Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 September 1887 — A Bitter Compliment. [ARTICLE]

A Bitter Compliment.

“Insults are hard to bear, but there are some compliments which are worse than any insult,” said a veteran Italian patriot, who had shared the counsels of Mazzini, dined with Count Cavour, and talked with Garibaldi upon the most famous of his countless battlefields. “I suppose you mean,” suggested I, “the kind of compliment that a French ■wit paid to an enemy who had come and scribbled ‘Coquin’ (blackguard) upon his door one night with a piece of chalk. Next morning the wit went to the fellow’s house, and said, in the politest way possible, ‘Monsieur, you left,your name at my door last night, and I have come to return the visit.’ ” “It was certainly a two-edged courtesy,” replied Signor S- , smiling grimly; “but I think I can match it from my own experience. A good many years ago, in the evil days before King Bomba was overthrown and Italy freed, one of the King’s Ministers—a rascal who had been stealing the public money with both hands ever since he first came into office—was rewarded for his ‘ services ’ (whatever they may have been) by being decorated with the cross of some Italian order. On the day he received it he found among his letof congratulation (which of course

came pouring in from every side) a small plain envelope, addressed in a hand which he well knew.” “Meaning your own, I presume, Signor S ,” said L “We won’t mention any names,” answered the old gentleman, with a sly twinkle in his large black eyes. “The envelope, when opened, contained nothing but an Italian quatrain, which, if translated into English, might run somewhat as follows: •Thieves upon crosses fixed to be In rude old times did law condemn ; In this enlightened age we see The crosses fixed on them." —David Ker, in Harper's Magazine.