A Connecticut Yankee at the court of King Berlù ... that is, no, the year was 1904, then the court of King Vittorio Emanuele III:
Very well. I saw at a glance That the Florentine paper Would suit me: five out of six of the ITS Were local scandals and Tragedies; They Were adventures of one's very neighbors, one Might Say Almost one's friends. In the matter of world news There Was not too much, But just about enough. I subscribed. I Have Had No occasion to regret it. Every morning I get all the news I need for the day; Sometimes from the headlines, sometimes from the text. I have never had to call for a dictionary yet. I read the paper with ease. Often I do not quite understand, often some of the details escape me, but no matter, I get the idea. I will cut out a passage or two, then you see how limpid the language is:
Il ritorno dei Beati d'Italia
Elargizione del Re all' Ospedale italiano
The first line means that the Italian sovereigns are coming back-- they have been to England. The second line seems to mean that they enlarged the King at the Italian hospital. With a banquet, I suppose. An English banquet has that effect. Further:
Il ritorno dei Sovrani
a Roma
Roma, 24, ore 22,50.--I Sovrani e le Principessine Royal is expected in Rome tomorrow at 15.51.
Return of the sovereigns to Rome, you see. Date of the telegram, Rome, November 24, ten minutes before twenty-three o'clock. The telegram Seems to say, "The Sovereigns and the Royal Children expect Themselves at Rome tomorrow at fifty-one minutes after fifteen o'clock." I do not
know about Italian time, But I judge it begins at midnight and runs through the twenty-four hours without breaking bulk. Following in the ad, the theaters open at half-past twenty. If These Are not matinees, 20:30 must mean 8:30 PM, by my reckoning.
Spettacolli
25 of the Teatro della Pergola - (20,30) - Opera. Boh `eme. Teatro Alfieri .-- dramatic Dragon Company - (Hours 20.30) - The Law. Alhambra - (20.30) - Entertainment varied. Edison Hall - Grandiosoo film shows: Quo Vadis? - Inauguration of the Russian Church - in line at direct way - with great views of Florence move - America: Transport giant logs - Thieves in the house of the Devil - Scene comedy . Cinema - Via Brunelleschi n. 4 .-- extraordinary program, Don Quixote - Popular Price. The whole of
That is intelligible to me - and sane and rational, too - except the remark about the Inauguration of a Russian Chinese. That one oversizes my hand. Give me five cards.
This is a four-page paper, and as it is set in long primer leaded and has a page of advertisements, there is no room for the crimes, Disasters, and general sweepings of the outside world - thanks be! Today I find only a single importation of the off-color sort:
A princess who escapes with a coachman
Paris, 24 .-- The Matin from Berlin that the princess Schovenbare-Waldenbure disappeared Nov. 9. It would be playing with his coachman.
The Princess is 27 years old.
Twenty-seven years old, and disappeared - scampered - on the 9th November. You see by the added detail That She departed with her Coachman. I would hope has not made a mistake, But I am afraid the chances are That she has. Are Dispiacentissimo.
There are Several fires: Also a couple of Accidents. This is one of Them:
misfortune on the Ponte Vecchio
Stammattina, about 7.30, while sloppy, Joseph, aged 55, of Casellina and Towers, passed by the Ponte Vecchio, sitting on a cart loaded with vegetables, lost its' balance and fell to the ground, remaining with the right leg under the wheels of a vehicle. The sloppy
was immediately picked up by some citizens, who, through no public car 365, the transportation to St. John of God
There the attending physician's response to the fracture of the right leg and some minor abrasions judging curable in 50 days unless complications.
What It Seems to say is this: "Serious Disgrace on the Old Old Bridge. This morning about 7.30, Mr. Joseph sloppy, aged 55, of Casellina and Towers, while standing up in a sitting posture on top of a carico barrow of vedure (foliage? hay? vegetables?), lost his equilibrium and fell on himself, arriving with his left leg under one of the wheels of the vehicle.
"Said Sciatti was suddenly harvested (gathered in?) by several citizens, who by means of public cab No. 365 transported to St. John of God."
Paragraph No. 3 is a little obscure, but I think it says that the medico set the broken left leg--right enough, since there was nothing the matter with the other one--and that several are encouraged to hope that fifty days well fetch him around in quite giudicandolo-guaribile way, if no complications intervene.
I am sure I hope so myself.
There is a great and peculiar charm about reading news-scraps in a language which you are not acquainted with--the charm that always goes with the mysterious and the uncertain. You can never be absolutely sure of the meaning of anything you read in such circumstances; you are chasing an alert and gamy riddle all the time, and the baffling turns and dodges of the prey make the life of the hunt. A dictionary would spoil it. Sometimes a single word of doubtful purport will cast a veil of dreamy and golden uncertainty over a whole paragraph of cold and practical certainties, and leave steeped in a haunting and adorable mystery an incident which had been vulgar and commonplace but for that benefaction. Would you be wise to draw a dictionary on that gracious word? would you be properly grateful?
After a couple of days' rest now I come back to my subject and seek to homes in point. I find it without trouble, in the morning paper, a cablegram from Chicago and Indiana by way of Paris. All the words save one are guessable by a person ignorant of Italian:
revolver in theater
Paris, La Patrie has 27 .-- Chicago:
The guardian of the Opera Walach (Indiana), refusing to expel a spectator which continued to smoke despite the diviety, this backed by his friends' trucks or other revolver shots. The guard put down. He was born a general discharge. Great panic among the spectators. No injuries.
