrous event. Ihe Rnrrel was, however, continued by his successor, IWnocent IV., and the fortune of events turned Rainstthe Emperor. Enzio was taken prisoner wk an unsuccessful battle near Modena, by the lolognese, and was, though handsomely treated, I Stained captive twenty years, during which all Re members of his family quitted this life. He ffcnsoled the hours of his captivity by music and poetry, in which he excelled, so as to have ob tained eminence as a poet amongst the poets of ■aly; hut he enjoyed a still sweeter solace. When |e had been led in triumph as prisoner into Bo kgna, in his twenty-fifth year, so early had he ■htinguished himself as a warrior, the beauty of is person, and the elegance of his deportment, ■wakened in allihe tenderest sympathies. An ac- Rmplished lady of Bologna, Lucia Viadagola, | besides the pity and admiration which all felt, en ■nained for him the most ardent passion ; an in- ensued, and the passion was as mutual as R as ardent. From this connection, as it is said, R° se the founder of the family of Bentivoglio, ■n were, in atter years, the avengers of his suf- R ln ? 3 *and lords over the proud republic. He ■d likewise obtained the devoted attachment of R? ul Pietro Asinelli; through this faithful friend an was laid down for his escape, which was ■r? near . y successful. Fie was carried out in a I* V, n whlc ‘ h some excellent wine for the king lli 1 • . been brought. His friends Asin- W-r.- ™ ncno de Gonfalioneri were waiting leanflf i J • 63 f ° r escape, when a lock of L U , ail > P r °truding from the barrel, was hid V o re( ’ e i U ! her soldier, or, as some say, a Harm Fan • mad vv °man, for accounts vary. | s I Was given, and the prisoner resecured in t JJ QG consi nement. Gonfalioneri was ar lut wm i executed ; his friend Asinelli escaped, Ivj, • uanishpd for life. Enzio died in this cap op>lri *[ e 474 h year of his age, 15th March, kT uanniversary of his father the Erape- u’ and the hints’ day of his beloved ‘ e fise r u Was buried magnificently at the ex edon • re public. It might have been recor ds m j lna dlat b e possessed every virtue, had not j l ‘Kt to his wife left a stain on his name. — His early and ill-assorted marriage may offer some excuse for one who showed himself so amiable on all other occasions. He bad won and gov erned Sardinia, and “ conquered a great part of Italy, at an age when the vast majority of youths, even under the most favorable circumstances, are but beginning to aspire to glory and active life ; while, equally fitted for the duties of a peaceful ! statesman, he was, at the same early age, intrusted with a highly important charge, and o*pposed to the most subtle politicians.” ***##### “ The first occasion on which her courage and political sagacity were tried, was on the murder of her brother Ugone, add his daughter Benedetta, when the insurgents sought to destroy the whole reigning family, and to form themselves into a republic. Perceiving the danger which threatened the lives and rights of her sons, and undismayed by the pusillanimous conduct of her husband,who fled for succor to the court of Aragon, she promptly took the command in the state, and placing her self in arms, at the head of such troops as re mained faithful, speedily and entirely discomfitted the rebels. She lost no time in taking possession of the territories and castles belonging to the Giu dici of Arborea, causing all people to do homage, aqd swear fealty to the young prince, her son ; and wrote to obtain assistance from the King of Aragon, m restoring order in her Giudicato.— Brancaleone, encouraged by his wife’s intrepidity and success, asked permission from the King of Aragon to return to Sardinia with the promised auxiliaries; but the king alarmed at the high spirit of the Giudicessa, prevented his departure, and kept him in stricter confinement, under pre tence of conferring greater honors on him. He was, however at last allowed “to depart, under cer tain heavy conditions, one of them being the sur render of Federic bis son, as a hostage for the performance of a treaty then commenced. Oft his arrival at Cagliari in 1384, with the Arago nese army, he repeatedly besought his wife to submit to the king, in pursuance of the treaties. It wets in vain. Despising alike the pusillani mous recommendation of her husband, and the threats of the Aragonese general, she for two years kept up a courageous and successful war fare against the latter, till having, by her exertions, acquired an advantageous position, she com menced a treaty with her enemy respecting the sovereignty in dispute, and for the deliverance of her husband, who, during the whole of the time was kept in close confinement at Cagliari.” Finally, these terms of peace, so honourable to her, were signed by Don Juan L, who succeeded bis brother Peiro, who died in 1387. “ The peace was but ill kept, for Brancaleone, when at liberty, and once more under the influ ence of his high-minded wife, regained his cour age, and 1390, renewing the war more fiercely than ever, he continued it for many years, with out the Kings of Aragon ever reducing Eleonora to submission, or obtaining possession of her do minions. She formed alliance with Genoa, and, with the aid of their fleet, took such vigorous measures that nearly the whole of Logodaro was in a short time subdued ; while Brancaleone, in spired by her examole, reconquered. Sasari, the castle of Osilo, and besieged the royal fortresses of* Alghero and Chivia.” After this, Don Martino, who succeeded his brother Don Juan 1., of Aragon, made peace, which secured the prosperity and honour of Ar borea during the life of Eleonora. But this ex traordinary woman, not only in a remarkable de gree exhibited the talents of a great general, and the genius of a consummate politician, but, for that age a wonderful forethought, sagacity, and humanity, in the fabrication ol a code of laws for her people. As Deborah judged Israel, and the people came to her for judgment, so might it he said of Eleonora. “ The Carts di Cogu, so called from its being the code ol laws in her own dominions, had been commenced by her father Mariano IV., but being compiled, finished, and promulgated by Eleonora, to her is chiefly due the merit of the undertaking, and the worthy title of enlightened legislatrix.