"
"Ah, you have proved the value of your dress. I have no doubt of its
efficiency; but our government has expended vast sums of money already
for the benefit of shipwrecked mariners and we are not as rich as we
would wish to be. The means we now have for saving life on the coast
are considered sufficient, and in regard to adopting your dress on our
men-of-war, I fear you do not understand the nature of the Italian
sailor. If we placed a number of your dresses on the Duelio, for
instance, or on any of our men-of-war, the sailors would reason that the
vessels were not seaworthy and we would have much difficulty in
persuading them to enlist." "Suppose I could prove to you that it would
be possible to slip under one of your men-of-war on a dark night and
blow her to atoms. How would that be?"
"Ah," responded the General earnestly, "that is a different question. If
you can prove that to me, I will call a commission to examine into
it."
Ample proof was given as to the efficacy of the dress in the torpedo
service, and to-day there are many drilled experts in the Italian
navy, which serves to show how much more interest is manifested in life
taking than in lifesaving. Arrangements were made for an exhibition in
the bano del poplo.
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