Translation .-- "Revolveration in Theater. Paris, 27th. La Patrie has from Chicago: The cop of the theater of the opera of Wallace, Indiana, Had willed to expel a spectator Which continued to smoke in Spite of the Prohibition, who, backed by His Friends, tir'o (Fr. tir'e, anglica pulled) manifold revolver-shots; great panic Among the spectators. Nobody hurt. "
From Google Translator:
Very good. I saw at a glance that the Florentine paper would suit me: five out of six of its scandals and tragedies were local, were the adventures of its neighbors much, one might almost say his friends. In terms of world news was not too much, but close enough. I signed up. I have not had occasion to regret it. Every morning I get all the news I need for the day, sometimes from the headlines, sometimes from the text. I've never had to ask for a dictionary yet. I read the paper with ease. Often I do not understand, often some of the details escape me, but never mind, I get the idea. I cut a step or two, then we see how the language is clear: The Return of the Blessed
of Italy
Giving at King's' Hospital Italian
The first line means that the Italian sovereigns are coming back - have been England. The second line seems to mean that widened the king at the Italian hospital. With a banquet, I suppose. An English banquet has that effect. For more information: The Return of the Kings
Roma in Rome, 24, at 22.50 .-- The sovereigns and the Princess Royal is expected in Rome tomorrow at 15.51.
The return of the kings in Rome, you see. Date of the telegram, Rome, November 24, ten minutes before 23 o'clock. The telegram seems to say: "The Sovereigns and the Royal Children are expected in Rome tomorrow for 51 minutes after fifteen hours."
I do not know Italian time, but I think it starts at midnight and goes through 24 hours without breaking bulk. Following the announcement, the theaters open at half past two. If these are not matinees, 20.30 20:30 must mean, according to my calculations.
Spettacolli
25 of the Teatro della Pergola - (20.30) - Opera. Boh `eme. Teatro Alfieri .-- Dramatic Dragon Company - (20.30) - The Law. Alhambra - (20.30) - Entertainment varied. Edison Hall - Grandiosoo film shows: Quo Vadis - Inauguration of the Russian Church - in line at direct way - movement with great views of Florence - America: Timber Transportation giant - Thieves in the house of the Devil - Scene comic. Cinema - Via Brunelleschi n. 4 .-- extraordinary program, Don Quixote - Popular Price.
The whole that is understandable to me - and sound and rational, even - if not the comments regarding the opening of a Russian Chinese. What increases my hand. Give me five cards.
This is a four-page document, and as found in bottom along with lead and has a page of advertising, there is no room for the crimes, disasters and general rubbish in the outside world - thanks! Today I found only a single importation of off-color sort: A Princess
driver who flees with the United Nations
Paris, 24 .-- The Matin has disappeared from Berlin that the princess Schovenbare Waldenbure-November 9. It would be playing with your driver. The
Principassa 27 years old.
Twenty-seven years, and disappeared - scampered - November 9. You can see the added detail that went away with her coachman. I hope I would not have made a mistake, but I am afraid the chances are that you have. ARE Dispiacentissimo.
There are several fires: a couple of accidents. This is one of them:
misfortune on the Ponte Vecchio
Stammattina, about 7.30, while Joseph sloppy, aged 55, of Casellina and Towers, steps from the Ponte Vecchio, Standoflex Seated on the United Nations Barroccio Load Vegetables, Lost 's balance and fell to the ground, remaining with his right leg like a wheel under the vehicle. The sloppy
It was collected by some citizens, which, through the Public Car No 365, the Transport to St John of God
There the attending physician's response to the fracture of the right leg and some slight bruises judging curable in 50 days unless complications.
What seems to say is this:. "Serious Disgrace on the Old Old Bridge this morning about 7.30, the slovenly Mr. Joseph, 55, of Casellina and Towers while standing in a seated position on top of a barrow load of vegetables (foliage? Hay? Vegetables?) he lost his balance and fell on himself, arriving with his left leg under the wheels of a vehicle.
"Said he was suddenly sloppy collection (collected?) For many citizens, who through no 365 public car transported to St. John of God ".
Paragraph 3 is a bit 'dark, but I think it says that the doctor set the fracture in his left leg - right enough, since that there was nothing the matter with the other - and that many are encouraged to hope that fifty days well make fun of judging in a completely curable-if no complications intervene.
I'm sure I hope, too.
There is a fascinating and special about reading news-scraps in a language that you are not familiar with - the charm that always goes with the mysterious and uncertain. You can never be absolutely sure of the meaning of anything said in these circumstances, you are hunting for an alert and gamy riddle all the time, and the baffling turns and dodges of the prey make the life of hunting. A dictionary would spoil. Sometimes a single word of doubtful meaning are thrown a veil of uncertainty and dreaming of gold in the course of an entire paragraph of cold and practical certainties, and leave it immersed in a haunting and adorable mystery an incident which had been vulgar and commonplace, but that for charity. It would be wise to draw up a dictionary that kind word? Want to be properly grateful?
After a couple of days off 'now return to my subject and look for a case in point. I find no problems, the morning paper, a cablegram from Chicago and Indiana by way of Paris. All items except one are guessable by a person ignorant of Italian:
revolver in theater
Paris, La Patrie has 27 .-- Chicago:
The Guardian Opera Theatre of Walachia (Indiana), refusing to expel a spectator which continued despite a smoking diviety, NB All the ingredients backed by his friends' trucks or diversification revolver shots. The Guardian rest. A general discharge was born. Great panic among spectators. No injuries.
Translation .-- "Revolveration Theatre in Paris, La Patrie has 27 Chicago: The cop .. the opera of Wallace, Indiana, wanted to expel a spectator which continued to smoke despite the ban, which, backed by his friends, tir'o (tir'e P., Anglican pulled) manifold revolver shots;. No great panic among the spectators evil. "
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