— It was first published on 11th April, 1395, and by its provisions the forms of legal proceedings and of criminal law are established, the civil a.nd customary laws defined, those for the protection of agriculture enjoined, the rights and duties of every subject explained, and punishments for of fences regulated ; and in these last provisions, when compared with the cruelty of the jurispru dence of that age, we are struck with the human ity of the Carta de Logu, and its superiority to the other institutions of that period. 1 lie fra ming of a body of laws so far in advance of those of other countries, where greater civilization ex isted, must ever be the highest ornament in tle diadem of the Giudicessa. Its merits were so o-enerally felt, that, though intended only lor the use of the dominions subject to her own sceptre, it was some years after her death adopted through- SAVANNAH, GA., THURSDAY, AUGUST m, 1840. out the island, at a parliament held under Don Alfonzo V., in 1421. This great princess died of the plague in 1403 or 1404, regretted by all her subjects.” # # # * * The Sardinian “ fuoruseifi ” are not the Ital ian banditti. The term includes, with the robber, those who escape from the arm of the law, and the avengers of injuries. These take to the moun tains. The common robbers are few, and their attacks on travellers are for necessary subsis tence, and more commonly for gunpowder with which they may obtain it. Those who escape from the consequences of crime for vengeance — Vendetta —are many ; but these, as we related, have their humane code, we might almost say their romantic—for the presence of a woman is a perfect security. It is their law that no atrocity, no Vendetta, is allowable when a woman is in the company. A foe travelling with wife or child is.safe. A melancholy instance of a breech of this law is thus given : “A brigand was conducting his wife* on horse back through the mountains when he suddenly met his adversary, who, regardless of the conven tional and living flag of ’truce, attacked and slew him, together with his pregnant wife. The rela tions'and friends of the deceased were not the only enraged parties ; a general feeling of indignation and vengeance was kindled throughout the whole province. Every bandit felt it to be a breach of their laws of honor; and even the mnrderers partisans not only denounced the act, hut ‘ re fused him the kiss of peace.’ The mangled corpses were conveyed home, and the friends of the de ceased having sworn, on the body of the unfortu nate Teodora, a perpetual Vendetta against the family of the assassin, a system of revenge and bloodshed was framed and carried out to such an extent, that hundreds of victims, perfectly inno cent of even indirect participation in this single act of dishonour, fell in all parts of Gallura.” Another characteristic story is told. A party of six females were sojourning at a church, perform ing a “Novena.” Some banditti, knowing this, descended from their mountains to visit them, and proposed the hospitality of the mountains. The women assented, and accompanied the banditti, who treated them with respect, and they closed their evenings with songs and dancing. The ban ditti kept watch the whole night guarding their fair guests ; one of the bandits had been the rejec ted lover of one of the party, whose husband and other friends, hearingof this departure to the moun tains, in fear and for vengeance, collected in force to rescue the women. The bandits, in their de scent, to conduct back their guests, met the other party ascending. The presence of women pro hibited Vendetta; a truce was therefore demanded, when the bridegroom and the rejected lover met, with feelings of past injuries, and fears of more recent on one side. Each had his gun cocked ; they felt them, and gazed at each other. Their lives were at instant peril, when the bride rushed into the arms of her husband, seized his gun, and discharged it; then, placing herself in front to pro tect him, she led him up to the bandit and de manded from him his gun. He yielded it, and she discharged it also. The rest of the party pressed on, an explanation was given of the na ture of the visit, and both parties joined in a feast, and mutual explanations of former differences were given and received, their Vendetta termina ted, and a general and lasting reconciliation took place. Such quarrels are, however, sometimes settled otherwise than by Vendetta. The “ Paci ” are reconciliations through means of the priest.— The parties meet in the open air near some chapel, and such settlements are perpetual. But another mode is preferred by “ Ragionatori ” or umpires ; hut appeals may be made from them to a greater number, whose decision is final. An interesting anecdote showing their power is thus told ; “ It was the case of a youngs shepherd who had been too ardent in his advances to a young maiden. On the youth demurring to the decision as too se vere, the Ragionatori, indignant at his presump tion, arose from under the shady wild olive, and saving to the surprised spectators, ‘we have spo ken, and done justice,’ saluted them and turned towards their homes. But one of his nearest rela tions who was leaning against the knotted trunk of an oak, with his bearded chin resting on the back of his hand on the muzzle of his gun, raised his head and with a fierce look extended his right hand to the Ragionatori, ‘Stop friends! ’ he exclaimed, < the thing m ust he finished at this moment.” Then turning to his nephew, with a determined counte nance. and placing his righthand upon his chest, he said to him, ‘Come instantly!—either obey the verdict of the Ragionatori-, or ’ The of fender, at this deadly threat, no longer hesitated, hut approached the offended party and sued for pardon. The uncle, thus satisfied, advanced and demanded for him the hand of the maiden ; the betrothal took place, and things being thus happily terminated, they betook themselves to prepare the feast. Hospitality is the common virtue of the Sardes. “ In most houses admitting of an extra room, one is set apart for theguests— thehospitale cvbiculum of the Romans—ready and open to all strangers.”— It would be the highest offence to oiler the smallest gratuity to the host, however humble, though a trifle may be given to a servant. “La mia caso e piccola, ma il euore egrande,”, (my house is small but my heart is large,) was the apology on one oc casion of his Cavallante, on his arrival in Tempio, where, owing to the presence of the King, not a bed was to be had, and the Cavallante earnestly entreated the use of his hospitality, which, indeed, seemed in the proof to bear no proportion to his means of exercising it. Even the family bed was emptied of four children and a wife’s sister, in spiteof all remonstrance, for his accommodation. Where hospitality is a custom stronger than law, inns offer few luxuries—the traveller is supposed tobring, not only bis own provisions, but his own furniture. Our traveller arriving at Ozieri, a town with more than eight thousand inhabitants, “mine host ” was astonished at the unreasonable demand of a bed. Finding how things were, Mr. Tyndale stood in the court-yard, contemplating the alterna tive of presenting some of his letters to parties in the town,when he was attracted to a window on the other side of the court, from whence t his invitation issued : “ Sir, it is impossible for you to go to the Osteria ; there is no accommodation fit for you. — Apparently you are a stranger, and if you have no friends here, pray accept what little we can do for you.” He ascended the stairs to thank his hostess, who sent for her husband, holding a high govern ment appointment in the town, who received hand entertained him as if they had been his intimate friends. On another occasion in search of the Perdas Lungas stones, antiquarian curiosities, he met a stranger, who, though going to Nuovo in a great hurry, and anxious to return for the Festa, on finding he was a foreigner, insisted on accompany ing him, as he was acquainted with the way — “one of the many instances,” says. Mr. Tyndale, “of Sarde civility and kindness.” And such hos pitable kindness he invariably received, whether in towns or among the poorest in the mountain villages, or more lonely places. It has been cyni cally observed, that hospitality is the virtue of un civilized nations. However selfishly gratifying the exercise of it may have been to that wealthy Scotch laird, who said that his nearest neighbor, as a gentleman, was the King of Denmark, among such a people as the Sardes, it surely may be an indication of natural kindness, and, in some de gree, of honesty, for our civilised roguery is a sore destroyer of open-housed hospitality. A royal return for hospitable care is, however, not to be altogether rejected. When the King of Sardinia visited the island, a shepherd of the little island of Talovara, the ancient Hermea, near the port of Terranova, of simple manners and notions, sent his majesty some sheep and wild goats, judgingthat the Royal larder might not be over richly stored. His majesty properly, in turn, re quested to know if he could grant him anything. The shepherd consulted his family upon their real and imaginary wants, and finally decided against luxuries, but “would not mind if the king gave him a pound of gunpowder.” “On the royal mes senger, therefore, suggesting that he should ask something else, the dilemma was greater than ever; but, after strolling about, and torturing his imagi nation for several minutes, he suddenly broke, out —-“Oh, tell the King of Terra-firma that 1 should like to be theking of Tavolara; and that if any people come to live in the island, that they must obey me, as the people obey him in Terra-firma.” What compromise his majesty made between the regal crown and the pound of gunpowder, we are not told. Though we would by no means vouch for this shepherd’s story, which is nevertheless very probable, we can vouch for one not very dis similar. Nor very long since, a small farmer in a little village in Somersetshire, who prided himself on his cheeses, in a fit of unwonted generosity —for he was a penurious man —sent to her majesty Queen Victoria a prime cheese. A person given to practical jokes knowing this, bought an eighteen penny gilt chain, and sent it in a letter, purport ing it to be from her majesty, appointing him her “ well beloved” mayor of the village, in the document exalted into a corporate town, but whereof he, the said mayor, formed the sole body and whole authority. The ignorant poor man swallowed the bait, and called the village together, gave an ox to be roasted whole, and walked at the head of the invited procession, wearing his chain of office; and for several weeks exhibited the insigniaof royal favor, the chain and royal au tograph, at church and at markets. Itis a doubt it he be yet uudeceived, and lowered from his imag inary brief authority. We know not what our fanner would say to the use to which the Sardes apply their cheeses, or what may be expected from a free trade with them in this article ; but we learn DUMBER 25
