Marco Benedetto Giulio Merbi,
Who died at Naples, and was buried there.
There are some people with a mania for suicide, and others with one for saving life. Within the last few days a mason at Rovigo threw himself under the wheels of a carriage. Death was imminent, when Ranchetti—this is the name of our rescuer—sprang in front of the horses, and saved the unfortunate workman at the risk of his own life.
The mason hastened home, shut the door of his house, and quietly hanged himself. But he had reckoned without his unknown rescuer. Ranchetti, foreseeing some fatal design, followed him, got into the room by breaking a window, cut the rope, called for help, and saved the would-be suicide a second time.
If this sort of thing goes on Ranchetti will have plenty to do.
A certain lawyer, in consequence of various political changes and his own merits, obtained the title of Count, and took office under Government.
“Why,” said an acquaintance one day, “do you not have your coat-of-arms painted on your carriage?”
“Because my carriage is older than my title,” he replied.
A soldier in the Naples militia asked his captain for permission to go out for half-an-hour, which was refused. Somewhat later he renewed his request with the same result; and, after waiting some time, made a third application—still to no purpose. At last, at the fourth time of asking, permission was granted; the soldier went away, and was seen no more for two hours.
“How is this?” said the captain on his return. “You asked leave for half-an-hour.”