“The Press” In 1864

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30578, 22 October 1964, Page 20

“The Press” In 1864

October 22 FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE A letter from Rome, published in a French newspaper, states that a Jewish boy, named Michael Cohen, 10 years of age, has recently been kidnapped by a priest with a view of being Christianised. The priest went to the boy’s father, a shoemaker, to get a pair of shoes mended, and when the repairs were completed the boy was ordered to carry them, accompanied by the priest to the home of the latter. Instead of going home, the priest went straight to the “Catecumeni” and left the boy there, who protested in vain, and with tears and cries asked to be sent home to his

master or parents. The latter were soon apprised of the affair, but all their efforts to have their son released, or even to see him, were in vain. The Israelite community at Rome complained to the < authorities, but without success being told that the saving of a soul was a matter of far greater importance than the rights of a father. The French papers give a terrible scandal fresh from Turin. One of the head clerks of the Waroffice of Italy, a married man with a family, was living “in relazione” with a young woman of whom he was inordinately jealous. Obliged for family reasons to conceal the intrigue, he could never appear in public with his “inamorata.” This was very dull for Rosita, and she com-

plained of it The result was that Signor X. requested one of the junior clerks of his own office to take on him the perilous office of “Cicisbeo,” a vice-vice-husband chiefly to protect her, while Signor X. was engaged in domestic or official duties. The catastrophe may easily be imagined—that is, the social catastrophe—for the other is more horrid. Discovered by Signor X. the young employee shot himself, and on hearing of his death the girl also committed suicide. This is no romance of August, but a true story of the Borgo Nuovo of Turin. Letters from Turin state that General Garibaldi has resigned the grand mastership of the Italian “lodges,” on account of declining health.