Latest Toole Story.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6898, 9 February 1894, Page 4

Latest Toole Story.

" I WAS m the Pitti gallery at Florence," relates Mr Toole, "with Billington. We had been looking at pictures all day. I was just going to say to Billington I bad had enough when an Irish voice expressed the same idea, but more eloquently. 'No, my darlint, I'll not go m there ; I'm thundering tired ay the whole thing.' We turned round, and there was a typical Irish gentleman talking to his wife. • No, darlint, I'll sit here till ye come out. Go and see the thing — I'm sick ay the whole show !' He was very hot, mopped his face with his handkerchief, and composed himself quietly on a bench at the entrance to one of the side-galleries. ' Here's a chance,' I said to Billington. I bad a catalogue m my hand ; up I went to the Irishman, and m the best bogus Italian I could invent I pretended to draw his attention to the objects of art he was neglecting. •Si signor,' I said, • Proccacinio, contralto Carlo dolci, grandioso del suiti.' 'My good man,' he replied m a fine brogue, ' I don't understand a word you say. I'm an Irishman, and can't spake your lingo.' ' Ah, ddla fuiissimoy I said shrugging my shoulders, ' delta faragio eon amore !' ' It's no good,' said the Irishman, 'I'm sick ay the entire show, and I don't understand a word ay it !' He turned away wearily, and I said, 'Then, be jabers, can ye tell me where I can git a drop ay Oirish whisky V 'The Lord save us !' he exclaimed. The change of expression m his face, the way he jumped to his feet, the mad delight when he found I was not an Italian after all, and, like himself, was weary of Bight-seeing, knew no bounds. It was quite a little comedy m its way."