[A LESSON IN ITALIAN.]
“DO you speak English?”
“Non, Signora!”
“Do you speak any other language than Italian?”
“Non, Signora!”
“Then you are the person I desire as guide!”
The above dialogue took place near the Amphitheatre of Verona. The Italian, standing awaiting employment, was an old man, bright and active. The American, who addressed him was an elderly woman, who had studied the languages of Europe nearly half a century. She had just arrived in Verona. Leaving the younger members of her party she had strolled off alone, the better, as she said, to air her lore. One must be alone to succeed with a foreign tongue; an audience of one’s own countrymen is particularly distracting if not embarrassing.
Following her leader into the Amphitheatre she sat where, ages ago, the Royalty had done, and commenced audible reflections to this effect:
“Did scenes such as took place here have a charm for court ladies, ladies educated as were the Zenobias and the Julias of those days?”
She had no idea that her language could be understood, but the guide vociferated as if angry: