Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 January 1876 — The Good Princess Marguerite. [ARTICLE]

The Good Princess Marguerite.

You should see the Tiber flood advance up a Roman street. It comes very stealthily ; the yellow waters curl in little rings and then spread with a soft “ slush” and then curl again, ooze up through the stones and unite and go on spreading. You wonder at first how it can be so dangerous,, but suddenly you find it assembled in full force, resting its thick masses against portones and shops, filling court yards ana cellars, and doing all its fearful damage noiselessly. If ever you are ifi Rome during an inundation do not fail to go to the sacristo door of the Pantheon and see the great dome reflected in the waters that cover the stone floor of the old temple; it is a strange sight, and, although so sad and comfortless, it has a sort of grandoito effect if you arm in the humor to enjoy a tragic scene. Out Port Angelica the river rushed, and laborers were there night and day during the swell in boats so as to help the inhabitants of the Prati. When the great swell went down the bonny Princess Marguerite drove out there. The men had not yet left their posts; they ranged themselves along the road and cheered the pretty, good Princess with all their might, while she gave to the haggard, dirty men her best and sweetest smiles. As she looked at them the tears came into her eyes. After she had driven on a little distance the carriage stopped, and the Captain of the boat service was summoned. The Princess wished to speak to him. He went to her. “ How- long have those poor men been working in that wet place ?” she asked. “Two days and nights, M your Royal Highness. “ Poor, poor creatures!" she 4 said, with a trembling voice. “ Give them this for wine.” And she handed him a 100-franc note; then drove on. The men sent up a shout when the Captain returned with the money, a shout that might have reached Ponte Molle. The Captain sent off for bread and preeciutta (ham) and wine. The men had a grand feast; they (frank the Princess’ health again and again. After their improvised banquet was over there remained three francs apiece for each man, which he had over and above his wages.— Rome Cor. Philadelphia Bulletin.