THE ORGAN-GRINDER'S SUIT.

Golden Bay Argus, Volume VI, Issue 73, 21 October 1897, Page 2

THE ORGAN-GRINDER'S SUIT.

Signor Tito Valente, of Pompeii, Herculaneum, and neighbourhood, at present an or-gan-grinder iu London, is, says the " Telegraph," a conspicuous example of how a man may gain a livelihood and a lawsuit in a foreign, couutry, although of its language he knows only two words. His case shows once more the length to which a single phrase enables a determined man to make his way among a strange people. An Englishman who in Frauce can say " N'importe" with sufficient emphasis ; in Italy " Altro " with proper inflection to suit the circumstances ; in Germany " Es thut niohts," with adequate guttural effects ; in Russia " Noo, khorosho," with smiling face, will be able to make his way with ease from London to Rome, and fiom Rome to Kamtschatka ; just as Tito'Valenta was able to earn two guiueas a week in the streets of the metropolis and win a lawsuit in the Brompton County Couit with two words of English—" All Tito was iu Earl's-court, grinding his organ, but as an opposition entertainment in the shape of a Punch and Judy Show came upon the scene, offering superior attractions, Le trundled away his machine. Unfortunately at that moment a cab belonging to Mr. Taylor, of Fulbam, turned the corner suddenly, overthrew Tito's muchloved orchestra on wheels, inextricably mixing up the tunes beyond hope of recovery, aud also injuring his handle arm. It was here that the Italian's ignorance of the English language conspicuously aided. When the cabman apologised Tito smiled, aud said, " All right," because he understood that the driver had said, " Never mind, my boy, I'll see you recompensed "; while, on the other band, the Jehu understood from the tone in which the organgrinder launched forth his complete dictionary of the English language that the affair was ended and no harm done. The music-machine was placed in the Saffron-hill Home for Decayed aud Useless Barrel-organs, auel required the care of all the surgeons of that institution to get it into reasonable tune ; while Tito's band was, he said, so injured that he would never be able to turn out the fortissimo passages with his old verve and vigour. Under these circumstances he this week sued Mr. Taylor for damages. With his " All right," and the aid of au interpreter, he told the judge how much he earned, and was able to give sufficient evidence to cause judgment to be delivered iu his favour —£2 for his injured limb, and £5 damages to the organ. At the outset he modestly claimed £SO, but is, no doubt, pretty well satisfied with whKt he got, which works out at the rate of £3 10s. a word of his English.